If you got the call at Delta, would you leave SW and why? What would you recommend to a New Hire?


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Where do you live? What is it you want to do for the rest of your career?

I live in a WN/UAL base so I'd stay at WN. I'm not going to commute for the next 30 years. UAL doesn't have wide bodies where I live anymore....could they add some in the future? Possibly. But for now it'd take 20-25 yrs seniority to hold CA where I live at UAL and 10-12 at WN. Obviously that'll change in the future as both companies grow and retirements go into effect.

Right now I'm parking it at WN because I see no need to chase a few bucks to fly a narrow body. Our CBA will be finalized soon enough and I'm expecting parity with UAL/DL so there's no reason for me to leave. Now if you lived in a DL base and commuted for WN you'd have to figure out whether or not you want to commute or drive to work.

Really it's a moot point unless you have offers from both.

 

I had offers from both. Went with SWA to live in domicile and drive to my Guard job. I got my fill of heavy international flying with the military (and still get to do it on my own schedule). I've seen enough of the world to realize I'd rather have a five-hop around Texas than cross the NATs on a weekly basis.

I know I'm passing up a sizable chunk of money over my career, but I also know that I am home a lot more because I don't have to commute to NYC or ATL. And I certainly won't be living off food stamps at Southwest.

Like flyguy said, it's all about where you live and what you want to do.

 

So, the heart of the question is what is too long of a drive to base? We will live in PA. 2-2+30 from NYC, 1 HR from PHL and 1+30 from BWI. Is the extra 1hr drive to NYC and through NYC traffic (both ways) worth it?

 

I have been facing the same decision and for me it comes down to living in domicile. Moving to a Delta base is not an option and I live in a senior Southwest base so I will probably stay at Southwest, however, if I lived within 2-3hrs of a junior Delta base like NYC it wouldn't be a question, I would leave. Their retirement crushes ours. A Captain who I flew with and helps manage our 401k ran the numbers for me and it was close to a 1.5-2 million dollar difference for someone starting in this industry in their early 30's. Our retirement needs some serious work.

 

If the biggest hang up is the difference in the drive I think it's a no brainer that Delta is the right move for you.

NYC is by far the most jr Delta domicile at all levels of the seniority list giving you incredible bidding options for pay and qol.

International categories have 6-12 day trips meaning you could theoretically only make the drive in twice a month. Sitting reserve from home is a viable option for you at Delta but at SWA you'll be making the drive in every weekend (even in the winter). In short order you could only bid Newark trips which would ease the drive.

The pay is pretty much the same at both companies but with BWI being a more senior east coast base I think it would be well worth an extra hour drive a few times a month to go to delta. After all there is only a few months difference between the jr Delta NYC CAPTAIN and the jr SWA BWI lineholder!

Disclaimer: was hired by both but live in a swa domicile so I went with swa.

 

Fly I think the retirement will get fixed in short order (it has to). Swa is, has, and will continue to lose guys to the legacies so there is some pressure there.

A million bucks sounds like a big deal but over a 30 year career where you're already making $6+ million I'm not sure that a 20-25% loss is worth the time trade off of commuting for that long. Especially if you're living in a low(er) cost area like FL or TX.

 

1+30 is reasonable to sit reserve at home with SWA. I'm a bit closer than that from BWI and have been getting stuff done around the house while getting paid. BWI hasn't been growing as quickly as a few of the other bases, but I don't expect to spend much more than year on reserve.

SWA definitely uses their reserves and I expect to be busy this summer. But this spring has been pretty light and I've been able to double-dip with the Guard quite a bit while sitting reserve.

 

Living in base is the most important thing..... period.

 

I wouldn't hang my hat on the CBA being finalized soon OR getting anywhere near parity with the real majors. For the first time since the last Weaks administration, we have a BOD that won't bend over for the company and send us yet another company WIN, sold as a pilot "WIN".

But......

Nearly 40% of your co workers voted to ratify a blatantly concessionary TA, just a few short months ago.

They are STILL out there. Need proof? Count the flag ties next time you go to work...........


To the OP......

The opportunities at DAL and the other majors are going to be unbelievable for the foreseeable future. At SW, not so much. You will work your a$$ off at SW compared to any other major.

Given the choice, I'd move to a DAL domicile and enjoy a major airline pilot career vs. that of a (better paid) regional.

It's getting so bad here that we have guys bailing like rats off a sinking ship.

Heck, there's rumor of a 16 year Captain that is getting his stuff together to bolt.

If I was 15 years younger, I'd give serious thought to putting some apps out..... The commuter pilot schedule gets old after a few decades.