Airline Pilot Central Forums - Delta Career Outlook?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by m3113n1a1 (Post 3839952)

I mean define "great." It's still a very good career most likely barring unforseen black swan events. Seniority movement isn't going to be rapid though and to end up spending a significant amount of time as a widebody captain like 5+ years, you'd have to be hired pretty young. Like mid 20s. Hired today expect 5-10 years to upgrade to narrowbody captain. Maybe the lower part of that range if you're willing to be the plug in any base. The higher part if you're waiting for a specific base or a tiny bit of seniority.

Ouch. 5 year upgrade ain't bad. 10 years? Wow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Werjower (Post 3839953)

Come on over to AA! You can have those same reservations here that you have about Southwest, minus the 10 year upgrades.

Haha. I would argue AA is even more of a dumpster fire.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly90 (Post 3839941)

Hard to believe that 34 years at Delta would not be long enough for a great career. Totally understand missing the wave, but still.

It's **** advice. Ignore it. You'll fly whatever you want to fly, including WBA. Whether you'll want it that late in your career or not is another question.

The obsession over some of this stuff is tiring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifetimeCFI (Post 3839959)

I may not have a choice but to go somewhere else when SWA shrinks to profitability.

No one can say if they've made the "correct" career decisions in this business until they look back after retirement anyway.

No guarantees, only good days on the job with amazing views out the window.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly90 (Post 3839960)

I may not have a choice but to go somewhere else when SWA shrinks to profitability.

You'd be fine coming over, some folks like to play the "you missed the boat!" game so they can feel they timed it perfectly. As others said, we just don't know. I went from a major to DL and it was an excellent move for me. Good luck on your choices and if you come over here, I'm sure you will enjoy it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilotBases (Post 3839969)

What this person said. First of all: comparison is the thief of joy. Some guys timed it nicely but we can't control that. Some people didn't do anything other than aviation prior to their airline careers and it shows. Some of us can't or couldn't control that. These same folks want to make it sound like they're special for having gotten lucky timing, when in reality your career earnings will generally be comparable.

Can you drive to work at Delta? Will the paychecks show? Great. Enjoy the long career and don't look back. "You'll be junior to X people hired since YYYY year" is the crap that people say to justify staying at their non-legacy employer (like my own), and hell - no shame in that! Those are good places to work. And I understand why folks choose not to move on, sometimes. But don't let their personal fears or decisions sway your own. A 34 year legacy career is insane. Yeah you won't do 15 years of WBA flying, you'll still earn a good living. Upgrade times on widget show about 8 years to jr upgrade but that assumes no growth. Sure some 25 year old nepo hire in 2021 got to upgrade in a year..so what? So should all the mil guys in their mid-upper 30s give up because they wont have the golden ticket to 10+ years in WBA?

I'm so tired of this mentality from people online. You and I are similar ages.. I used to stress about what I'd retire at at one of the legacies, I simply don't care anymore. The pay will be more than fine, the stability hopefully there, and I'll be able to drive to work in one of the two or three cities I'd love to live in. Seems like that should be enough.

All I know is this: you may or may not make it to WBA at DL, but you 100% won’t at WN…

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennisguru (Post 3839975)

All I know is this: you may or may not make it to WBA at DL, but you 100% won’t at WN…

Excellent advice. The choice between NBA and WBB also has value. WBA doesn't have to be the end state.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly90 (Post 3839951)

From what I've seen sounds like QOL is much better at Delta though. I have some buddies at UA stuck on reserve in SFO and it sounds like hell. At least there are several bases at Delta that I wouldn't mind living in. UA...maybe Houston?

My priority isn't WB at all. More so long term viability of the company, company performance/financials, job stability. You guys are killing it at Delta. Seem to have sensible leadership too. SWA is a rudderless ship. Significant stagnation, back to 10 year upgrades, etc. I really don't know if we will be a great place to be in 5, 10 years.

I'm at UA and sit reserve by choice. I've flown 1 trip in the last 2 months. I average 1 trip a month. SFO and other base are probably different, but right now I get paid to pretty much do anything BUT fly while I credit 85-90 picking up short calls.