DAL vs AA
11-14-2025 | 07:46 AM
#11
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 851
Likes: 176
Public forums always have more complaints, it's just human nature. You can't judge working conditions by looking at general discussion, you have to ask for specifics, otherwise people generally aren't going to tell you the good side.
11-14-2025 | 07:54 AM
#12
Roll’n Thunder
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,050
Likes: 443
From: Pilot
First off you're asking if you should stay at AA on a DAL forum so I'm not sure you're going to get honest answers since none of them are at AA right now and tend to be pretty... enthusiastic... about their air line over there. You also don't need to make a choice until you get a CJO. Sure go interview. Can't hurt. But be ready to drink some kool aid.
I'd say DAL is a better money option and AA is a better QOL option. Just search this forum. They seem to ride these guys hard and put them away wet. Sounds a lot like the regional pilots get treated. At AA we get treated like adults and the flight office treats us respectfully most of the time. (The best technique for this is show up on time, do your job, and don't get on the radar). Sure AA management is a dumpster fire and has been for a long time. But day to day on the line I don't care. That's a management problem and doesn't effect my day to day. Our contract is almost the same as DAL and UAL and my pay checks always clear. The only thing they get that we don't is that sweet profit sharing. And a bunch of premium pay that comes from them being worked almost as hard as SWA. I enjoy going to work and am senior so I get a decent schedule and tons of time off. I don't think about this place on my days off like a lot of air line pilots seem to. My QOL is the best I've ever had in a very long civilian career of several airlines including Allegiant with all day trips.
Now if you're one of those guys who thinks of wearing a Delta Uniform gives you a chub and you swoon when they walk past you in the airport without making eye contact and you're always wanted to work for them then you should go there. I'm sure you'll have a fine career either way. But if you just want to go to work do your job keep your mouth shut and cash your check this is a great job too. Don't let anyone tell you you're a lesser pilot because you work for a "crap" airline. The other places may be just (as someone above said) a smoke show that you'll hate actually working at.
I'd say DAL is a better money option and AA is a better QOL option. Just search this forum. They seem to ride these guys hard and put them away wet. Sounds a lot like the regional pilots get treated. At AA we get treated like adults and the flight office treats us respectfully most of the time. (The best technique for this is show up on time, do your job, and don't get on the radar). Sure AA management is a dumpster fire and has been for a long time. But day to day on the line I don't care. That's a management problem and doesn't effect my day to day. Our contract is almost the same as DAL and UAL and my pay checks always clear. The only thing they get that we don't is that sweet profit sharing. And a bunch of premium pay that comes from them being worked almost as hard as SWA. I enjoy going to work and am senior so I get a decent schedule and tons of time off. I don't think about this place on my days off like a lot of air line pilots seem to. My QOL is the best I've ever had in a very long civilian career of several airlines including Allegiant with all day trips.
Now if you're one of those guys who thinks of wearing a Delta Uniform gives you a chub and you swoon when they walk past you in the airport without making eye contact and you're always wanted to work for them then you should go there. I'm sure you'll have a fine career either way. But if you just want to go to work do your job keep your mouth shut and cash your check this is a great job too. Don't let anyone tell you you're a lesser pilot because you work for a "crap" airline. The other places may be just (as someone above said) a smoke show that you'll hate actually working at.
11-14-2025 | 07:57 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 964
Hey guys just got the interview invite for DAL. I'm in the middle of IOE at AA at the moment. Just trying to figure out what path is best. Live in PIT so I will be a commuter either way. I'm grateful to have a potential choice of the two. I just left fedex and I am 36. I will end at AA around 1600 which is great seniority progression. I've used the widget seniority app a bit and it looks like its a significant hit at DAL (end around 3500ish) also with less movement in the near future (There's already 550 behind me at AA). I'm just trying to see what life is like as someone who is fairly junior at DAL vs more seniority at AA. I know DAL is a much better run company and the pay in the seat will probably be a bit better, especially with the profit sharing checks. I'm not a money chaser im more interested in QOL and time at home with my wife and kids. I know I don't have a job yet and just an invite but I want to be prepared to make the decision when and if I get the offer because I know things will move fast. Thanks in advance for any and all advice. Cheers
If your plan is to fly to work, then AA’s clause doesn’t require any backup. Our policy does require a backup, which will generally add a lot of time to your commute.
