Sorry to derail this question but I don’t want to start another post and be annoying.

What about United and Delta, where would y’all go?

CJOs at both, live in a city where both have bases. Have researched the contract comparison of both and they are both pretty similar except for profit sharing.. cannot figure out how to make the appropriate informed decision. Any guidance?

I think Delta’s reserve system especially if you live in base is better. The concept of global reserve at UAL would cause heads to explode at Delta. That can of course change in the next contract. Probably better advancement at UAL.
The overtime provisions at Delta can make you wealthy if you live in base. The reserve system drives many trips to double pay. Crediting well over 100 hours a month is not difficult in many categories. I have no idea how that works at UAL. Short term seniority will get a rapid boost over the next 18 months as Delta deferred hiring and is playing catch-up.

Delta and UAL bases? So that’s lax or jfk? Big junior bases both. I’d pick on the reserve system that will let you stay home for pay best

How old are you? How many people younger than you have been hired at DAL/UAL that you’ll never be senior to?

Since you’re willing to live in a domicile for either, and thus drive to work (the most important thing by far)... I’d look at where you are in each company’s hiring wave.

Delta has hired 5k or so since 2013-2014. Not sure how many United has hired.

Ultimately, wherever you end up will be great, APC wang-measuring aside. Every place has a ton of pros and a few cons. Everything is cyclical.

That’s tough...but I think UAL has more retirements coming up and has hired less thus far. If I were in your shoes, I think I’d lean toward UAL.

Thanks a lot guys, very much appreciate the responses

Retirements will be a factor, but if you live in the most junior base for a company your options will be much better than your classmates who commute or live in a more senior domicile.

As an outsider with friends at both places, it sounds like people at AA are just short of miserable, except for pay. As far as business is concerned, AA is the closest to bankruptcy...again.

United vs Delta

As others have said, pay, most work rules, and lack of commute are about even between the two, these are the factors I can think of off the top of my head:

1. Profit sharing cannot be counted on, but there’s no denying the benefit of such large checks as of late.

2. CAL hired a lot of young guys that everyone keeps forgetting

3. Who has more wide bodies, if that’s your thing.

4. Both have announced large numbers of hiring in 2020, I’d see how those numbers affect the cushion below you (I’m too lazy to look up the actual projected hiring numbers)

5. Future. Who’s more innovative, who’s cutting back (::cough cough United Polaris Meals::)

This.

For debt? A large replacement aircraft order at DL/UAL would get them in the ballpark. Americans debt concerns me. We have gone through a huge spending spree though. New HQ/almost all new aircraft. I think we are ahead of the other carriers expenses coming up.


“American has more than $34 billion in debt, compared to United's $20 billion, Delta's $17.4 billion”