CJO Options
 

If you’re a first year 28yr old FO at SWA, with CJOS from the big 3, and if bases were not a factor, which would you choose and why?

Delta, unless you wanted to more opportunity to be widebody pilot, and didn’t care about reserve rules, then United.

25 years ago, there were people in your situation deciding between USAir, TWA and Northwest.

Nobody kmows

Disagree. In a consolidated industry like today, you can have a pretty good idea.

What are your goals?

Why did you go to SWA in the first place?

The poster has a 37 year career ahead of him. I agree there’s little or no consolidation ahead between ua/dl/aa but surely there will be change. Go back 37 (or 27 or 17) years and try to predict which job is the best choice.

Sure, if forced, you can argue one vs the other but in a base-agnostic choice between all 3, it’s REALLY hard to make compelling arguments.

You have AA in your screen name. Is this for you or “a friend?”

Went to SWA because they called first. Since I’ve started there now the rest have fortunately called.

Upgrade time is a high priority as well as seniority progression. I realize with 36/37 yrs that the end number will probably be good at any of the big 3. I did the widget pilot seniority and saw by age 58 I would be 12% relative seniority at Delta while 7% at UAL/AA. So a 5% difference.

I wouldn’t mind being a WB FO for a couple years then upgrade to NB CA. If I make WB CA it would be cool but I don’t need to do it. If I’m getting a better schedule as a NB CA I’ll stick with that for a bit then maybe do WB CA for my last 10-15yrs.

The lost decade…. I couldn’t imagine having a job at southwest at 28. Let alone job offers from all the majors as well. 10 years ago even an astronaut didn’t have these opportunities.

It’s still taking me a while to even comprehend these conversations.