madmax757

[QUOTE=jabfly;2394427]I'm a bit afraid of re-kindling some of this discussion, but I have a question based on all the (overload) of information in this thread...
I'm hoping to get picked up by American, Southwest, or United soon. I anticipate I will have about 18 years in whichever company I (hopefully) get hired by.
It seems I would have very little time, if any, as a WB CA at United or American, so how does that play into these discussions (since for me, the relevance of comparing what a UA or AA WB CA makes vs a SWA CA probably isn't relevant to my situation)? I can see the benefit early in my career with SWA of being able to pick up the extra hours, etc., but to SLIP's point,... somewhere along the line I'm gonna wanna spend some time at home.
I've heard 10-12 years to make CA at SWA, is that about right? AA is expecting 6-8 years for a NB CA based on the surge of upcoming retirements.
To me, it seems SWA would be an advantage for the first 10-ish years (by picking up extra flights, etc), and then you start to fall behind your peers, especially if you don't want to have to fly 90 hours a month?[/QUOTE


Keep in mind that SWA has never furloughed and has been profitable for 40 plus years. Ask guys who've been furloughed twice or had their airline disappear. Nothing wrong with retiring flying Burbank to Vegas if you ask me. Imho flying international on a WB is a pain in the ass. Also, money isn't everything like others said.

ZapBrannigan

Past performance does not guarantee future results. I wouldn't make my decision based on SW's history of avoiding furlough. No company has ever had a layoff.... until they do.


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flyguy81

True....but looking at other airlines' track records since deregulation and we look pretty good.

gipple

The CEO would happily furlough you in a heartbeat to give shareholders a nickel more in ROIC.

The force is strong in the people department.
Past history has proven that SWA (under Herb) has furloughed pilots before. It was PILOTS that took pay cuts that protected the furloughees.

Tao of Funk

I just might have that "problem". I have the UAL offer, I'll find out if I have the SWA offer soon. I've been talking to friends at both companies, soul searching what I know from personal observations, and I just read this entire thread. I have come to this conclusion; besides making the best of whichever way I go the only way to answer which way is BEST takes hindsight. I can also tell you that this is the most difficult choice I've ever had to make.

ZapBrannigan

Yup, and everyone is going to tell you to make the decision and don't look back. I can tell you that is almost impossible. You'll always look at the guy around your "seniority" at SWA or UA and play What If... for better or for worse.

I constantly look at where I would've been if I took the recall at USAir in 2007. People say I made the right choice not going back, but my classmates are A330 FOs or junior A320 Captains... hard not to look at that as a mistake.

Best of luck with your decision. Best thing I can tell you is that no matter which way you go, you'll have a great career, with plenty of money to take care of your family, and a nice retirement so you don't have to sweat your golden years. And that ain't nothin!


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mainlineAF

That is a tough one. If it was me first thing I'd do is figure out where I want to live long term. If that happens to be a base for UAL or SWA there's your answer.

If you have to commute to both I would go with UAL, assuming it's a relatively easy one leg commute. The widebody flying and long call at UAL seem to make it more commuter friendly.

If you live in Denver that's when it gets tough. Do you want to maximize pay? If so SWA allows you to fly and credit a lot. Do you want to sit at home on short call and maximize days off? Reserve on a widebody at UAL sounds like a winner.

Whatever you do you'll have a great career. Good luck.

RJSAviator76

UAL and Southwest were my two top choices due to both having bases where I live. Not commuting makes this entirely a whole different job for the better.

I didn't make it past Hogan at UAL and was told to reapply in a year. A few months later, I got hired at Southwest. I wondered if I should reapply at UAL, but after some soul-searching, crunching numbers and comparing those numbers with my friends at UAL, seeing how things are unfolding here, I decided against it and haven't looked back. A factor here is that I don't care about flying a heavy. I'm internationaled out from my previous job for years and years to come.

Your choices are between excellent and awesome and either one presents a multimillion dollar career with very similar numbers. Good luck! I don't think you'll be wrong whichever way you go.

Snaplock

I hear you. I've got offers from AA and SWA, and I can't believe how difficult the choice has been. I still don't know who I am going to go with, and neither have a base where I want to live. So, I will probably be a commuter with either AA or SWA.

Anyone have advice on the AA vs SWA choice?

ZapBrannigan

If you have no choice but to commute consider that SW does not offer long call reserve and, for the most part, commutable trips. That would tip the scale towards AA for me.


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