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SWA vs FedEx

Old 01-04-2011, 08:24 AM
  #11  
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I live in domicile at SWA. Hired about 4 years ago and it's a great job. I have no legit gripes. I had apps into Fedex and was very interested in getting hired there, had a sponsor and had talked to a cheif pilot, but that was right when they ceased all hiring.

One of my best friends is a Fedex guy who worked at SWA for a couple months before leaving for Fedex. He's happy with his decision. I think Fedex has more time off than SWA and probably better compensation.

Fedex does much longer trips than SWA. I rarely do more than a three day and have no problem picking up turns for extra cash. I think SWA flies a lot more and does a lot more legs than Fedex.

If you live in a SWA domicile it's a pretty good life. If you have to commute, it's probably easier to commute to a Fedex job because of the way they start trips from out-bases.
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Old 01-04-2011, 08:44 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by FedElta View Post
Hey Boogie & Delta 1067,


I spent 30 years at FedEx, so I'm familiar with the operation.....Great pay, A plan, B plan, 401K, wide variety of flying, excellent maintenance, huge money invested in technology to benefit flight crews,great vacation, etc.
Best of luck to all,
BG
FedElta,
It appears that you went from FedEx to Delta. If you don't mind sharing what were your reasons for going to Delta. If Delta picks up hiring again this year there may be some of us hopefulls who just might (God willing) have a choice of FedEx vs SWA vs Delta as well. I know the obvious which was stated earlier is to apply and wait to see if you even get a choice, but just like other things in life it's kind of fun to imagine what if.....

Thanks!!!
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Old 01-04-2011, 08:44 AM
  #13  
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My two cents . . . just one more thing to think about.

Which do you think you would prefer - flying people? Or flying boxes?

For some pilots the choice is obvious - boxes. For others like myself the choice is also obvious - people.

As frustrating as passengers can be sometimes, as high maintenance, as needy, as childish and frustrating that people are many times - hands down I would rather fly people. Personally, I get much more satisfaction out of my professional work day interacting with our customers, our gate agents, etc. Yes, a few are a pain, but most are grateful, thankful, entertaining, funny people.

For example, as the holidays are just now over, would you rather fly somebodies mother or father, brother or sister, son or daughter to grandma's house for the holidays? Or would you rather fly their Amazon web order to and from a sorting facility?
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Old 01-04-2011, 08:48 AM
  #14  
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Apply to both, take the first offer. If the other subsequently makes you an offer, then and only then do you have a tough decision to make.

I would expand the field a little. There are a couple others that would be a fine career, and a couple I'd stay away from.
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Old 01-04-2011, 09:21 AM
  #15  
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There is a significant amount of health risks associated with circadian rhythm disruptions.

As Fedelta has mentioned, maybe if you committed yourself to getting senior in your particular seat at FDX and being able to cherry pick the trips that are easiest on your body instead of chasing money, you'd be okay in the long run.

The human body was not meant to alternate sleep times day to day for decades on end though -- just keep that in mind. It can only do "sleep when you're tired, eat when you're hungry" for so long before vital systems become effected. Besides actual sleep disorders, other things are regulated by your circadian rhythm and if you keep screwing with it, they get messed up too (blood pressure, metabolism, endocrine system, variable heart rate, body temperature, etc.) I am not a doctor so you might want to check out some sources because the topic is not one to be ignored.

In this same category, I have talked to SWA pilots that prefer the PM schedule that have said they had not set an alarm clock in weeks or months particularly if they live in base. Or, if you're an early bird, you can get that every workday and be done at noon-3PM.

So, this is one category of many that you have to compare side by side. But I certainly would put this one right up there with retirement, vacation, and so on, if I were in your position.
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Old 01-04-2011, 09:40 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by JDFlyer View Post
My two cents . . . just one more thing to think about.

Which do you think you would prefer - flying people? Or flying boxes?

For some pilots the choice is obvious - boxes. For others like myself the choice is also obvious - people.

As frustrating as passengers can be sometimes, as high maintenance, as needy, as childish and frustrating that people are many times - hands down I would rather fly people. Personally, I get much more satisfaction out of my professional work day interacting with our customers, our gate agents, etc. Yes, a few are a pain, but most are grateful, thankful, entertaining, funny people.

For example, as the holidays are just now over, would you rather fly somebodies mother or father, brother or sister, son or daughter to grandma's house for the holidays? Or would you rather fly their Amazon web order to and from a sorting facility?
I've done both. I worked for a legacy airline and Fedex. I thought I wanted to be in the people hauling business, until I actually did it. Dealing with the flight attendants and passengers is just a pain. I'm not saying there wasn't some worthwhile times, but in the end, I just enjoy don't dealing with airport security and all of the hassles that the passenger terminal entails.

I do this work for the pay and benefits. I don't do it for the love of flying or fun. If they would pay me to sit at home, I'd gladly accept it. With the lowered salaries of passenger carriers, Fedex and UPS are now in the lead in this area. That said, United and Delta were seeing $300/hour about 10 years ago. We still don't come close to that. If you don't chase the money (and it can be difficult to do), you can usually make 70 hours in 11-12 days. We have a very large widebody fleet, so it usually doesn't take that long to make it to the right seat. Of course this is not always the case, we have had almost no no movement in the past 4 years or so.