If your plan is to drive to work, then AA’s clause also covers ground transportation / car issues encountered on the way to work. Ours does not, so you’re at the mercy of the CPO as to whether they want to “forgive” you for it.
I would disagree with Margarita’s characterization that we work harder than AA pilots — especially if you’re not chasing money at every turn. My friends at AA who are in the same seat as I am at DL (NB CA) all fly more block hours than I do for the same pay or less. Our soft pay is currently a little better than AA’s, especially on the NB side. For someone who isn’t chasing money, that equates to less work for the same pay.
Last edited by ancman; 11-14-2025 at 08:08 AM.
11-14-2025 | 08:46 AM
#14
Config 3
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 184
All valid points. I would add that WB Capt isn’t all it’s cracked up to be unless it’s just a personal fulfillment issue. One off’s aside (like the incredibly rare stories of 350 guys making a milly etc) the difference between WBA and NBA is about 75K a year if the assumption is pure hourly rates. That’s 375ish over a career if we’re talking the last 5 years.
However to make that jump always results in a huge hit to relative seniority. And unless you are one of the very few who can cross a million time zones at least twice a week (as a commuter either way no less!) and not have it wreck your health, then it’s not relevant anyway.
I would argue that staying NBA those last 5 years would earn most pilots far more if they know how to work the seniority based system with their increased relative seniority while also being easier on their health for the years that would have an even greater effect for most.
However to make that jump always results in a huge hit to relative seniority. And unless you are one of the very few who can cross a million time zones at least twice a week (as a commuter either way no less!) and not have it wreck your health, then it’s not relevant anyway.
I would argue that staying NBA those last 5 years would earn most pilots far more if they know how to work the seniority based system with their increased relative seniority while also being easier on their health for the years that would have an even greater effect for most.
Just having the OPTION to be a WB CA opens up a lot of QOL potential.
11-14-2025 | 08:48 AM
#15
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 21
It’s not a choice until you have a cjo. If you get one, go to Delta. I’m hopeful the AA mgmt turns things around, but the only reason to come here is if you live in base. Don’t stay at a company that loses money during the summer.
11-14-2025 | 09:28 AM
#16
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 313
Likes: 198
Hey guys just got the interview invite for DAL. I'm in the middle of IOE at AA at the moment. Just trying to figure out what path is best. Live in PIT so I will be a commuter either way. I'm grateful to have a potential choice of the two. I just left fedex and I am 36. I will end at AA around 1600 which is great seniority progression. I've used the widget seniority app a bit and it looks like its a significant hit at DAL (end around 3500ish) also with less movement in the near future (There's already 550 behind me at AA). I'm just trying to see what life is like as someone who is fairly junior at DAL vs more seniority at AA. I know DAL is a much better run company and the pay in the seat will probably be a bit better, especially with the profit sharing checks. I'm not a money chaser im more interested in QOL and time at home with my wife and kids. I know I don't have a job yet and just an invite but I want to be prepared to make the decision when and if I get the offer because I know things will move fast. Thanks in advance for any and all advice. Cheers
Its not even a contest.
But seniority trumps everything.
11-14-2025 | 09:48 AM
#18
Bent over by buybacks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 454
First off you're asking if you should stay at AA on a DAL forum so I'm not sure you're going to get honest answers since none of them are at AA right now and tend to be pretty... enthusiastic... about their air line over there. You also don't need to make a choice until you get a CJO. Sure go interview. Can't hurt. But be ready to drink some kool aid.
