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!

 

At FedEx you will more likely spend more time flying at night than in the daytime. You will spend more time in a hotel then you will in an airplane at FedEx. Domestic domiciles are Memphis (junior), Indianapolis (mid seniority) and Los Angeles (senior).

 

Seniority is life.

Examine which airline has the fastest increase in seniority.

I've been at FedEx a long time, and I still fly mostly at night.

If you can't hack the nights, go to Delta.

 

You will make wide body pay way way sooner at FedEx.

 

Seeing as they are starting people out in the right seat of the 777, 767, MD-11 and Airbus, it could be second year that you make it. Pretty quick.

 

What a nice problem to have :-)

 

I'd look at domiciles and system form - those probably won't change much over your career. I think for the next 5 years or so Delta will have better overall pay and benefits on account of their profit sharing but long term they are probably pretty similar. Way more soft time off at Fedex but overall much worse locations to have it and at worse times. Growth will be faster at Delta - it just will. Fedex is a shrinking airline - yes we will have some good growth (but not nearly as good as some think on this board) for the next few years but we have less pilots today than a year ago and we will have less pilots in 5 years from now than we did 10 years ago.

 

Both are awesome - congrats! Do you like back-of-the-clock flying? Some pilots prefer it. I realize FedEx flies a lot of daylight flights but you will definitely fly more redeyes at FedEx. Pay seems comparable. If you can live near one of the bases early on at either that would be helpful in making the decision.

 

Flip a flipping coin and quit yer b!tch!ng.

 

Where do you live?
FedEx total compensation is slightly higher (A plan, 8% B plan, cheaper health insurance for better coverage, higher vacation pay, higher training pay)
Reserve sucks worse at FedEx (1 1/2 hour call out in Memphis)
As Seniority improves-can build miles to use for 1sh vacay every 12-18 months
Seldom deal with the TSA mafia or the Airport Gate lice

Delta-still lots of movement-Bonus makes the pay comparable.
Non-rev very possible, just takes some work
Better reserve system
More places to be Junior or Senior at
Economy's great, so unlikely to furlough--but bonus bucks could easily disappear and the last great economic adventure took guys out w/3-4 yrs of Seniority---don't think it's likely, but possible

Still I'd say flip a coin-Heads for FedEx and Tails for Delta. Catch it in the air and try and figure out which one you were hoping it came up as.