It's difficult but try to think long term. Which is best for you? Mergers may not happen at either airline. CAL still has a lot of pilots retiring, even with an age 65 delay. I don't know what the progression at DAL is. CAL has many Captains with less than 3 years seniority (age 65 will slow that down a little). Both have good international flying. Delta does have the double breast blazer.:D If you grow a beard, you can look like the Captain of the Titanic. Both would be good choices. Just remember the great CAL hubs like Cleveland, Houston and lovely Newark, NJ. It may suck to live in CAL hubs, buy you don't have to live in the hubs. I love flying out of EWR.

Advice from a guy that has flown at both. DAL, hands down with no regrets.

What's your SS#? :D

Could you please elaborate on this some more and Express at CAL does not count. Thanks.

he's probably one of the guys that left CAL for Delta, there are a few.

I was at CAL mainline. CAL overall is an excellent company with great management and equipment. The downside of CAL is the contract, the bases, and a potential merger with UAL. I wouldn't count on upgrading quickly like the 2005 hires did. Be prepared to be on a very poor FO wage up until around year 7 unless they can negotiate a better contract. I'll make almost as much hourly on the Md-88 2nd year that I would on the 777 at CAL. The upside to the benefit package at CAL is that when you do get insurance, it is far better than DAL's. DAL has far better bases with ATL, SLC, CVG, LAX, and NYC. United will not be a friendly merger. The pilot groups hate each other unfortunately. The fleets match well though unlike the DAL-NWA merger that is probably going to happen.

All and all you are in a very enviable position. Either one will be a great choice, I just think DAL is a better one, hence the move.

Good luck!

DAL hands down! better pay, better work rules, better schedules, better benefits, better history (when it comes to bankruptcy and strikes), stronger pilot group, better bases. most of my friends that are new hires at CAL are not enjoying it, especially pbs and no health benefits and much lower first year pay than DAL. my new hire friends at DAL are really enjoying it. CAL has an average of 10% of new hire pilots leaving for SWA, DAL and NJA. that was reported from CAL, not a rumor

DAL. CAL was even my dream airline, but the pay stinks, upgrades are now stagnating again, and NO BENEFITS for 6 months!
I have two CLOSE friends at CAL. One LOVES it, the other says it's OK.
They both sit at home on reserve (CLE,EWR). The pilot group as a whole is weak.
DAL pays better, benefits, and I think a stronger pilot group.
Again, I would take DAL.
But don't really rely on me too much. I can't make a decision to stay at Spirit, or move on to UAL. (CAL,DAL didn't want to talk to me, and NWA didn't like me). Go figure!?

Thank You one and all. Some good points on both sides. One quick question for the Delta Guys, why was there a mass exodus of pilots in the 5-7 year group?

Delta. Do it.