Hello All,

I’ve received CJOs from both American and Delta and currently reside in Reno. I’m looking at the LAX base for both airlines right now as a forever commuter since my family has developed strong roots where we live now.

Trying to be objective as far as I can tell the commute is not horrible for either carrier.

AA pros:
Seniority advancement
Better Commuter Policy

AA cons:
less sick accrual
less vacation accrual
less widebodies right now


DL pros:
LAX 757/767 Captain in less than 3 years
Currently the biggest airline in LAX
Sick and vacation accrual

DL cons:
MUCH slower seniority progression
probably won’t make it to the left seat on a wide body bigger than the 767


Looking at the seniority progression it takes me half the time at AA to reach 50%. It will take me approximately 10 years to reach 50% seniority. At delta it will take me just over 20 years.


My priorities:
1. Time off with family
2. Widebody QOL and flying
3. earning potential


I have 32 years left in my career currently.


Would love to hear some opinions if possible what others would think about in my position. I feel blessed and am torn with what will be the biggest decision for me and my family. On paper I believe DL is better financially with the ability to roll thunder once I gain some seniority. But the seniority progression at AA can’t be matched by anyone especially Delta who’ve hired thousands of pilots that I will probably never have the opportunity to surpass.

Posted this thread in AA as well but would love input from both sides. It seems like the AA contract is comparable if it passes so would really appreciate any input.

 

Come to DL. Even if you don't see the left seat of a WB, you can do the 757 or 321 left seat and fly one leggers to HI and still have a chill career.

 

I’m not sure where you’re getting your numbers for your seniority projections but what you’re using for AA is not accurate. You will not gain seniority that quickly there.

Additionally, I don’t think LAX is very big for AA right now. And I don’t really a path forward to that changing for them outside of utilizing more code share partners to fly AA passengers.

You do you bro, but I don’t even see how this is a choice. Delta. Better contract. Better pay (AA still can’t touch the value of our contract), better work rules, way more opportunity for premium pay, better scope, and way more variety of flying due to our mixed fleet.

 

LAX is obviously more junior, but with DL you also have SLC and SEA as basing options within the same general geographic proximity as LAX.
My quickest, random-est of searches shows 3 DL a day RNO-SLC and 3 (non delta) RNO-SEA. Interestingly enough, I didn't see any AA flights from RNO-LAX, but 3 DL and 3 other offline flights.

 

AA “better commuter policy”, if you like to lose money or scramble to get trips from open time to recover it, go for it.

My friend that commute for AA are always calling, because their Js policy does not count the AA pilot as part of the BOW. At Delta, they will bump a passenger out and you’re going.

AA you only need 1 flight, that’s the only benefit. Delta still better.

 

FWIW, I gave up 2000 seniority numbers to come to DL over AA, and I live in an AA base. I can drive to PHL in 40 minutes, or I can drive to JFK in 2 hours. I have ZERO regrets making the choice to go to Delta. With 32 years left, your priorities may change over time. DL offers you three bases within the same distance and many options for fleets.

AA will gain you more seniority, no question, I just don’t think it’s worth it.

 

I think what he means is, he’ll retire much higher up the seniority list at AA vs delta. With the amount of hiring done by each company since 2014, combined with AA having hired fewer younger folks and having more retirements yet to come, he’ll definitely finish in a much better spot at AA.

Even if delta gets more widebodies, he’ll be a group 4 capt at AA longer than at delta (330/350)

 

That is correct. Thanks for clarifying. Looking at both threads it seems pretty clear that general consensus is to go to Delta over AA even if overall seniority would be greater at AA.

Definitely time to sit down and talk things over with the wife.

I know nothing official has come out for AA with there new contract but would anyone be able to highlight some differences for me that would mean more days home compared to AA? I definitely understand Delta will be more dollars in the long run but I’d love to know if anyone can expand further on the QOL components that Delta has and AA does not.

 

There are so many it would be hard to detail here. I’ll let someone else better-versed chime in. But the QOL differences between Delta and AA pilots are stark.

 

To add to the advice you’ve gotten here, I offer the following on the two bolded pieces.

I would absolutely not count on making 75/76 (7ER) Captain in less than 3 years when making your decision. Beyond a boilerplate “current returns do not guarantee future performance” reality... While I suppose it’s possible 3 years from now, I think it’s extremely unlikely. There have been 4000 pilots hired in the last 2 years, and that pace won’t continue indefinitely. So you won’t be pushed off the bottom like the first of those pilots was, enabling them to rise to an overall seniority level to hold it. IOW, a critical reason that pilot hired in Aug 21 (when hiring resumed) can hold it now is because 4000 pilots were hired after them. How long will it take you to have 4000 hired behind you?

On top of that, I submit Covid drove some very unique awards that, over the next few years, will not continue. IMO, it will gravitate back toward a more historic norm - though not all the way back as the airframes age. IOW, I think it will take more than 4000 pilots below you to hold it by the time you would get there. That’s a mush ‘softer’ point than the first though.

To the second bolded, we are living in epic times and staffing shortages. The levels of Rolling Thunder are already less than they were in 2022. I strongly suspect that downward trend will generally continue, meaning it will be harder to truly roll thunder. There will always be premium available for a partial “RT”, just not at the level to fly nothing-but-premium (which is what rolling thunder actually is). Again, just have your eyes open when making an informed decision.

All that said, do what is right for your family. AA made a huge improvement in their contract by mostly matching ours, so that’s not much of a factor IMO. It’s the seniority rise at AA vs DL that would give me pause. Best of luck.