Delta vs Southwest
09-06-2017, 05:45 AM
#61
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Position: Captain
Posts: 1,561
Originally Posted by Snaplock
Ok everyone, I'm the luckiest person in the world and have offers from both Delta and Southwest. Both are great companies but I'm not sure which one to choose so I'm looking for advice. Don't bother talking about bases please. I actually live in base for one of these already and don't want that to influence the discussion. (It will heavily influence my decision though.) Here are specific areas that I want to use to compare the two companies:
- Scheduling flexibility
- Pay
- Medical insurance
- Loss of license/Long and short term disability
- Job security
- Time to upgrade
- Other benefits
- Anything else you think is pertinent
Any advice or info is greatly appreciated!
- Scheduling flexibility
- Pay
- Medical insurance
- Loss of license/Long and short term disability
- Job security
- Time to upgrade
- Other benefits
- Anything else you think is pertinent
Any advice or info is greatly appreciated!
Delta hands down
09-06-2017, 09:20 AM
#62
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2015
Posts: 301
Delta led the hiring push. That has put many pilots on the seniority list in the last 5 years. I'm not sure of the number, but isn't it around 4000-4500 hires since 2012? That's a third of the seniority list that will be ahead of someone hired today for a majority of that person's career, if not all of it. If you're over 40, I would think you could scratch WB captain off your list. Yes, 2017 hires got captain but is that a true reflection of the seniority list or a reflection of how undesirable that particular seat is?
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
09-06-2017, 10:21 AM
#63
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,325
Originally Posted by RckyMtHigh
Delta led the hiring push. That has put many pilots on the seniority list in the last 5 years. I'm not sure of the number, but isn't it around 4000-4500 hires since 2012? That's a third of the seniority list that will be ahead of someone hired today for a majority of that person's career, if not all of it. If you're over 40, I would think you could scratch WB captain off your list. Yes, 2017 hires got captain but is that a true reflection of the seniority list or a reflection of how undesirable that particular seat is?
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
09-06-2017, 11:04 AM
#64
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Position: 6th place
Posts: 1,826
Originally Posted by sailingfun
Job security is to me a item of great value as I posted earlier. I would look long and hard at the balance sheets of your first two choices.
Well delta most definitely has a better balance sheet than AA/UA if there was an event that caused furloughs delta would by no means be immune. They'd be hurting big time too. If it came to that it sure would be nice to have gone to an airline that hasn't hired as much and has more retirements in the near-term.
Go to the first major that calls and only leave if you get hired by another airline and happen to live in one of their mega hubs. Even then there's no guarantee of it staying open.
09-06-2017, 04:21 PM
#65
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,416
Originally Posted by RckyMtHigh
Delta led the hiring push. That has put many pilots on the seniority list in the last 5 years. I'm not sure of the number, but isn't it around 4000-4500 hires since 2012? That's a third of the seniority list that will be ahead of someone hired today for a majority of that person's career, if not all of it. If you're over 40, I would think you could scratch WB captain off your list. Yes, 2017 hires got captain but is that a true reflection of the seniority list or a reflection of how undesirable that particular seat is?
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
While it maybe reflective of a particular plane/base/seniority being undesirable, IMHO, it's more reflective of an airline that is rapidly expanding mainline operations combined with increasing retirements.
09-06-2017, 06:07 PM
#66
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 86
Originally Posted by Sniper66
Delta hands down
-AA has a terrible balance sheet. Retirements will be huge but their financials are horrendous.
-UA doesn't have the best name right now. I also think UA is more prone to taking big hits from the ME3 and NAI.
-SWA has the strongest balance sheet of anyone right now. Hands down.
Thanks again
09-06-2017, 07:22 PM
#67
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Position: 6th place
Posts: 1,826
Originally Posted by Snaplock
I appreciate the feedback from everyone. As someone pointed out, yes, I have multiple offers. I get that some may look at pay and others at retirements and seniority. For me it's really going to come down to wanting to live in base. If that means giving up being a widebody capt then so be it. QOL is paramount. Just to respond to a couple of things that people have said:
-AA has a terrible balance sheet. Retirements will be huge but their financials are horrendous.
-UA doesn't have the best name right now. I also think UA is more prone to taking big hits from the ME3 and NAI.
-SWA has the strongest balance sheet of anyone right now. Hands down.
Thanks again
-AA has a terrible balance sheet. Retirements will be huge but their financials are horrendous.
-UA doesn't have the best name right now. I also think UA is more prone to taking big hits from the ME3 and NAI.
-SWA has the strongest balance sheet of anyone right now. Hands down.
Thanks again
What was the point of the thread if yout knew you were just going to go work where you could live in base?
09-07-2017, 02:31 AM
#68
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Petting Zoo
Posts: 2,074
Originally Posted by mainlineAF
What was the point of the thread if yout knew you were just going to go work where you could live in base?
Probably because he wanted feedback from other people?
To the OP. Living in base makes it an entirely different job. A significantly better one. Congrats and enjoy
09-07-2017, 04:00 AM
#69
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: Fastest Hunk of Junk in the Galaxy
Posts: 1,657
Originally Posted by Snaplock
I appreciate the feedback from everyone. As someone pointed out, yes, I have multiple offers. I get that some may look at pay and others at retirements and seniority. For me it's really going to come down to wanting to live in base. If that means giving up being a widebody capt then so be it. QOL is paramount. Just to respond to a couple of things that people have said:
-AA has a terrible balance sheet. Retirements will be huge but their financials are horrendous.
-UA doesn't have the best name right now. I also think UA is more prone to taking big hits from the ME3 and NAI.
-SWA has the strongest balance sheet of anyone right now. Hands down.
Thanks again
-AA has a terrible balance sheet. Retirements will be huge but their financials are horrendous.
-UA doesn't have the best name right now. I also think UA is more prone to taking big hits from the ME3 and NAI.
-SWA has the strongest balance sheet of anyone right now. Hands down.
Thanks again
Originally Posted by RckyMtHigh
Delta led the hiring push. That has put many pilots on the seniority list in the last 5 years. I'm not sure of the number, but isn't it around 4000-4500 hires since 2012? That's a third of the seniority list that will be ahead of someone hired today for a majority of that person's career, if not all of it. If you're over 40, I would think you could scratch WB captain off your list. Yes, 2017 hires got captain but is that a true reflection of the seniority list or a reflection of how undesirable that particular seat is?
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
If I was looking for a job today and only factoring where I would end on the seniority list (hiring and retirements), I would go with American, United, Delta, and Southwest in that order.
Originally Posted by mainlineAF
What was the point of the thread if yout knew you were just going to go work where you could live in base?
09-07-2017, 04:10 AM
#70
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2015
Posts: 301
Originally Posted by Han Solo
Unless I had to live in DFW or MIA I wouldn't touch AA with a 10 foot pole. Most likely to go under with crushing debt, historically the management team that hates pilots most, and never ending America-West/US Air hatred. The jacket is cool but SWA has those too. Your point about the number of pilots hired in the last 3.5 years is valid, I agree that the ultra junior captains are more a representation of the low desirability of certain positions over any true seniority.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