I'd say DAL is a better money option and AA is a better QOL option. Just search this forum. They seem to ride these guys hard and put them away wet. Sounds a lot like the regional pilots get treated. At AA we get treated like adults and the flight office treats us respectfully most of the time. (The best technique for this is show up on time, do your job, and don't get on the radar). Sure AA management is a dumpster fire and has been for a long time. But day to day on the line I don't care. That's a management problem and doesn't effect my day to day. Our contract is almost the same as DAL and UAL and my pay checks always clear. The only thing they get that we don't is that sweet profit sharing. And a bunch of premium pay that comes from them being worked almost as hard as SWA. I enjoy going to work and am senior so I get a decent schedule and tons of time off. I don't think about this place on my days off like a lot of air line pilots seem to. My QOL is the best I've ever had in a very long civilian career of several airlines including Allegiant with all day trips.
Pilots seem to have an existential fear of their airline going away and having to start over because of the decades of black swan events and management ineptitude. I say we are past that stage. AA is not Spirit. We are truly too big to fail and we aren't going anywhere. AA also probably will never make the money or splashy headlines DAL and UAL make. Fact is AA is fine just paddling along and barely keeping their head above the water. And really the only place they can go from here is up since we are near the bottom.
Yeah if you go on The Line and Below The Line and The AArena and the other pages all you hear is whining. I think most of those guys got shot down by DAL and/or UAL and they are like the guy that got dumped by the hot girl and married the 5. It's entertainment but I wouldn't put too much stock in their constant bashing of the company and jealousy of DAL/UAL. It's just a bunch of noise.
DAL isn't perfect (no air line or airline is). They seem to have a lot of problems over there too. If you live in PIT it sounds like an easy commute to PHL which is a decent base with good flying. Way better commute than DTW or ATL or LGA/JFK/EWR. With our retirements you'll rocket up in seniority here. It sounds like DAL's best hiring days are behind them and they have a crap ton of young pilots above you. At AA you'll probably hold a pure long call line very soon. At DAL they don't have SC lines. They can assign you SC off LC many times per month and it would suck to have to commute in to sit at an airport or buy a hotel. I can't speak to their cockpit climate over there but we have all heard the stories of van admirals and cockpit colonels. Sure we have a lot of crusty old USAir and TWA guys who are always going to bark and grumble but they will be gone soon. I just listen to their stories of a bygone era. I don't get into the weeds with them. I am in MIA and I can really say there's only a couple of them I'd rather not fly with again. YMMV in PHL. MIA has a reputation for being pretty chill.
Now if you're one of those guys who thinks of wearing a Delta Uniform gives you a chub and you swoon when they walk past you in the airport without making eye contact and you're always wanted to work for them then you should go there. I'm sure you'll have a fine career either way. But if you just want to go to work do your job keep your mouth shut and cash your check this is a great job too. Don't let anyone tell you you're a lesser pilot because you work for a "crap" airline. The other places may be just (as someone above said) a smoke show that you'll hate actually working at.
I'd say DAL is a better money option and AA is a better QOL option. Just search this forum. They seem to ride these guys hard and put them away wet. Sounds a lot like the regional pilots get treated. At AA we get treated like adults and the flight office treats us respectfully most of the time. (The best technique for this is show up on time, do your job, and don't get on the radar). Sure AA management is a dumpster fire and has been for a long time. But day to day on the line I don't care. That's a management problem and doesn't effect my day to day. Our contract is almost the same as DAL and UAL and my pay checks always clear. The only thing they get that we don't is that sweet profit sharing. And a bunch of premium pay that comes from them being worked almost as hard as SWA. I enjoy going to work and am senior so I get a decent schedule and tons of time off. I don't think about this place on my days off like a lot of air line pilots seem to. My QOL is the best I've ever had in a very long civilian career of several airlines including Allegiant with all day trips.
Pilots seem to have an existential fear of their airline going away and having to start over because of the decades of black swan events and management ineptitude. I say we are past that stage. AA is not Spirit. We are truly too big to fail and we aren't going anywhere. AA also probably will never make the money or splashy headlines DAL and UAL make. Fact is AA is fine just paddling along and barely keeping their head above the water. And really the only place they can go from here is up since we are near the bottom.
Yeah if you go on The Line and Below The Line and The AArena and the other pages all you hear is whining. I think most of those guys got shot down by DAL and/or UAL and they are like the guy that got dumped by the hot girl and married the 5. It's entertainment but I wouldn't put too much stock in their constant bashing of the company and jealousy of DAL/UAL. It's just a bunch of noise.
