Hobbit64

Well, It *is* contract negotiation time. I am waiting for promises of 5 year upgrades at MCO to come rolling out of the management team any day now.

If only we'd accept a pay rate that will allow them to grow like they want to, then we'd ALL win!
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BlueSkies

I know multiple pilots that went Atlas -> UAL. Oddly, I don't know any that went the other way.

WHACKMASTER

Exactly. Other SWA pilots please chime in. SWA HR/recruiters are smoking some serious crack. When you have one fleet type and now approximately 9800 pilots and 750 airplanes, unless you have MASSIVE airplane orders (which we don’t) then no one is upgrading in six years.

It’s simple. 60% relative seniority at SWA has been what it takes to hold the most junior captain position system-wide. Then it comes down to where that most junior domicile is and are you willing to commute there? Traditionally it’s been OAK but with the massive growth it’s probably gonna be Denver. So then you have to ask yourself, are you willing to commute to DEN from where you live?

This is all mental masturbation anyway. Everyone knows the correct answer is UAL. My absolutely dream machine and favorite airplane is the Whale and I’ll probably never get a chance to fly it.

Instead, I’m on year 16 of a 33 year sentence on the Guppy. The jet itself and the SWA flying are what can only be described as “soul-crushing”. However, I’m not gonna go chasing the Queen of the Skies because of it.

Those of us that have seen the craziness of this industry (myself from 98’ onwards) know how quickly fortunes can change. In today’s environment it seems to me like UAL is a no-brainer. There are lots of retirements to mitigate the chance of furlough. SWA is the most financially stable of the three but the airplane and flying itself will crush your soul, and Atlas is probably best left for a younger man’s game.

CX500T

Given these three choices, United, then Southwest.

Atlas ONLY if you needed them to get a visa, but it sounds like the others will play ball.

Since you have no ties to the US, what sort of environ do you want to live in. UAL and SWA overlap in many areas.

I'm a Delta guy so I'm out of the fight either way. If both are a choice and you aren't married to a SW only domicile, I'd go UAL for the variety of flying. Domestic Narrowbody is always available at United. International Widebody is not at SWA.

What is important for where you want to live? Where did you grow up and do you care for a similar climate, maybe an expat/immigrant population so you can get your "home food fix" etc.

SWA Domiciles/UAL Domiciles (cities that are same metro I put on same line.
DAL
HOU / IAH
BWI / IAD (both DC Metro area)
DEN / DEN
/ EWR (SWA has nothing in New York metro)
LAS
MCO
MDW / ORD
OAK / SFO
PHX
LAX / LAX
ATL'
/ GUM

swaforme

I’ve been at SWA for over 24 years. The flying suits me well. I’m based in LAX and get a good combo of Hawaii flying along with an occasional East bound trip. People on this board love to hate the 73, I feel satisfied to fly it for the rest of my career. I find nothing “soul crushing” about the flying we do here.

Moonwolf

How about untied for the simple fact you will be able to non rev on your own metal to go overseas or to Europe. Sw and atlas you’d be bumming rides

at6d

I’ve bummed rides on United, Delta, TAP, Austrian, Air Canada, and El Al on international trips this year. As a WN guy.

JohnnyBekkestad

Well, I work for Atlas. However, I tend to agree with most people here. UA, SW then Atlas.
The only way I’d pick Atlas over any of those is if you absolutely want to fly cargo over pax. If that’s the case there are many order companies to take into consideration as well.

If you are looking for quick upgrade then UA is the way to go. SW upgrade times are crazy high and someone is lying if they tell you 6 years.
At Atlas the 777 is the second most junior airframe, with a 2019 hue to upgrade.

Id say to go for SW, if you are looking for a fun culture.

just one more thing to add to the mix. Try to live close to where you want to be domiciled. Commuting really sucks, and the most junior CA at UA will be in expensive cities. This is where Atlas has a huge benefit, their gateway is really nice. I’m based in JFK, and have had a ton of luck with deadheads on both ends of my patterns, so I’ve been home about 4-5 days more a month.

ZapBrannigan

This is a myth. I've worked for a lot of different airlines and don't find the culture at WN to be any different than anyplace else I've worked. That is NOT a good reason to choose the company where you want to spend the rest of your career.

Sputnik

I'm at Delt, I fly the 73 and will probably fly it the rest of my career. That said, United by a country mile. Options are a great thing, especially with 32 years left.