Leave AA for Delta? DTW future
 

Almost 4 years in but I just updated my Delta app. Doubt I will get called but AA just seems more and more anti pilot with each passing day.

I live about 3 hours from DTW and that is also a factor. Delta was always my first choice but I stopped updating airline apps about 2 years ago. What’s the future of DTW and is it still the junior base outside NY? Thanks

No

AA is about to undergo massive retirements.

DTW is a legacy NW hub that is relatively small (and barely growing) as an area to support O&D traffic. I wouldn’t stake a career on the mid 21st century prospects of Detroit

To essentially live in base? I'm still enjoying my time at AA after almost 8 years, but I don't know why he didn't leave years ago. Commuting sucks.

3 hours away? We have different definitions of essentially

for the seniority difference you can commute positive space.

To add:

the drive is 3hrs and I am locked in at my location for the next 3 years but moving closer to dtw would be easy after that time. Lots of family enroute between where I am and DTW. Mom an hour south of DTW, brother 30 minutes south. I hate the idea of starting over but Delta just “appears” to have their crap together. Almost everyday I wonder how AA even stays in business.

other consideration: I am in my early 50’s so the timeline isn't very long.

it is all mute till I actually get called which is also doubtful.

My Delta buddies certainly don’t look at their employer as “pro pilot”. If anything, they despise the anti-union actions, SJW virtue signaling, scope maneuvering, etc. Very similar to the stuff Parker pulls at AA. It’s without a doubt a better run company with a better overall contract.

With less than 15 years to go until mandatory retirement, how long until you’d be able to be DTW based? How long on reserve? How long would you be commuting to NYC to cover 3 airports? How long to hold a Group 4-equivalent FO seat in DTW, if that motivates you? Does a 3 hour drive work with Delta’s short call?

If you’re comfortable with those timelines, and the end result of a 3 hour drive to work is better than your AA commute, then it’s at least worth applying and getting an interview.

Why would you give up 4+ years of seniority? If you don't want to leave Michigan, move to the Central or western part of the state and drive to Chicago. With your mass retirements coming, you'll be giving up a ton of seniority. It just doesn't make sense.

True it's on the edge, but you can sit short call on 3 hours. Plenty of folks do it here in NY. Nobody has answered how junior/senior DTW is, but if he can hold it from the get-go and the reserves aren't getting abused - combined with strategic use of whatever Delta calls sick-if-needed - he could probably have some pretty good QOL without much time on property. Obviously he'll have to look at all the angles and see what works for him.

The current DTW plug has been at Delta for two solid years. Not sure when that person was able to hold DTW, or how long they've been there. We have people converting to DTW who have been with DAL for 18ish months.

That's all the hard data I have. My personal conjecture would be to expect at least a year of NYC until you can leave, unless you get ATL during indoc, which is currently happening in small numbers. I'd expect that to go away at some point and we'll go back to all NYC new hire spots though. But to hold DTW, my guess is 18-24 months.

I would keep in mind that the last twoish years have been anomalous and that the massive hiring block that is beginning will likely make DTW more attainable relatively quickly. I think if you could see the December 2019 DTW list, you would have a more accurate timeline for what it will take to hold DTW in the future. Disclaimer: I’m not DAL.

My personal opinion on the OP’s mindset is that it appears you would be prefer to be closer to your mom and brother during the twilight of your career. That has massive value and I wouldn’t overlook it when making your decision.