CJO's from both with a confirmed class date at UAL. I currently live in CLT and plan to commute for a while regardless of where I end up. I'm coming from the corporate world so I'm not the most educated on contractual differences and such. TIA!

Oh man, this thread is going to be ground breaking educational.

Don't think I've ever seen one comparing these two before.

I looked before I posted and didn't see anything. Maybe I should have looked harder...?

First class date is probably the simplest answer. ATL is probably the easiest commute though.

I like simple. The first thing I thought about was the base differences. That CLT - ATL leg on a jam packed 717 isn't the most fun flight I've ever been on though.

Where do you want to live? Pick which base is best for you then choose that company. If you're not happy at home then the difference in similar airlines won't matter

Kind of sums up all of these "which do I pick threads."

Pretty much.

You want a really really really really great career?

Or a really really really (one less) great career?

You'll only know the last day you set the brake and walk out the door for the last time which one you had.

And that one more/less "really" will probably have ZERO to do with whether you picked A or B. The industry will continue to go through more evolutions, as usual. Your personal life/circumstances over time may change the metrics, etc etc etc.

Which overnight bag should I get? What shoes do I buy? Bid reserve in base or commute to a line? Where can I upgrade the quickest? Narrow body junior CA or widebody FO? Airbus or Boeing? Which headset should I buy?

CLT is an interesting one though for sure, assuming you’re staying

Pick a domicile city you want to live in and then go with that airline. Nothing else to really consider, assuming you’re going to move to base.