AAL(flow) or UAL
 

Hello peers.

Hope this finds you well. Don't know what to do. Seems like everyone that is going to UAL is holding WB within 2 years. I am sitting on flowing to AAL im 8 months with a bonus pay out of 115k, I always though AA was the better choice based on retirements, but they are hiring so much that by the time I get there might as well go to UAL. Both of these choice are within 3 hour drive to work AA being the clases. Please help me clear my head.

Thank you.

Nobody can make that decision for you. Good luck

When is your class date at United?

WB is going to new hires, if that’s in your decision calculus - definitely some cons to that vs. NB IMO. “Might as well, go to UA” - do you have a CJO? We’re coming from the same place, so I imagine we’d be in the same place again. Surely you’ve seen the #s - yesterday’s class was 70, I believe. Hit the line barely 2 months ago, 1 month of reserve, and holding a line this month w/15 off; about 180 below me already - just an incredible time, really. Location being fairly equal, no way in H$LL I’d wait to flow to AA. Just my opinion…

Get a united CJO then try to trade it for an AA CJO. But 8 months isn’t worth $115k

Yeah the best way to make a rest of your life career decision is to ask a bunch of goofballs on an anonymous pilot troll page.

C'mon man!

But since you asked I say flow to AA take the money then go to to another legacy after that if you don't like how it looks at AA. I'm not sure you should feel like you missed the boat because you waited 8 months and 1000 people got hired ahead of you. Unless another catastrophe happens the legacy airlines will drain the regional pilots and most of the ULCC within 5 years. There's plenty more hiring and movement coming up. I'd say ask yourself what you want from your career and where you want to live. Find an airline that matches your goals. Other than that the legacy airlines are basically the same.

there are twice as many widebodys at UAL vs AA. Junior 777 CA at UAL is roughly 5500 vs 3k at AAL. AA is run like a huge regional if that helps. AA will also probably have 1-3 year upgrades shortly. Good commuter clause. Good vacation accrual. Work rules suck.

My choice would be UAL.

First year at United gives you $12.75k in your 401K
Second year 787/777 pay at United is min $154k and $24k in the 401k

Its looking like 5+ years to get Group 4 FO pay at AA. In the next 8 months AA will be hiring 1440- 2240 pilots who aren’t you. Many of which will be younger than you and may prevent you from being a Group 4 CA at AA. Or a commuting Group 4 CA. You’ll be able to be a 767 CA at United in approximately 8-10 years and a 787 CA in 18-20.

The conventional wisdom is take the first offer you have, unless your first offer results in a career of commuting vs living in base. Both AA and UA are within driving distance you said, so I’d go with UA. That’s just my opinion and what I truly believe I’d do if I were in your position. Tough decision, good luck.