Anybody leave SWA for UA? If so, why?
 

Looking to assess some options; I’ll be a commuter for life. I have a CJO with SWA, and an interview with UA. Anybody in here work for both, that can share why they stayed/left SWA for UA?

From where will you commute?

You don't have options until you have a CJO from United. Go to SWA. Go to the interview at UAL. Sometime several months down the road, if UAL offers you a class date, then is when you have a decision to make.

But generally, starting from square one and apples to apples, legacy > LCC/ULCC in terms of career income and benefits.

Or maybe you go to SWA and like it and decide to stay.

Don't box yourself into a corner before all the options have even unfolded.

If you look at my original post, I’m reaching out to people to see if they left SWA for UA, and what the reasons were. If you can provide insight into that, that would be helpful.

Eugene. I’ve commuted for the last 3 years, to explain my experience with commuting options.

Well, looks to me like the commute should not swing your decision strongly either way… three flights today to SFO and three to OAK. I’d say getting to OAK would be a tad easier since it is less likely to have flow control. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but have you considered Alaska? Ten flights today to SEA and drivable to boot. Guess it depends on what sort of flying you think you’d enjoy more.

I chose United over southwest because I didn’t want to wait 8 years to upgrade, I didn’t want to be locked into the 73 for life, and I didn’t want to be flying 4 legs a day, but maybe that’s not a turn off for you. Focus on nailing the interview and then you can worry about the tough choice.

The people I know who’ve picked UA over SWA lately have been younger (25-35 years left in their career) and able to afford a riskier career with greater upside in terms of diversity of aircraft and flying. They’ve also mostly been east coast and UA bases were the same distance or closer than. SWA bases with a greater spread between upgrades at UA (<5 yrears) and SWA (>= 10 years) on the east coast.

i do know some who went to SWA and stayed there. #1 priority seemed to be base, #2 QOL. (17 days off right away vs 12-13 at UA).

In your case I’d say go to whoever gives you the first class date, then go to Delta for the SEA base. If you want WB flying go to UA after SWA while you wait for DAL. That way if DAL never calls you still have quick upgrades on the 73 and the ability to do widebody flying.

WN does operate into Eugene. That being said, will we always? It’s never a guarantee. OAK, LAX, LAS bases are on the junior side for now.

SFO CA upgrades are going at a year here, if you have the TIME AND EXPERIENCE, but you can’t choose a job based on that…
What do you want out of your career? Some want only money, some want schedule flexibility, some want to fly “big jets international”, and other’s WANT THE CHANCE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR CAREER…..THAT ONLY UNITED OFFERS - in such a huge variety!
BUT, as you’ve heard on here …. gotta get to CJO first and then decide!

Good luck!