Delta or United
 

All,

I currently have a CJO from both Delta and United. I know there have been threads asking this before but wanted to see a fresh perspective as the other threads are a couple of years old. This is a big decision and I want a genuine opinion. Currently live in SLC but would possibly be open to a move. I also would most likely take a first available upgrade at either. It sounds like the United class is going to be late Feb early March and Delta has a pool with the best guess of late Spring/Summer. I would like to add that I feel very fortunate to have to choose between Delta Air Lines and United Airlines both are great companies. Thanks in advance for your input.

-B

Get started at United, if/when the time comes make the decision whether you’d like to move on to Delta. Any thing can happen between now and then. At least you’ll be on Seniority List and moving in the right direction.

Congrats ...stats?

Line Check Airman
9000 total time
3000 121 PIC
11 years at Regionals

Where do you want to live? What kind of flying do you like? How old are you?

Delta is a better airline currently, but United is improving/growing rapidly and has more widebody flying.

Seniority/movement is everything.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/164326...5/41869143821/

We are somewhat open to where we would live, if SLC turned into a Jr. Upgrade with the expansion of the new airport, then SLC would be great. But we are flexible there...

I haven’t done the long haul international but ultimately would like to(and I feel I would enjoy it) at some point in my career.

Currently 35 yrs old.

United flies widebodies as domestic only aircraft, which gives them more widebody seats (they don't have as many more Captains as the numbers imply due to work rules differences though).

United has some good work rules, but I think Delta still has the better overall contractual package and is heads and tails better for a commuter (at Delta you can reserve a jumpseat in advance and it's yours, at United you can be bumped at any time by someone more senior).

The retirement numbers are high enough at either for you to have a great career going forward. I do think the financials are better at Delta, but don't think either airline is a bad choice.

Right now new hires are getting put in NYC, but within the past year SLC has been in new hire classes at Delta with any base in the system attainable within a year (longest time now is having to wait for the 1 year new hire seat lock if you need to change equipment to get the base you want, normal seat lock otherwise is 2 years).

Upgrade isn't nearly as critical at the major level as at the regionals, if I understand correctly that you're talking about moving to wherever you can upgrade fastest base wise (for Delta the fastest upgrade is almost assuredly going to be NYC FWIW).

UAL does provide new hire hotels and I believe new hire pay (before you get line qualified) is better. Delta provides hotels during indoc but once you come back for initial aircraft specific training you're on your own (hotels are provided again for recurrent going forward).

See UAL uniform thread, then consider your options. :D

Congrats on both offers! I’m going to give you a perspective from the UAL side. This is just based on current events here from my perspective as a 4-5 year FO.

First of all, I highly recommend living in base no matter which airline you choose. Your initial reserve life will be night and day better if you’re sitting short call from the comfort of your own couch and not stressing making a commute.

So, I’m bullish on United. While Delta has a mature and much better managed merger, UAL is just beginning to hit its stride operationally and real growth is on the horizon. Incremental aircraft orders for growth seem to be the norm. This past year we’ve placed orders for more 787s, 777s, 737max, and purchased used 767s and A329/320s. I’ll post info below regarding this. So while Delta has many orders arriving, much of that is for fleet replacement. UAL shrunk significantly and is in a growth spurt to attempt to regain natural market share.

United is in contact negotiations. This will be an interesting year to see if management is willing to actually come to the table and address concerns from the pilot group. Our relationship with management right now it’s pretty OK but as always, trust but verify. Scope is going to be the big battle. Our current contract is working with scope choke, however with the addition of a A220, EMB190 etc... we may see some significant mainline growth. I’m cautiously optimistic.

You’ll have great opportunity at either airline to diversify your flying. Narrow body, wide body, domestic or international you can pick your flavor. UAL doesn’t seat lock you like Delta. You can always bid up to a larger category right away. Ex: you get 737 as a new hire, you can bid to 756 or larger immediately if you want. The latest vacancy award had wide body FO’s going very junior and CAs running about 3.5 years in SFO.

Like mentioned before, UAL gives you a hotel and pays you roughly 90hrs credit during training. It’s a pretty amazing perk as a new hire. I actually made more in training than I did at 10 regional CA pay.

Delta is a great airline. I have many friends there and they chug the koolaid. I can see why. The airline prints money, profit sharing destroys our and I believe they make you eligible in your first year. UAL requires that you’re on property Jan1st of that year to be eligible. I’ve been very happy with my decision to come to UAL and will never look back and second guess. You win either way. Best of luck to you!

Great problem to have! It’s all positive from where you are now.

