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!

flyallnite

They are two different animals. The above list is dependent upon a lot of factors, but at the end of the day, no clear winner. What culture do you most identify with? Delta and Southwest both have great cultures, and are good places to work, but different. Where do you see yourself going to work each day? Do you want to fly long haul international at some point in your career? It really depends on you. You could be really happy at one and miserable at the other.

ShyGuy

Why? That's probably the single most important factor you need to look at it. Both airlines are great choices. If you live in a Delta base (maybe except CVG) then go to Delta. If you're in a SW base, go to SW. To give up one legacy airline living in base to go commute the rest of your life to another legacy seems kinda silly.

Burton78

Sounds like you already made your decision. Agreed with the previous posters. Win, win with both companies. If I were a prospective new hire, both would be my top pax carrier choices as far as company stability. I'd go with whichever has a base where you want to live. Just my two pennies.


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qball

Your seniority might advance more quickly at DAL (right now) yet either airline is a solid choice. But like others, I would recommend the airline with the base where you already live. Your life will be so much more simple and living in base does give you a lot more flexibility.

Kjazz130

Do you want to fly international or be domestic on the same equipment forever?

No judgment, just an obvious difference.

PilotJ3

The real question is...

Do you want to fly a 737 your whole career?

TED74

Most people, with knowledge of the alternatives, either dislike the 737 or hate it. If you're at SWA, you will have to lie to yourself about that your whole career. At Delta you can avoid the 737 or at least know it's temporary.

It's odd that deciding between these two isn't easy. I'm not saying there's the same answer for everyone, but they are such completely different animals that if one isn't a clear winner in your own head you might consider a completely different career field.

Falcon20

How important is not wearing the hat?

How nice is a leather jacket?

SWA flies the 737 like DAL flies the maddog. Lots of short flights, while DAL flies them on longer legs so it is much more senior.

Now live in base you will be the happiest. Even if you have to move.

RckyMtHigh

Don't think this is an accurate statement anymore. I have done many two-leg cross country type days in two years at SWA. I've done all of one five-leg day. With the max coming online, there will be more of the same. Future growth at SWA is longer routes out to Hawaii and to Central/South America. I would expect SWA to look and feel a lot like the legacy carriers by 2020, minus the Europe and Pacific long haul stuff. Wouldn't count out another type aircraft either in my 20 year career. Not that any of that really matters because, like everyone else has said, your number one factor in choosing between the big 4 should be commuting vs non-commuting. You can't compare scheduling flexibility or pay without factoring that in. Your opportunities to take advantage of scheduling rules and make the most of the respective pay scales jump up dramatically when you live in base.

The industry's golden child will vary in the course of your career as contract and economic cycles happen. Being happy where you live and the benefits of non-commuting won't.