DAL or CAL
 

I have been hired by both Delta and Continental airlines and now must make a decision on which one to go with. Any insight/information to make a decision on?

Where do you live?

All else aside, I would choose DAL.

So, a coin toss is out of the question? Where would you want to live (or where do you live if you don't want to move) and I think that will be the first step in making your decision.

Live in Dallas.

Continental seems to have the better pay and bennies, though. Hourly pay rate at least 10/hour higher at CO. Junior captain at CO is only about 4 years I believe vs much longer than DL.

Both airlines have tons of European and int'l flying out of NY/Newark. CO has the Air Micronesia if that is something you ever desire.

CO has much better mgmt I think than the new DL CEO.

IMO

K

CAL has already hired 1400+ pilots in the past 3 years. most of them are between the ages of 24-40 and arent going anywhere for a LONG time. I would go DAL. Front side of a hiring wave vs. middle rear at CAL. Good luck

if the merge goes through DAL will be a big mess and so will NWA

So will CAL and UAL

Congrats. Two good pilot groups IMO. How long do you have? If no time tell both yes. That will get you till the next few weeks before training and you will possibly know the status of the proposed mergers between DAL/NWA and CO/UAL. That will possibly sway your thoughts. Others may disagree, fair enough, but you are under no obligation to shut either door down until before class. Give them a few days and I guarantee they will have the slot filled. (Virtually any airline will be more than content to call you the day before a class date to rescind the offer, happens. It's business)
If it does go to merger at DAL/NWA, consider best you can the implications to pilot demographics. Should look at same for CO with a possible UAL merger.

Pilot demographics will affect you for the rest of your career (seniority progression which gives you choice about quality of life issues like aircraft choice (pay and routes you like to fly-domestic or intl, etc) and domicile.

Place of residence should be secondary. If you stay in Dallas you are going to commute for awhile regardless of choice. Fortunately Dallas is one leg commute to most anywhere you will be at CO or DAL anyway.
Nice dilemma to have <g>

Continental, their logo is better, and they don't have anything but Boeing.