smiley

I've got an interview with both AirTran and Delta in the near future and in the perfect world I'll have a choice between the 2. I see some real positives with both and a couple of negatives with both as well and know it's going to be a hard decision. I just wanted to get some other input and see if I'm missing anything else in my thinking. I realize based on several other threads that I'll probably get a couple of flame wars going on here, but bring it on!!! (as professionally as possible of course) I just want a variety of opinions and any other input.

Here's my basic thinking:
AirTran Positives - much quicker upgrade, known domicile (not commuting would be a plus), lots of growth potential (more seniority quicker), and not much time spent on reserve.

AirTran Negatives - less long term career $$ potential, no international flying (for career and for discounted/free travel benefits).

Delta Positives - larger long term career $$ potential, international flying (career and off duty travel benefits), and prestige (debatable - especially in this forum!).

Delta Negatives - depending on equipment lots more time on reserve (especially if I can go for 757/767 early), much lower seniority for much longer, much longer upgrade, and less control over domicile (forced to choose between lifestyle/money).

Basically what I'm looking at is with AirTran I get a more stable lifestyle sooner and higher seniority, but sacrifice the $$ and with Delta I get more $$ and more prestige but sacrifice stability (schedule/reserves/possible commuting) and seniority.

I know most of this is personal opinion and what works best for each individual, I just want to hear some opinions and see what else I'm missing!

Thanks!!!!

hotbwayjoel

I say go for Delta!

Polarfr8dog

There are only three words to say. This is from someone who has been furloughed three times, stapled to a seniority list, and been through a few airlines as a direct result. So if you haven't heard it before, rest assure that you will here it for a long time: SENIORITY SENIORITY SENIORITY. LCC's are here to stay. It's not just one thing to look at it's the only thing to look at. There is no presitge with a major airline anymore. It's about getting what you can while you fly. People will still talk to at a party -- trust me. Good luck with the interviews -- that's was an exciting time during the first part of my career.

Slice

Dal................

Bri85

Im a risk taker, ill go for delta, and in the long run it will pay off.

dojetdriver

Wow dude, that sucks balls.

CVG767A

At Delta, you'll be able to live in Atlanta, as soon as your (probable) NYC tour is over. Additionally, you'll have a wider range of equipment to fly and places to go. You'd be getting hired at the beginning of a hiring wave (historically, that's a predictor of good seat progression) and gain adequate seniority quickly.

You can fly international. 24 hours in Prague is alot more fun than 13 hours in Canton/Akron.

You notice I didn't mention money. Career earnings are nearly impossible to predict in this industry, and how much you earn is less important than enjoying your life.

BTW, here's my fearless prediction. Airtran will be bought by Southwest. Southwest needs to increase their debt level to discourage the possibilty of an LBO, and also could use a bigger presence in the southeast. Airtran is a well run airline that would fit nearly perfectly into SWA's system.

Best of luck with your interviews; I hope you get to choose.

smiley

Any body else voting for Delta care to go into more details as to why.

The feeling I have with the Airline industry is it's a total crapshoot! There's no real way of knowing what the next 40 years will bring other than a whole lot of change! So I have to make the best informed decision I can based on what I have seen and where I think that may lead and who offers me a job!

Accordingly - Delta has thus far weathered 9/11, albiet declaring bankruptcy and furloughing, but is out of bankruptcy looking at a very good possibility of stable growth. I think that says a lot about Delta and their ability to weather future storms. While anything could happen - I don't think they'll be going out of business anytime soon. What does worry is the seniority issue and if there is another bump in the road where that'll put me - furloughed.

I also agree with polarfr8dog
And it looks like AirTran does have a great future. I know a lot of pilots disagree, but it seems to me that the company and the union have a good working relationship with the company somewhat caring about the pilots (but more about money), and the union understanding the company's need to make money and not bleed them for every penny they can. Hopefully the fairly negative trend on wages can turn around soon, but getting into AirTran now seems to me like getting into SouthWest several years ago. I'll be in early and ride a large growth spurt and get a lot of Seniority out of it, as well as a stable lifestyle. Once again - anything can happen, but I see a bright future for AirTran as well.

Thanks for all the input!

acl65pilot

I will say this. I have a buddy that has been hired at both places. He would start both classes on the same day next month. We have been round and round about this. He is pulled to Airtran for the quick upgrade. I would be to and was, but the fact is that Delta's pay and bennies are at the bottom of their game, whereas AAI's are at the top of their game.
Delta's QOL will probably go up in the near and long term. If you look at the current rates over the next ten years you would probably make more at AAI. It really depends on what you want and where you want to be. For me, I looked at my career goals and where I wanted to be in 30 years. I had a SWA interview, a Delta job, a CO job and a job at a MD-11 operator. I chose Delta. In the long term with the way that they restructured debt, along with a few other key financial decisions, they are prepared well to weather the next down turn. Does that mean that I will not get furloughed, NO. What it means is that I feel it is the best bet to retire from.
Delta offers options, whereas AAI offers a historically quicker upgrade and maybe better money for the next 10 years. If you have longer than 10 years left in this industry I would go to DAL with out a second thought.
DAL has a ton of openings in ATL. Fact is that if you do not want to be NYC based it will take only a few months to get back. I only took me six weeks. Not bad considering that in a year you may be up there for a lot longer. FWIW, I as well as my friend are very comfortable with the decisions that we have made.

CVG767A

LCCs may be here to stay, but I don't see any LCC remaining an LCC forever. They'll all mature. When the high growth rates slow, they'll have to pay their employees more, since the stock options won't be cutting it anymore. The aircraft will age, and the infastructure will begin to bloat, and slowly but surely, costs will rise.

Conversely, there will always be new airlines starting up, taking advantage of low first-year payscales, as well as sweetheart aircraft lease deals, and chipping away at the established airlines.

None of this is meant to be a slam on any of the better LCCs out there. The leaders in this class have managed the aforementioned threats very well, and they'll be around for a long time, but the secular trends in the segment still exist.

The bottom line is that nothing is here to stay as is. Change is constant, and we work in an industry where there are few barriers to entry, and many barriers to exit.