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- Major (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/)

- - Delta or United (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/119445-delta-united.html)

If you interview at Delta, are offered the job, and you decide to stay at United, you may be at risk of burning a bridge in the unlikely scenario you need to apply to delta in the future. Something to consider.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaGreenBanana (Post 3311609)

stupidest thing I have heard all week! So, if you take the Job at Delta wouldn’t you be burning the bridge at United?

no, it is not something to consider.

when you apply to multiple places at some point you have to tell someone no.

So, is your advice to quit and move to every company that offers job? So you don’t “burn the bridge?”

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNWFlyer (Post 3311681)

I think he meant more long the lines of don’t even interview at Delta? But then you would still be burning a bridge there. Like you said though, you’ll have to tell someone no at some point. Whether that’s a burnt bridge is hard to say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broncofan (Post 3311732)

That is correct. I don’t want to waste my time (or theirs) if I don’t intend on accepting the job. Telling them no isn’t the issue - someone has to be told no. I’ll interview if I intend on accepting, but if not, I’d rather bow out and give the interview spot to someone else.

Ive never been a believer of picking a long term career based off of current aircraft, fleets, routes, etc.

Contracts will always be similar. Routes will be similar. Flying is flying.

I’d pick solely on where you want to live. Seattle or San Fran. Houston or Atlanta. New York or New York. Chicago or msp/dtw. And I can’t imagine all those cities are a push. But If none of that matters, why leave?

I don’t think there’s anything worth leaving for in the context of a 20-30 year career. Less than that, then those details( contracts, reserve rules, etc) matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cougs (Post 3311061)

I’d love to hear your thoughts… Delta was my #1 choice, but by the time they called, I was wrapping up training at United. I’ve got a Delta interview scheduled for a month from now, but I’m not sure what I should do. Frankly, I’ve been really impressed by United thus far. For my family, the domiciles are a push - no preference either way, so it really comes down to pay, opportunities, stability, etc.

United has more WB flying (a hell of a lot more. I could hold 787/777 FO in multiple bases as a brand new guy). They seem to be aggressively trying to capture market, grow, and fix their culture and I was impressed by what I saw during training. Their strikes are poor reserve rules, financial stability, and lower profit sharing.
Delta has a better reputation and financials, much better reserve rules, and healthy profit sharing. What they don’t have is nearly the WB fleet/opportunities, or the pilot seniority that I’ll enjoy at United. I should also mention that because United called so early and their biggest retirement numbers are in the future, I’ll always have about a 1000 seniority advantage at United over Delta (according to the retirement charts).

It’s a good problem to have, but I want to make the decision with eyes wide open and try to get it right. I’d be interested in thoughts from guys with major experience, because I have none!

Key word, opportunities. Never get wrapped up wth profit sharing.

Not a UAL guy, but they’ve made bigger headwinds toward improving their product the last few years compared to anyone.

follow the opportunities for the best career gamble.

Where would upgrade faster? I’d be in the most junior base

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck D (Post 3311129)

There's no profit sharing right now so they're pretty matched up there. Structurally, the formulas are pretty similar (DL comes out a bit ahead) and DL has had better years in the past but "past performance and all..."

Only on surface. DALs profit sharing is pensionable, meaning that 16% DC money is paid on top of the profit sharing cash.

When you reach your IRS limit, UAL spills the money into a VEBA, while at DAL, it’s paid as cash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuGuy (Post 3315120)

Only on surface. DALs profit sharing is pensionable, meaning that 16% DC money is paid on top of the profit sharing cash.

When you reach your IRS limit, UAL spills the money into a VEBA, while at DAL, it’s paid as cash.

Just for clarity, that VEBA is accessible due to a recent change. As long as you have a United medical plan, you can use it for FSA-type expenses & premiums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuGuy (Post 3315120)

That’s true today but not going forward. DAL excess money above the IRS limit will be going into a MBCP. I would take excess into a MBCP over a VEBA any day of the week.