UAL vs SWA...what am I missing?
05-24-2019, 05:35 AM
#71
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2017
Posts: 659
Originally Posted by Viperstick
I retired five years ago, UAL was my first and only offer at the time (AA called a few weeks before I started training). I haven’t looked back and am very happy. WN is a great company with high quality people. I would have gone there if they had offered first (was preparing to get my guppy type rating when UAL called). That said, here are my thoughts:
- Short call time to base. UAL is 2.5 hours call to show (3.5 hours to departure); I believe WN is 2.0 hours call to departure. Might impact your decision if you’re in that 2-3 hour drive-to-base range
- UAL has huge (yuge!!!) retirements coming up in the next few years. Lots of movement right now just because of that. Throw in some modest growth and there will be opportunities to change your scenery/goose your income that might not be there with WN.
- WN has never furloughed as far as I’ve known. UAL has a very poor track record there. However, the aforementioned retirements and attendant hiring may mitigate that somewhat.
- Benefits. UAL has profit sharing (avg ~$14K/yr for past 4 years, though last 2 have declined considerably); pass travel benefits (have taken family to HNL, SIN, & FCO); UAL LTD bennies aren’t very good (tops out ~$100K annual tax free); can’t speak to medical, but dental/vision are reasonable (~$25/month per); sick leave is so-so at 60 hours/year accumulation with no cap, but also no sell back. Don’t know what WN offers in these respects, but that’s a start for comparison.
- Scope. WN has the edge here as they don’t have regional feed and no JVs as far as I know. UAL management wants to outsource more of our flying but can’t due to contractual language. That’s a big sticking point in current contract negotiations.
Both are good companies. Good luck!
- Short call time to base. UAL is 2.5 hours call to show (3.5 hours to departure); I believe WN is 2.0 hours call to departure. Might impact your decision if you’re in that 2-3 hour drive-to-base range
- UAL has huge (yuge!!!) retirements coming up in the next few years. Lots of movement right now just because of that. Throw in some modest growth and there will be opportunities to change your scenery/goose your income that might not be there with WN.
- WN has never furloughed as far as I’ve known. UAL has a very poor track record there. However, the aforementioned retirements and attendant hiring may mitigate that somewhat.
- Benefits. UAL has profit sharing (avg ~$14K/yr for past 4 years, though last 2 have declined considerably); pass travel benefits (have taken family to HNL, SIN, & FCO); UAL LTD bennies aren’t very good (tops out ~$100K annual tax free); can’t speak to medical, but dental/vision are reasonable (~$25/month per); sick leave is so-so at 60 hours/year accumulation with no cap, but also no sell back. Don’t know what WN offers in these respects, but that’s a start for comparison.
- Scope. WN has the edge here as they don’t have regional feed and no JVs as far as I know. UAL management wants to outsource more of our flying but can’t due to contractual language. That’s a big sticking point in current contract negotiations.
Both are good companies. Good luck!
05-30-2019, 10:57 AM
#72
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 43
My new wrinkle is I don’t have a United class date yet, they told me I’m next in the que and to expect July, but no classes announced yet. Got a call from SWA today asking if I can be at the June 11 class, now I’m stressing!
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05-30-2019, 11:36 AM
#73
Not a real airline pilot
Joined APC: Jul 2016
Position: Cargo > Pax
Posts: 365
Originally Posted by vikeshunter
My new wrinkle is I don’t have a United class date yet, they told me I’m next in the que and to expect July, but no classes announced yet. Got a call from SWA today asking if I can be at the June 11 class, now I’m stressing!
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Honestly a great position to be in...celebrate, don’t stress. Congrats!
05-30-2019, 12:45 PM
#74
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2019
Posts: 310
Originally Posted by vikeshunter
My new wrinkle is I don’t have a United class date yet, they told me I’m next in the que and to expect July, but no classes announced yet. Got a call from SWA today asking if I can be at the June 11 class, now I’m stressing!
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05-30-2019, 01:25 PM
#75
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,272
Originally Posted by Phoenix21
Take the first class date and go from there.
Never under any circumstances (even the golden age we live in) pass up a bird in the hand at a career-destination airline. You could spend the rest of your life regretting it.
You are not obligated to stay if you get a better offer later.
05-30-2019, 06:34 PM
#76
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Petting Zoo
Posts: 2,074
Originally Posted by Sputnik
Congrats. I'm gunna suggest that it ain't decision time till you're on property with one and the other one calls with a date.
Go to work. You have no dilemma till you're on property and get another call
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