Originally Posted by Pilots (Post 3271184)

Reviving this for some advice.

I have a CJO at both. I'm 30, so my seniority will be great at either in the long run. I currently live in a UA domicile, and I'd probably never leave this domicile. I wouldn't move to MEM, but if i find the right partner one day, i'd definitely consider CGN and HKG.

No idea how taxing 35 years of night flying at FedEx would be. That's really my biggest concern. It looks like United is going to be a very fast upgrade soon, and wide bodies will go to junior FO's if that's really a consideration. All seats of all planes at both airlines are trending downward consistently. Historically, it seems like a no brainer for FedEx, but times are unprecedented at United. If 50% of the pilots are cut by 2030 for some reason, i'd still be 50% there. I like to think either option is going to provide a great income for a family at some point in my life. The number one thing i care about is quality time off and pay. I'm hoping to have a happy family at some point. I won't be one to chase the dough. If i'm doing my math right, i'll probably retire top 100 at FX and top couple hundred at UA.

What's the thoughts on living in base at United vs. commuting at FedEx?

Originally Posted by avi8tor4life (Post 2668388)

Has anyone on here left FedEx for United?

Can anyone shed light on possible differences?

Work rules? Payrates? Trip Length? Junior fleet?

Thanks

Originally Posted by oldmako (Post 2679963)

The Colgan "accident" had a lot more to do with incompetence than it did fatigue. If well rested, the accident would have likely just occurred at some other place on some other day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khFbqsVgr6I

Originally Posted by avi8tor4life (Post 2668554)

What about pay during training? Initial training footprint? Schedule flexibility? Sechedule through first couple years?

Originally Posted by Vdrive (Post 3273761)

Wrong.
Personally know this is incorrect.

Why lie?
DL, FedEx UPS pilots are not leaving to join United.
Not so say United is a bad place, but the others are not bad either.

Originally Posted by BAe3100FO (Post 2669024)

I made the switch - recently. ZERO regrets!

PM me.

Originally Posted by symbian simian (Post 2677621)

Am I weird? My most normal trip:
Day 1, get up 7am, get kids to school, do stuff, leave house 5 PM for my commute, get to base 10pm, 11pm check in, fly red-eye to FLL, get to hotel 7am.
Day 2 and 3 same thing, report around 11pm, fly to Central America and back, in the hotel 7am.
Day 4 report 8pm, fly back to base, commute on red-eye home, get in at 6am, have a beer, 7am get the kids to school, 9am take a nap till 3 pm, kids are home.
I do that every week, no problem with fatigue, 50 year old....

Originally Posted by Noworkallplay (Post 3279637)

And just think, if you would have stayed you could have been a 75 Capt or a soon to be senior WB FO. Im thinking your negativity in numerous posts towards FDX is rooted in resentment for your decisions.

Originally Posted by BAe3100FO (Post 3279794)

Zero resentment or negativity. I respond to questions with my personal experience during my time their.



And just think…For reference, I can hold 320/737 Capt at several bases here. And will be a fairly senior 75/76 FO (767 is a wide body, no?) once I’m activated in the next month or two.



All this, without having to do the middle of the night hub turns with that dreaded 3-4 hour sit between the hours of 10pm - 2am. Only to have to go back out just as one hits their circadian low.



The 757 at FDX is the mule of the fleet over there, almost exclusively night hub turns and a lot are multi-leg. There’s a reason guys bid off that airframe ASAP. (at least that was my experience from guys in my newhire class and while browsing thru the bid pack)



But as others have said, some are able to manage and make it work, I wanted more from my career than “I make it work and find a way to suffer through my flying schedule” because -and let’s be honest here, night hub turns are brutal.



We do red-eyes here but I mostly do them at the end of a 4-day trip (makes commute very easy) and almost always with a 30+ hour layover before doing them. A simple all-nighter is cake vs having to sit for 3+ hours before having to start up and do it all over again. Any pilot on here can attest to the fatigue that one can get after having a sit for 3-4 hours during their normal work schedule, and for most of us that’s during daylight hours.



But I’m happy that you’re happy, If reposting 3 year old comments on here make you happy, then knock yourself out. I wouldn’t change a thing in my aviation career and I’m truly very blessed.

Originally Posted by C2078 (Post 3273285)

While definitely not the best culture, you make it sound like it is a total nightmare. It has gotten much better through the years, not Southwest happy happy better, but better nonetheless as old school managers have retired. One thing I have found about UPS vs Fedex… at UPS you know the knife is coming straight at you, and you are prepared (as can be)… at Fedex, you are being pat on the back for a nice job, stroking your ego, while the knife is coming as well, just more subtle. There is a reason the Fedex CBA passes with just over 50% of the vote while UPS passed with 95%. The IPA membership has to be strong to deal with UPS. Nothing gets handed for free, even little things like blankets on long haul flights sometimes is a fight. But like any job, you show up, do it to the best of your ability, and go home without any issues.

Originally Posted by Noworkallplay (Post 3279641)

First, you wouldn’t do that every week. You would know that if you actually researched a FDX schedule. Second, with any seniority you wouldn’t do those trips at all. Keep thinking that though if it helps you sleep at night. Cheerios