SWA or UAL?
 

I've got a professional acquaintance that is a new hire at SWA. Soon will be able to drive 90 minutes to MCO.... He has a UAL interview pending.

If you have a line to SWA v UAL previous discussions would love to see them. Would also like any fresh opinions.

Other factors: Wife has career job....happy in FL. Moving to DEN, HOU, SFO, or EWR probably highly unlikely for next 10 years. Pilot has Total Force security blanket for 8-12 more years and can do drills/deployments/other stuff if **** hits the fan and pay the bills. Also has successful side gig(s).

My own take is A) SWA is a proven, safe, solid job and he will be better than 99% of the world population if he stays put...but also B) 787s and 777s go all over the globe, international flying out of EWR or SFO could be very enjoyable for the right person and C) United has a good vector with the current CEO. (Like Anderson at Delta...I think the guy cares about the product and wants to make things better. I don't think he is just passing through...)

As a FedEx captain, I have no real inside info on the life of a junior, 5 year, and FedEx employee. There are a ton of reasons to sit tight, but I am interested in the pros/cons from those of you closest to the fight.

And yes...did a thread search and came up short. If this is all old news just post a link to the old threat and I apologize for wasting your time.

Finally--flying HKG-GUM-HNL in March on you guys in Biz. Looking forward to being impressed, and thanks in advance...

Lots of Florida commuters. Think SWA would be a pretty good deal. If he’d be willing to move to a UA base, I’d say he should go to UA but it sounds like he’s pretty rooted in Florida.

Hey there Albie, BK here....you know I'm bullish on my UAL Home Team but absent a legit FL satellite base beyond the rumor mill, I'd have to say SWA is a safer choice. The SE U.S. is UAL's one weak area as we haven't dived into the seasonal/Disney crowd....with the large number of EWR and IAD Captains who are starting to grab 2nd homes in FL, I don't think the mainline commute from FL to DC or NYC will be truly easy for a while. I think a 90 min drive to a senior SWA base is a better play right now....

Those legs are on a 737 and a domestic 777 so don't get too excited...

And unless your buddy has a real aversion to 737s, I'd stay with SWA considering all his factors.

I'd say your take is spot on Albief, and I'd agree with the others so far that SWA is an outwardly better choice. Too many senior commuters in FL already, and not a real quick hop to IAD/EWR/IAH. Only things that might tip the scale is if he really yearns for an upgrade to CA ASAP, to fly widebodies, or would take full advantage of international pass travel for the family (I've been roundtrip to Europe two summers in a row with a large family for virtually nada). He might make more $$ at UAL due to the faster upgrade, but with a wife in a solid career who cares? Regardless of airframe, EWR does offer some of the best flying in the system but I can't see that outweighing the pain of a likely 2+ hr flight each way to work until retirement. If DAL or AA offered him a job (ATL/MIA), that would be a much tougher call....

BTW Albief, I always find your posts to be well worth the time to read.

Living in base driving to work married to a happy wife works pretty well for me.

My advice would be to take SW.

I really enjoy working for UA but commuting sucks.

Commuting to never fly a 737 again is worth it. Driving to work makes this a completely different job but the idea of flying that miserable hate box for the rest of my career would be a tough desicion to make.

I flew for both.

Driving to work and living in base is huge.

You never get bumped.
You always have positive space in seat 1L of your Chevy/Ford.
You rarely worry about the weather during your commute.

Commuting is worse than sitting in that "hatebox". I mean really.

Unless you're going to a heavy with a significantly higher payscale... Even that is questionable.

happy wife equals happy life.

Home is where the heart is, and if he doesn't have to commute he can spend more time with his family.