Can't really go wrong with either right now. I'm at Delta, but I think right now United has more upside (unless you want to live in a DL base then 100% choose Delta). I think UA will have a consistent quick upgrade in both SFO and EWR whereas Delta's is streaky. Also Delta has hired far more pilots already during this wave. United has more access to widebody flying if that's your thing. Delta's profit sharing is awesome, but United has some better contractual things also and profit sharing isn't a guarantee.

All in all, if bases matter choose accordingly. If upgrade/seniority matters most then pick United (or widebody flying).

Where does your wife want to live?

All the money differences pale in comparison to a significant other that’s home alone three or four days a week.

I'll recommend someone no one else has. Be a rebel, turn them both down :D

They'll never see it coming!

One thing to consider. Delta has a "one and done" policy. That is if you fail your first upgrade you're an F/O for life.

I recently heard that from a Delta Captain and couldn't believe it. Every other airline I know of gives you at least two chances to make an upgrade. He told me he knows of a 28 year old pilot who will be an F/O at Delta for life because he took an early upgrade and failed.

Not that you're worried about that, but it is something to factor in.

I highly doubt this is true.

What are you talking about? This is 100% false. Like anything in today's aviation world, be humble, take responsibility, and ask for help and you WILL be given another chance.....probably multiple if need be.

Lots of airlines have a max in upgrade attempts. When I was at Jetblue it was 2 max . May have changed . And yes we had FO’s who were lifers due to this.

To the original topic , cultures do change over the years but can you see you self more at one versus another ? I would do fine at either one I’m sure, but for my few years at United I have dealt with an awesome group of pilots . I think they are both great careers opportunities . You can find fault and greatness with either one . What everyone else said , but I would lay the decision heavily on where you could see your self and family living for a long time .


Congrats again !

It’s not something to factor in, because he sold you a bag of goods. :eek: In other words... absolutely false.


For the OP... can’t go wrong with either! Think about where you (your wife!) want to live, and try to not commute if you can!

Patently false.

Are you sure he wasn’t a Delta Connection pilot?

Live in base. nuff said

100% take the job at United. Then quit United and go to the delta class as long as you want to live in SLC. Always take the first class! Always! The. Decide if you want to quit for Delta this summer.

Thank you everyone for the replies, knowledge, and insight with everything. I’m sure there are others that might find themselves in my shoes as well so this thread can hopefully help many. Keep it going... Thanks again, fly safe! -B

....until an airline buys you and closes your base and the next closest base is 2,200nm away. :D :eek:

In 2015 I’d say go to Delta, but they have hired an insane amount of people since then and you would be behind a bottleneck. United hasn’t hired nearly as many relative to retirements, so I think your seniority rise would be better at UA. But rule 1, decide where you’re going to live and go to the one where you can drive to work.

That sucks for sure. I’m a big wimpy boy relative to airline hardship. 4 years in, lightning seniority, live in base on reserve, and haven’t turned a wheel on reserve since October 24th. I literally cannot think of a better job. Except maybe working with the Swedish bikini team applying sunscreen for the season. Towns that way......those are some lucky guys

As some others have said. Take the first offer and get a line number. When or if the next class date comes along, then make the decision. Don't burn any bridges along the way. Stuff happens in this business. When you get to that point, where you and your wife wants to live would probably be the primary determining factor sans any major changes to the business between now and then. Good luck. It's a good situation to be in.

The Delta and United pilot profiles are polar opposites... one of the processes identified you correctly, the other is false positive. Go to United and find out which one it is... :D

this x1000000

Nope. Left seat of a 717. Doesn't surprise me that its not true. As I said, I couldn't believe it either. Alaska used to give you at least two chances and I know of one guy who had at least 3 tries. He never could pass IOE so he was an F/O for life.

He must’ve read it on the Internet.

If you pass on United and delta doesn’t have classes in the summer as you expected then what? Nothing says you can’t leave United for Delta if that’s the goal.

When did Hollywood go to the 717?

Post Covid bump

Whoever calls first

and if they both call, wherever you want to live

United’s interview was much easier.

I found the DL interview to be way more about the applicant and their story/path compared to United being 7 or so random TMAATs. As to which is easier. Depends I guess. The DL tests aren’t that bad but the day 2 psych eval definitely wrenches some people. As does the UA hogan. Toss up IMO.

never interviewed at UAL, but I thought the psych portion of the DAL interview was not difficult. I feel like it’s a self fulfilling prophecy, if you get worked up over it they will know and probably won’t like that.

I agree, I didn't find it particularly difficult, but it seems to be a hang up that some applicants have. I had no issue with the Hogan but that too weeds people out. Overall I thought I was able to sell myself more in the DL interview vs UA.

Depends upon which you think is coming back first, business travel or international.