The Walrus

I've been at FedEx for 18 yrs and if you put every hub turn I've flown it wouldn't add up to a months work. Granted, I don't commute. Mostly international.

McBoeingBus

Congratulations. You've got a tough decision to make. I've got friends at every major player out there and each has its ups and downs. If all things are equal, I'd suggest Delta. FedEx pilots appear happier than UPS and they have a better pension that maxes out at 25 vs 30 years. Night flying domestically is ugly if you have a reason to see the sun. If you don't have kids and your wife works at night, freight may be a good choice. Pax and F/As are not a bad as some say. Commuting is easier, you are on the right side of the airport. If you live near a Delta hub, that could seal the deal. There are other factors, but these are a few to add to the confusion. Good luck with your decision.

MBB

Tuck

Take a look at pilots in 2005, 2008, and today. We aren't picking up new routes - we are just getting smarter with our current loads. Please, prove me wrong because I want to be.

Tuck

Seriously? Are you for real? I'm guessing a new hire or maybe not even a hire, a wannabe? Your comments are incredibly ignorant.

ATR35

delta is fine, so is AA so is UAL. Fedex...Defined benifit pension, has never furloughed. Added bonus...their contract never took a trip through chapter 11. Answer...FedEx


QUOTE=Victor Vector;2046406]I posted this earlier on the "Major" side of the forum and it was suggested that I post it in the "Cargo" section as well.

Fellow Pilots,
I just got my dream job offer. Twice! Both FedEx and Delta want me to start indoc on the same day next month. I'm doing my research and looking at pay scales, retirement plans, etc. I want to live in the northeast (New Hampshire or Maine). I don't mind flying at night… sometimes.
Any advice or opinions on which offer I should take would be greatly appreciated. Or please point me to a discussion that has already occurred on the forum.

Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]

Dapunk

Since you're senior to me in the Delta pool you definitely should go to FedEx ! Seriously though, you can't go wrong with either. Got a brother who's been with FedEx since mid-90's. He's been trying to get be to go that direction since hiring fired up again. I'm sure I'd be happy at either but I'm sticking with Delta due to commute and domicile locations. I also like interacting with the FA's and passengers. Most of them anyway...

boxhauler

Commuting at FEDEX on a company airplane is a piece of cake. No stress, arrives 2-4 hours before your scheduled outbound. Living in New Hampshire you would prob fly out of Manchester or Boston, depending on where you live. 20 years at FedEx so far and absolutely don't regret the decesion. I don't stress the commute, don't worry about the price of oil or what the next terrorist attack might mean to my airline. We have our risks and issues like shipping lithium batteries and back side of the clock flying. But overall, it's been a great gig.

CloudSailor

How many of those on the seniority list back then were engineers in the -10 and the 727?

Vito

As a UPS guy with an excellent retirement, no PBS and job security, I'd say go to FedEx. Remember, all it takes is one hadji to get through again and everyone will be afraid to fly for a year....also, you hear a lot of guys mention the health effects of night flying etc, but I saw the health effects of Chapter 11 filings, loss of retirements and seniority, and the anxiety of "what's next" on the faces of my pax flying brothers in my Air Force Unit. There's something to be said for stability (for the most part) and as long as there are people in this world with a computer and a credit card, they will buy things online and it will have to be delivered. I valued the stability of the Cargo world, and that's why I chose UPS over United back in 1994...It turned out to be a wise, and lucky choice, and I will be retiring at 60 because Of that stability..Good Luck

CloudSailor

VV, congrats on what are 2 of the top choices for airline careers, world-wide. There are many challenges ahead for both airlines, domestically and internationally. But without a crystal ball, it will be hard to go wrong either way.

I would make the decision based on QOL issues. Since you know you want to live in NH or ME, commuting will be a, if not THE, major player for you. I've never commuted along the east coast, but from my experience commuting out west, commuting for FDX is much, much easier than for the pax guys. I get an extra day at home on the front and back end of most trips, and with our double deadheads, it gets even better. For pax carriers, you will likely leave the morning before your day 1, and if off-line you are at the mercy of the gate agents, and on-line pilots bumping you. For FDX, with seniority that will take some time, your day 1, and last day of the trip, could be at home. If commuting on FDX, your seat is guaranteed and you are protected (maybe Delta is similar in that way, not sure).

Another QOL is dealing with FA's and pax. I don't miss it at all and wouldn't choose to go back to it, but it's not that big of a deal in the big picture.

Then, the quality of flying you'll be doing as well. Night hub-turning is brutal, but with the upcoming retirements and hiring, you should be able to move into better flying soon. As a commuter though, you will either hub-turn for longer on the 757, or be on reserve (crashpad) longer on a WB, than if you lived in domicile. The daytime flying at Delta will be better, although commuting into/out of it, will sometimes cost you an extra day at home on either end. Also, even though daytime flying is overall easier and more enjoyable, you'll end up spending much more time in the actual jet at Delta. I have barely broken 1000 block hours at FDX in 5 years, where I used to approach those hours every year at the passenger carriers I was at before. Bottom line though, night-time flying is tougher for most people, and we have more of it at FDX than they do at DAL.

Pay is a QOL issue as well. You can make more at FDX if you choose to go for the $.

I suspect you have a gut feeling of where you'd prefer to go, and no matter what you read on here, you will end up going with your gut.

Good luck with the tough choice and congrats!