DAL isn't perfect (no air line or airline is). They seem to have a lot of problems over there too. If you live in PIT it sounds like an easy commute to PHL which is a decent base with good flying. Way better commute than DTW or ATL or LGA/JFK/EWR. With our retirements you'll rocket up in seniority here. It sounds like DAL's best hiring days are behind them and they have a crap ton of young pilots above you. At AA you'll probably hold a pure long call line very soon. At DAL they don't have SC lines. They can assign you SC off LC many times per month and it would suck to have to commute in to sit at an airport or buy a hotel. I can't speak to their cockpit climate over there but we have all heard the stories of van admirals and cockpit colonels. Sure we have a lot of crusty old USAir and TWA guys who are always going to bark and grumble but they will be gone soon. I just listen to their stories of a bygone era. I don't get into the weeds with them. I am in MIA and I can really say there's only a couple of them I'd rather not fly with again. YMMV in PHL. MIA has a reputation for being pretty chill.
Now if you're one of those guys who thinks of wearing a Delta Uniform gives you a chub and you swoon when they walk past you in the airport without making eye contact and you're always wanted to work for them then you should go there. I'm sure you'll have a fine career either way. But if you just want to go to work do your job keep your mouth shut and cash your check this is a great job too. Don't let anyone tell you you're a lesser pilot because you work for a "crap" airline. The other places may be just (as someone above said) a smoke show that you'll hate actually working at.
11-14-2025 | 09:58 AM
#19
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 158
Likes: 22
Is it better to have better seniority or be flying for a company that’s not in bankruptcy? AA is banking on a government bailout because they’re too big to fail. I hope that doesn’t cause too much pain to the people that work there, but can’t imagine it being great.
Also, move to base. Commuting is stupid.
Also, move to base. Commuting is stupid.
11-14-2025 | 10:20 AM
#20
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 412
Likes: 42
First off you're asking if you should stay at AA on a DAL forum so I'm not sure you're going to get honest answers since none of them are at AA right now and tend to be pretty... enthusiastic... about their air line over there. You also don't need to make a choice until you get a CJO. Sure go interview. Can't hurt. But be ready to drink some kool aid.
I'd say DAL is a better money option and AA is a better QOL option. Just search this forum. They seem to ride these guys hard and put them away wet. Sounds a lot like the regional pilots get treated. At AA we get treated like adults and the flight office treats us respectfully most of the time. (The best technique for this is show up on time, do your job, and don't get on the radar). Sure AA management is a dumpster fire and has been for a long time. But day to day on the line I don't care. That's a management problem and doesn't effect my day to day. Our contract is almost the same as DAL and UAL and my pay checks always clear. The only thing they get that we don't is that sweet profit sharing. And a bunch of premium pay that comes from them being worked almost as hard as SWA. I enjoy going to work and am senior so I get a decent schedule and tons of time off. I don't think about this place on my days off like a lot of air line pilots seem to. My QOL is the best I've ever had in a very long civilian career of several airlines including Allegiant with all day trips.
Pilots seem to have an existential fear of their airline going away and having to start over because of the decades of black swan events and management ineptitude. I say we are past that stage. AA is not Spirit. We are truly too big to fail and we aren't going anywhere. AA also probably will never make the money or splashy headlines DAL and UAL make. Fact is AA is fine just paddling along and barely keeping their head above the water. And really the only place they can go from here is up since we are near the bottom.
Yeah if you go on The Line and Below The Line and The AArena and the other pages all you hear is whining. I think most of those guys got shot down by DAL and/or UAL and they are like the guy that got dumped by the hot girl and married the 5. It's entertainment but I wouldn't put too much stock in their constant bashing of the company and jealousy of DAL/UAL. It's just a bunch of noise.
