Motoracing

Hi guys, I’m coming up with this thread just to get some insights from you.

My position is: Got CJO with DL and AA with a class with AA coming up in late March. I’m 38.

Although Delta looks more attractive (I’ve being flying the B737NG for 14 years, so definitely wanna fly a WB or even the A320. 737 no more, please lol), I think at AA my seniority will grow super quick in the coming years with the retirements they got.

But the thing is: my family and I have European citizenship and my wife has the desire to live in the Netherlands in 4 or 5 years from now. I’ll be commuting back and forth to the US to work.
I know Delta has tons of flights to AMS and a strong partnership with KLM, whilst AA has just a daily flight out of PHL.
At DL, I’ll definitely pick NYC as my base (4 daily flights to AMS between DL and KL).

Right now I’m currently living in an AA base and we have no plans to move but going to Netherlands in the future. Thus, choosing DL I’ll need to commute to NYC.

What I’m really looking for in 4 years from now is the company where I’ll have the best flexibility possible when it comes to schedule, to drop flights and have more days off.

At DL I know my seniority will not progress as quickly as at AA and maybe I’ll never reach a WB CA positions starting at 38.

Nobody has the crystal ball, of course, but any insight, advise, will be so much appreciated.

Thx to everyone who took the time to read and answer this thread.

Cheers!

Baradium

Delta also allows you to have all your reserve days in a single block, Delta sounds like a no brainer to me in your situation.

Gone Flying

If you want to live in AMS, DL would be a no brainer.

m3113n1a1

What I usually tell people is to go to AA. But in your situation I'd say come to DL. We have flights to AMS from every base. NYC is very junior with plenty of AMS flights per day. The commute would be very manageable. Reserve here is pretty easy and I think you'll be able to hold the right seat of the 330 in NYC fairly quickly (allowing you to have layovers at home, if you care about that).

Once you move back from AMS (if you do) where would you want to live? I only ask this because if it's Dallas or something then maybe long term American would be better. But if you want NYC base, Delta wins hands down. And long term commuting from AMS, Delta wins hands down.

Otterbox

You’ll probably never be a WB Captain at AA either…

Take the AA class date then go to DAL.

iaflyer

Delta - there are so many ways to get to AMS on DL or KLM, it's a no brainer. If you're DTW or NYC based, you roll get done with your trip in the afternoon, within a short time there will be a flight to AMS. Less sitting around the airport waiting to get back to AMS. Same on the other side, rather than one flight to PHL, there are multiple ways to get back the US, some cities with many a day (DTW for example).

Motoracing

Awesome!
Thx for the heads up guys!

We’re currently living in CLT and CLT will still be home in the US for us even living in Netherlands. But, as I said, NYC will be my base at DL.

And another question, if you don’t mind; what’s the ability to drop trips at DL?
I guess in 4/5 years I’d get a good seniority, so probably would be able to get a good schedule and flexibility to have many days off.

Make it to WB CA at my age at DL I know is very unlikely, however, being an Airbus A320 CA with a good seniority and ability to manage my schedule is what matters most in the mid/long term for me.

Baradium

Right now, straight drops are tough, but if staffing goes back to normal and greenslips (premium pay) dies down you can drop trips pretty easily on the swap board. I've also had very good luck moving reserve days into a single block. You end up getting an extra couple days off every few days to reset your legality, although with 18 hour long call coming reserve may go more senior.

PilotBases

DL has more WBs than AA, I believe more 2CA/2FO flights, and with the rumored WB RFP more top paying WBs than AA. Progression to WB should improve here markedly.

LumberJack

Just a heads up to others reading this. They've gotten good and building 30hr layovers to reset legality. I've gone 2.5 weeks without a full day at home before.