I’ve always thought in terms of different sides of a fence, but your asylum analogy is much better. You are right. It’s a cultural deal. You will never convince one side that meeting in the weather room for just the flight of a pairing isn’t important, and you won’t convince the other that it serves any purpose.

Who’s that?

Sorry, that was a typo. He was the guy on other forum that put up the biggest stink about meeting in FPA. That last “h” in his name should of been a “n”.

Ah,

Then He’ll never have to pay for a beer again while he’s in my presence !!

Piggy Back off the OP

What would your advice be to a candidate who lives in the NE USA with 30+ years left. I have already checked the Intl wide body box but long term planning (wife) will either live in the NE or Midwest.

Great post above but most responses are geared towards west coast bases / living hence my question.

Thanks,


FL450

Probably a wash, except at UAL there are more WB opportunities. Other than that if you are in a position to have to choose, you are in a position most pilots would be thrilled to be in.

Hard to say. Over the decades of a career, it'll go back and forth.

At the moment, UAL has the better contract, better work rules, and better profit sharing. AA has other problems than just the bankruptcy contract. Their management seems intent on warring with labor instead of getting along. I know, they say they care, but watch what they do, not what they say. That goes for all airline management.

At the moment, there is relative labor peace at UAL, that hasn't happened for a very long time, and only then in short spurts. It could and probably will change.

As to which is better long term? I'd still have to go with UAL for widebody career progression. You say NE area? That would be Newark, one of our junior bases which means, you can be more senior more quickly. IE, off reserve faster.

I am a UA guy, so I am biased.

I am not sure exactly what you mean by living in the NE. If you are driving distance to BOS, then you should consider AA. At least then you would have a potential to someday be based where you live. The QOL improvements associated with living where you work cannot be overstated.

If you are close to NY/NJ/PA/DC or will be commuting no matter what, then I think the size of UAs operation in that area makes us the logical choice. In EWR right now we have:
Narrowbody 614 Captains and 525 FOs (737/A320)
Midbody 313 Captains and 497 FOs (757/767)
Widebody 236 Captains and 511 FOs (777/787)
The only base at UA that has faster/better seniority progression is SFO. Plus UA has a large (and theoretically growing) operation at IAD.

As far as midwest bases go, both of us have ORD, but UAs operation at ORD is larger than AAs.

Before UA I commuted for a short time, but I live near ORD, so I haven't commuted since I got hired. There have been times that I have been on reserve that my family didn't think I had a job. If I were commuting I would have been gone from home as much during those times as I am when I have a full schedule. So, if you can currently drive or move to a base location you would be happy with, then choose that carrier. If you can't, then have a serious conversation with your spouse about what commuting really means to your homelife. If you are going to be a cummuter, then I would choose UA, just based on the percentage of widebody flying. That tends to be more commuter friendly, and while it will take awhile to get it (less time at EWR), having more options in that arena will be important.

My apologies, I should have been more specific. We live in the South Jersey region of the NE. Currently on a widebody so no rush to get back to one. A midwest move would be Dallas or Houston. Curious if the financials of AA today may be those of UA in the future with fleet replacement strategies.

South Jersey is not NE if you ask me...I think maybe people were thinking New England. I grew up in CT and Lived in Cherry Hill. I would never confuse the two. Maybe if you were north of Princeton or Newark...you could get away with saying NE. 😀