American or FedEx
09-19-2018, 05:44 PM
#125
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Posts: 180
Originally Posted by HighDimension
I'm looking for some input on my future in commercial aviation. I'm fortunate enough to have an opportunity at FDX and AA but need some help making a decision.
I'm in my early 30's and separating from active duty after 10 years. I am joining a reserve unit to make it to 20 years and get a reserve retirement. AA has a base co-located with my reserve job which allows me to avoid commuting. Class dates for both jobs are within a month of one another.
I guess the big question is do the benefits of commuting to a FDX job outweigh the benefits of living in base with AA?
Thank you in advance for all of the feedback. I know that I found threads like these incredibly useful even before I started the application process!
I'm in my early 30's and separating from active duty after 10 years. I am joining a reserve unit to make it to 20 years and get a reserve retirement. AA has a base co-located with my reserve job which allows me to avoid commuting. Class dates for both jobs are within a month of one another.
I guess the big question is do the benefits of commuting to a FDX job outweigh the benefits of living in base with AA?
Thank you in advance for all of the feedback. I know that I found threads like these incredibly useful even before I started the application process!
Truth be told, go where Momma will be happiest. There's no price on that.
09-19-2018, 09:27 PM
#126
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,238
Originally Posted by UnusualAttitude
The schedule is pretty comparable from a sleep aspect with traditional PAX flying from North America to the EU.
Night flying isn’t for everyone. I’ve said earlier in this thread that it took me a full year to really figure it out. Even then there are some hard nights and I’m in year 3 of 99.9% domestic hub turns. For me the first night of the week is usually the hardest because it is usually hard to make myself get a good nap at home before the first night of my trip.
One more thing to mention is that short flights go more senior. Going from MEM to the west coast (best layovers worst flights) is a lot harder than a 50 minute flight to IND but pay close to the same because of our rigs. Most pax red eyes are long flights (designed to take advantage of time zone changes) and duty days are probably fairly similar for cargo guys and pax guy’s going red eye transcon. The difference is that most cargo guys get 2-4 hours off in the hub and if you can nap in one of our sleep rooms it’s a game changer.
Keep in mind most of these are sort of week on / week off schedule. I don’t normally have any problems switching back to “normal” hours at home. Keys include getting some sun and a workout. Makes it much easier.
I am in no way trying to minimize the toll that night flying and circadian rhythms disruptions have on the body. The pain can be very real. I would add that when you can hold day flying at Purple the weeks are generally consistent. You fly to the same city all week long. Read into that waking up at the same time every morning. You can establish routine that is really only avail at Purple if you so choose. Even at the pax day time you deal with circadian rhythm interruptions. Get in late, leave midday, get in late, shorter layover, leave mid morning, get in early, leave at crack of dawn. None of us work 9-5 unless you get into the management side of the house.
UA
Night flying isn’t for everyone. I’ve said earlier in this thread that it took me a full year to really figure it out. Even then there are some hard nights and I’m in year 3 of 99.9% domestic hub turns. For me the first night of the week is usually the hardest because it is usually hard to make myself get a good nap at home before the first night of my trip.
One more thing to mention is that short flights go more senior. Going from MEM to the west coast (best layovers worst flights) is a lot harder than a 50 minute flight to IND but pay close to the same because of our rigs. Most pax red eyes are long flights (designed to take advantage of time zone changes) and duty days are probably fairly similar for cargo guys and pax guy’s going red eye transcon. The difference is that most cargo guys get 2-4 hours off in the hub and if you can nap in one of our sleep rooms it’s a game changer.
Keep in mind most of these are sort of week on / week off schedule. I don’t normally have any problems switching back to “normal” hours at home. Keys include getting some sun and a workout. Makes it much easier.
I am in no way trying to minimize the toll that night flying and circadian rhythms disruptions have on the body. The pain can be very real. I would add that when you can hold day flying at Purple the weeks are generally consistent. You fly to the same city all week long. Read into that waking up at the same time every morning. You can establish routine that is really only avail at Purple if you so choose. Even at the pax day time you deal with circadian rhythm interruptions. Get in late, leave midday, get in late, shorter layover, leave mid morning, get in early, leave at crack of dawn. None of us work 9-5 unless you get into the management side of the house.
UA
Thanks for the reply. From what I gathered, it’s all about equipment and seniority is key in getting day flying. I personally don’t care for night flying unless it’s transcon. My biggest thing is having to report at 12 am and get off at 7, 8, 9, in the morning. Having worked the graveyard shift, that’s hard. Don’t know if that’s a realistic day schedule since I have no idea how your trips are built, but that that’s the perception.
Again, purple is no where near my future yet so I’ll see if I end up evolving into some higher specie so I can nap three times a day fly all night!
09-19-2018, 09:29 PM
#127
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,238
Originally Posted by Flaps50MaxBrake
Most of us do sleep at night or day depending.
Lets see, depart, level off, trade off (sleep) all the way to destination.
Get to destination, sleep more.
Get up, workout, eat, call the family then sleep more.
No disrespect but if you can't learn to sleep sometimes three times a day then maybe you should choose a pax airline.
Lets see, depart, level off, trade off (sleep) all the way to destination.
Get to destination, sleep more.
Get up, workout, eat, call the family then sleep more.
No disrespect but if you can't learn to sleep sometimes three times a day then maybe you should choose a pax airline.
Like I said though, it’s not off the table. Who knows, might just might turn into an owl lol
09-20-2018, 02:57 AM
#128
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,622
Originally Posted by 5millionaire
Thread ended, great post.
To add one thing, Memphis isn’t THAT bad.
To add one thing, Memphis isn’t THAT bad.
I live in Memphis and I hear the daily depressing news reports and my “Nextdoor” neighborhood watch app constantly alerts with reports of crime, suspicious people casing the neighborhood or testing the locks on homes and vehicles. The Memphis Police just can’t keep up.
What surprises me is that many of my friends who commute or have crash pads don’t think Memphis is that bad. But that’s because they’re usually in and out and they don’t get a chance to see it or experience it.
09-21-2018, 06:26 AM
#129
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2016
Position: 757
Posts: 146
Don't come to FedEx expecting to not fly at night. Even our "day" trips are half at night (2000-2330). Somebody is flying those wide body hub turns, and the Captain isn't a junior new hire. Yeah, you don't have to bid Captain, but eventually you will. There is mostly night flying at FedEx, if you don't want or can't do that, don't come to FedEx.
To the OP, go with AA no question. Living in base, mil job co-located, as solid a pax carrier as there is. Have a great career at AA.
To the OP, go with AA no question. Living in base, mil job co-located, as solid a pax carrier as there is. Have a great career at AA.
09-21-2018, 09:34 AM
#130
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 52
FWIW I work for one of AAs wholly-owneds and I’ve seen many people choose FedEx over AA when they could have “flowed through” around the same time. Even guys that lived in an AA base! Different strokes for different folks. Good luck. Either airline will give you a phenomenal career.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