DAL isn't perfect (no air line or airline is). They seem to have a lot of problems over there too. If you live in PIT it sounds like an easy commute to PHL which is a decent base with good flying. Way better commute than DTW or ATL or LGA/JFK/EWR. With our retirements you'll rocket up in seniority here. It sounds like DAL's best hiring days are behind them and they have a crap ton of young pilots above you. At AA you'll probably hold a pure long call line very soon. At DAL they don't have SC lines. They can assign you SC off LC many times per month and it would suck to have to commute in to sit at an airport or buy a hotel. I can't speak to their cockpit climate over there but we have all heard the stories of van admirals and cockpit colonels. Sure we have a lot of crusty old USAir and TWA guys who are always going to bark and grumble but they will be gone soon. I just listen to their stories of a bygone era. I don't get into the weeds with them. I am in MIA and I can really say there's only a couple of them I'd rather not fly with again. YMMV in PHL. MIA has a reputation for being pretty chill.
Now if you're one of those guys who thinks of wearing a Delta Uniform gives you a chub and you swoon when they walk past you in the airport without making eye contact and you're always wanted to work for them then you should go there. I'm sure you'll have a fine career either way. But if you just want to go to work do your job keep your mouth shut and cash your check this is a great job too. Don't let anyone tell you you're a lesser pilot because you work for a "crap" airline. The other places may be just (as someone above said) a smoke show that you'll hate actually working at.
I'd say DAL is a better money option and AA is a better QOL option. Just search this forum. They seem to ride these guys hard and put them away wet. Sounds a lot like the regional pilots get treated. At AA we get treated like adults and the flight office treats us respectfully most of the time. (The best technique for this is show up on time, do your job, and don't get on the radar). Sure AA management is a dumpster fire and has been for a long time. But day to day on the line I don't care. That's a management problem and doesn't effect my day to day. Our contract is almost the same as DAL and UAL and my pay checks always clear. The only thing they get that we don't is that sweet profit sharing. And a bunch of premium pay that comes from them being worked almost as hard as SWA. I enjoy going to work and am senior so I get a decent schedule and tons of time off. I don't think about this place on my days off like a lot of air line pilots seem to. My QOL is the best I've ever had in a very long civilian career of several airlines including Allegiant with all day trips.
Pilots seem to have an existential fear of their airline going away and having to start over because of the decades of black swan events and management ineptitude. I say we are past that stage. AA is not Spirit. We are truly too big to fail and we aren't going anywhere. AA also probably will never make the money or splashy headlines DAL and UAL make. Fact is AA is fine just paddling along and barely keeping their head above the water. And really the only place they can go from here is up since we are near the bottom.
Yeah if you go on The Line and Below The Line and The AArena and the other pages all you hear is whining. I think most of those guys got shot down by DAL and/or UAL and they are like the guy that got dumped by the hot girl and married the 5. It's entertainment but I wouldn't put too much stock in their constant bashing of the company and jealousy of DAL/UAL. It's just a bunch of noise.
DAL isn't perfect (no air line or airline is). They seem to have a lot of problems over there too. If you live in PIT it sounds like an easy commute to PHL which is a decent base with good flying. Way better commute than DTW or ATL or LGA/JFK/EWR. With our retirements you'll rocket up in seniority here. It sounds like DAL's best hiring days are behind them and they have a crap ton of young pilots above you. At AA you'll probably hold a pure long call line very soon. At DAL they don't have SC lines. They can assign you SC off LC many times per month and it would suck to have to commute in to sit at an airport or buy a hotel. I can't speak to their cockpit climate over there but we have all heard the stories of van admirals and cockpit colonels. Sure we have a lot of crusty old USAir and TWA guys who are always going to bark and grumble but they will be gone soon. I just listen to their stories of a bygone era. I don't get into the weeds with them. I am in MIA and I can really say there's only a couple of them I'd rather not fly with again. YMMV in PHL. MIA has a reputation for being pretty chill.
Now if you're one of those guys who thinks of wearing a Delta Uniform gives you a chub and you swoon when they walk past you in the airport without making eye contact and you're always wanted to work for them then you should go there. I'm sure you'll have a fine career either way. But if you just want to go to work do your job keep your mouth shut and cash your check this is a great job too. Don't let anyone tell you you're a lesser pilot because you work for a "crap" airline. The other places may be just (as someone above said) a smoke show that you'll hate actually working at.
This is my unsolicited, non-kool aid induced career advice.
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