I will just say that this is, by far, the best job I have had in the industry.
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Old 01-04-2011, 10:54 AM
  #17  
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I think QOL at any job that has you sleeping during normal awake hours is hard to beat vs working at night. Clearly SWA vs FDX involves several considerations relative to lifestyle. Pax vs freight is not a SWA/FDX issues as much as the differences in the industry. Clearly some people prefer one over the other for personal reasons or (negative experiences) from the former.
I can't speak for SWA so I will have to make assumptions regarding them and speak for what I know as a Fedex pilot.
If you don't live in domicile, Fedex is probably a good as any if not better than most airlines to commute on. Why? Traveling on a Fedex freighter is a lot less hassle than dealing with TSA and the pax carriers for a seat. Ask any pax carrier pilot who as ridden on us to work. The one negative here is the main one to working here, time of day.
So the big negative to Fedex, night flying. I won't elaborate, as others have answered the question. To my mind, it is the only valid reason not to consider flying for Fedex (or UPS or any night operator).
On the plus side, I think you'll make more money here, sooner and probably will move up seats faster, but that is just a WAG based on my assumptions about the industry (SWA included).
Stability. Fedex shares the market with one other competitor, unlike any pax carrier, SWA included. If you think SWA will run roughshod over DAL in the coming years than you may have a different opinion. Time will tell.
Benefits. Hands down better here, with the exception of pass benefits. SWA does not have a deified retirement plan, just a (well funded) 401k type plan. Proof of how that matters and is a big advantage to us, read how SWA pilots worked hard to raise the age 65 retirement age after the financial meltdown 5 years ago.They didn't do because they wanted to work longer, but because thier retirement funds were badly beaten (along with all of us with money invest in the market).
Verity of flying. Hands down Fedex. Only one other place offers a comparable income and benefit package and lets you fly all over the world or stay closer to home, your choice (with seniority, of course). You will never see as much of the world flying for SWA as you will for Fedex, but I will agree, you will see (as in can see) more of the USA at SWA for no other reason than the time of day you do fly, thats a given.
Time off. Good here, if you like working longer schedules and being off for longer breaks it is available. Good for commuters. I don't know at SWA, but from what I read, pretty standard (pax) industry 3 and 4 day trips.
Pay per day of work. At Fedex you will generally make 6 to 6:20 trip hours per day. Some long haul exceptions, but figure on that. I'm lead to believe you'll make more per day (on a comparable flight hour basis) at SWA but you'll work your A** off to do it. But it will be during daylight, so that is an advantage.

I'm sure there are many other considerations, some covered better by SWA pilots or those who favor it. Good luck. If your competitive to work at either and have the inside pull at both, you are indeed in a good position. Best of luck and good hunting!!
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Old 01-04-2011, 11:18 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by JDFlyer View Post
My two cents . . . just one more thing to think about.

Which do you think you would prefer - flying people? Or flying boxes?

For some pilots the choice is obvious - boxes. For others like myself the choice is also obvious - people.

As frustrating as passengers can be sometimes, as high maintenance, as needy, as childish and frustrating that people are many times - hands down I would rather fly people. Personally, I get much more satisfaction out of my professional work day interacting with our customers, our gate agents, etc. Yes, a few are a pain, but most are grateful, thankful, entertaining, funny people.

For example, as the holidays are just now over, would you rather fly somebodies mother or father, brother or sister, son or daughter to grandma's house for the holidays? Or would you rather fly their Amazon web order to and from a sorting facility?
Hey JD,
Personally. I never cared what was behind the flightdeck door. It didn't change the way I flew the aircraft.

For the sake of argument and counterpoint, would you rather fly someone's mother home, or fly a transplant heart to someone's mother ?

And yes, I've probably flown my fair share of rubber dog S... out of Hong Kong.....but many extraordinarily high value items also.

Happy New Year...
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Old 01-04-2011, 11:24 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Sunny1 View Post
FedElta,
It appears that you went from FedEx to Delta. If you don't mind sharing what were your reasons for going to Delta. If Delta picks up hiring again this year there may be some of us hopefulls who just might (God willing) have a choice of FedEx vs SWA vs Delta as well. I know the obvious which was stated earlier is to apply and wait to see if you even get a choice, but just like other things in life it's kind of fun to imagine what if.....

Thanks!!!
Hey Sunny,
I was very fortunate to retire from FedEx after an extraorinary 30 year career. Several months later, I applied to big D and was again fortunate enough to be given a chance to continue my chosen work in a new, and very different venue........FDX, SWA, DAL are all excellent, and very different places to work.

Conduct your due diligence, always improve your quals, and never give up.
Best of luck
BG
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Old 01-04-2011, 12:15 PM
  #20  
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I would say FedEx for me personally, because of the types of flying available, and because I'm somewhat a night owl. I think I'd get bored doing the SW flying. With the better pay and bennies at FDX, that seals the deal for me. I'm sure that there are lots of people that would be better off at SW however. To each their own.
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