JSTARSPILOT

I've got decent connections at DAL and CAL and will get an interview with each in the coming months.

Which would you choose between if you got a yes from each?

RedeyeAV8r

Depends on many things. Where you want to live. EWR vs ATL, IAH VS SLC...........

As I have in said in previous similar posts. Wait until you have a "yes" from before you ask the question.

In the mean time if you get a "yes " from one and are waiting for a yes from another, my advice is to take the first offer you can get. You don't have any choice anyway until you have 2 offers for a class date.

Good luck in your Efforts!

757Driver

The New DAL looks impressives out of the gate and their current contract is much better than ours in all areas except post 2 year pay.

I think CAL's got the inside track on running a successful airline but our employee group is very weak on reclaiming what its owed.

The dude

DAL, no question....unless you want 29/hr with no health insurance for six months. Talk about a kick in the nuts.

duvie

I'd think a little longer term than that. With DAL you stand to have a great seniority. Look at the CAL guys who got on back in May of 2005. They'll be able to hold CA here very shortly. On the other hand I think Continental is a better company.

Like was previously stated, the cultures are pretty different at those places and you're not guranteed a spot at either one (unless the said connections are with DOs or VPs).

Either way I don't think either is head and shoulders above the other.

luv757

I fly for CAL, my dad flys for DAL. Interestingly I got hired at CAL right about the time DAL reopened their window. After some thought and discussion with my pop I ended up deciding to stay with CAL. For me I think CAL is going to be better in the long run in that I am off reserve WAY sooner than I would be anywhere else and my seniority is going up very quickly right now.

That said, each has its pros and cons and you will have to weigh each carefully (if given a choice between the two). DAL obviously has a better pay rate (at least to start) and you have a little more variety in hubs to try and get based out of. I also think DAL is positioned nicely and will do very well in the future. The con at DAL will be relative seniority. As my old man put it, he is the geezer there now (at 55) and there will be guys coming back off of various leaves and furloughs so you might be stuck on reserve there for a good long while.

CAL has growth coupled with retirements so guys are holding lines after only a month or two. And I feel CAL is about as well positioned as anyone I think to have a bright future and be a good place to go to work.

The only constant is that this industry will always be a crapshoot. Good luck. The best advice is apply to both and go with whoever hires you first. Personally I don't think you can lose either way.

Good Luck!

CVG767A

Good advice! You're not going to know if you made the right choice until the day you retire. Either of them look pretty good to me now, though.

Every airline out there is only one Harvard MBA away from disaster.

Lifeisgood

I always wanted to fly for Delta, but the name of the game is to pursue all your contacts everywhere. So in 2005 I was hired by Continental.

I'd say in a long run you'll be happy at either. Now it all comes down to bases and demographics - 75% of Delta pilots are younger than 50, 50% of Continental pilot are older than 50..

If you like DAL's bases more than CAL's go with DAL.
But the ride will be much faster at CAL - furlough protection, upgrades etc. In 2 years I have 20% of pilot's group junior to me.

Good luck with you decision.

de727ups

I'd go with whichever one offers you a job first.

Riddler

75% of Delta younger than 50? Does that include all the regional guys flying under the Delta banner?