In a perfect world if you could choose between SWA and FedEx, what would you do? Does FedEx get the same free travel as airlines?

 

FedEx. Can fly international; Can fly heavy aircraft. More varied schedules.
No passengers; no flight attendants. Higher pay faster. ie Widebody at year two is 117 per hour-- can do this under current hiring numbers. However, you must fly at night. Not sure, but I also believe you fly less--time off is important to me.

I don't know if you can fly for free at airlines-- but you can jumpseat at FedEx--family members do not get free travel on airlines (some may offer discounts--I think that SWA is one of the few that offer them to FedEx family members).

But you really need to find someone who will sponsor you at FedEx. At SWA, recommendations are good, but they have taken people without having a lot of buds in the company.

Just found out from a bud-- SWA offers FedEx employees and family members 35 dollar one way Standby fares.

 

FedEx. Quicker upgrade right now. Heavy aircraft. Will pay A LOT more (especially once their new contract is voted in).

Better future outlook.
Southwest has been lucky the last 5 years because of their fuel hedges (they are paying $36 a barrel for oil, while all other airlines are paying about $75 a barrel). And remember, jet fuel is an airlines largest expense! Southwest could actually be at a disadvantage due to their point to point system (shown by their industries LOWEST load factor). No lucrative international flying.
Meanwhile, FedEx is well protected. Anyone can start up an airline, fly to a few cities, and take business away from Southwest (and any other pax airline). But the reason FedEx and UPS are so successful is their route system/infrastructure. You can basically send a package from anywhere to anywhere. It takes a start-up cargo airline a lot of time and money before they can even take business away from FedEx.
Those are my thoughts.

 

I think it's a no brainer.....FedEx unless you just absolutely couldn't handle flying at night.

 

Fedex.......

 

We get the same discount travel on airlines that majors get on other airlines, i.e. what a Delta pilot would pay to fly on American, etc.

As for where to go, I made 5 1/2 year capt at FDX (have 7 years now,) making close to 180K.

 

SWA if you're chasing the dream to fly passengers; FedEx is you're chasing the dream to make big bucks and fly widebodies like the MD-11 or Airbus A380.

 

First off, We do NOT have the same travel benefits as most other airlines, not even close. If that is important to you, look into it more thoroughly (it is a great benefit for the PAX folks). I wouldn't base your decision soley on that.

Secondly both places historically have been financially stable and have offered 5 -6 year upgrade to CAPT. From a personal expericience, I would rather be a Junior CAPT on the SWA 737 than a JR FDX 727 CAPT. Being JR at FedEX really sux especially if you are on the 727 and especially if you plan on commuting. Now once you get good seniority or to the WideBodies it is a little better........but being JR at FedEx sux.

Points to consider: Do you have a job offer at both Places? or are you working at one with an offer from the other? Will you be giving up seniority at one for the other? If not this is all a moot point.

The bottom line is only YOU can make the choice which is better for YOU and your family.


Currently, both companies are a good choice. Both are currently growing.
One has mulitple domiciles in pretty nice places to live, the other doesn't.
One has a OK commuter policy........can't comment on the other.
Commuting sux at whoever you will work for but can be managed with seniority.
One flies People while the other flies boxes........Have done both...no real difference once the cockpit door is closed. You still fly a plane from A to B.
One company flies domestic only while the other does domestic and extensive international. Again.......what ever floats your boat. You still get paid by the hour.

Do you live in or near a SWA base or want to?
Do you want to live in MEMPHIS (your either from there or your sick, just kidding) or Anchorage?
Do you care about travel benefits? SWA has far better travel benefits
Do you mind lacking sleep and working all hours of the night?

Only YOU can make the call.

 

You guys rock. Thanks for the words. All good info.

 

I can attest to that. We even get charged a service fee ($18) per ticket, non refundable. The "deals" vary and change from time to time. AA seems to currently be the best deal for full service intl travel. The shameful part is we give the same deal to the industry we give our selves, less being able to do it on an account. The pax carriers give us, at best, service charge deals (some LLC domestics) while (some) others give ID 90% (many still give only 75%) off of some fare that is greatly inflated and nobody even sells.
Definitely not a benefit, sans, the pax carriers.