Originally Posted by GetThe14ers

I already have over 2,000 pilots behind me at Delta but commuting is still... undesirable.

Originally Posted by NewCareer

Hi all,

I have read through this thread and some others like it. I realize this is old but figured better than starting a new one.

Here is my situation:

I have a class date at Delta and an upcoming interview at United. IF, I get the CJO at United, I will have a decision to make.

I am 46. I think the "commute" is the biggest factor, but maybe it's short-sighted because by commute, I am driving either way with a caveat. I am an EASY 20 minutes from EWR (and almost never any traffic) and 1 hour with no traffic to JFK. More like 1.5-2 hourswith traffic and can really suck.

The second biggest factor I see is seniority progression. Retirements at UA seem to be more favorable as do their growth plans. Plus, I would be starting at UA approximately 3-4 months later than my DL class date. (600-800 people in front of me). Would the retirements offset the seniority I'd be giving up at UA?

While DL appears to have better reserve rules, that won't affect me as much living 20 minutes away.

I don't really care about equipment or long haul flying but am on the airbus and love it. Actually, I don't really like the idea of long haul. I don't want to be half way across the world if my kid gets in a car accident or something crazy happens at home.

If the drive didn't matter, I would go to Delta in a heartbeat, so maybe I know the answer. Do I just suck it up and take the longer drive? I can't help but wonder (as I drive by EWR every time on my way to JFK) how much I will be kicking myself in 5/10/15 years from now. Is my earnings potential that much better at DL?

And I realize this is a nice problem to have. And first thing's first - get the CJO at UA.

Thanks for any advice!

Originally Posted by fiftyfourtyten

I've been wanting to post something on APC for a while, because I'm facing a big career decision similar to yours...

Here's my situation... I'm currenty at Delta (hired in mid 2023). I live about 1hr 20m from EWR and anywhere between 2-3.5 hours from JFK/LGA (depending on traffic). Obviously, that extra hour to JFK/LGA isn't very fun ($30+ in tolls, bridges, horrendous traffic, etc.). Aside from the drive, I've also been concerned about the seniority situation at Delta. We've hired nearly 11000 out of our 16900 pilots in the past 10 years and recently announced that hiring will slow down in 2024. I'm extremely grateful to have a job at Delta, but I am well aware that I am probably on the backside of one of the biggest hiring waves in company history and that will have an impact on seniority for my entire career here.

I currently have a CJO at United with a class date in early March. I'm trying to make a decision of whether or not to make the jump from DAL to UAL while I'm still fairly junior at Delta (I have about 900 below me on the seniority list currently). I am aware that United has hired a similar ammount of pilots as Delta in the past decade, but it seems that the retirements and planned growth for United will translate to a similar (if not better) seniority situation. I also really like that United has more widebody flying and oppurtunities to upgrade quicker on the narrowbodies.

I'm not sure what to do and this decision has been weighing on me for a few months now. I'd really appreciate any advice or insight that anyone may have!

Originally Posted by fiftyfourtyten

I've been wanting to post something on APC for a while, because I'm facing a big career decision similar to yours...

Here's my situation... I'm currenty at Delta (hired in mid 2023). I live about 1hr 20m from EWR and anywhere between 2-3.5 hours from JFK/LGA (depending on traffic). Obviously, that extra hour to JFK/LGA isn't very fun ($30+ in tolls, bridges, horrendous traffic, etc.). Aside from the drive, I've also been concerned about the seniority situation at Delta. We've hired nearly 11000 out of our 16900 pilots in the past 10 years and recently announced that hiring will slow down in 2024. I'm extremely grateful to have a job at Delta, but I am well aware that I am probably on the backside of one of the biggest hiring waves in company history and that will have an impact on seniority for my entire career here.

I currently have a CJO at United with a class date in early March. I'm trying to make a decision of whether or not to make the jump from DAL to UAL while I'm still fairly junior at Delta (I have about 900 below me on the seniority list currently). I am aware that United has hired a similar ammount of pilots as Delta in the past decade, but it seems that the retirements and planned growth for United will translate to a similar (if not better) seniority situation. I also really like that United has more widebody flying and oppurtunities to upgrade quicker on the narrowbodies.

I'm not sure what to do and this decision has been weighing on me for a few months now. I'd really appreciate any advice or insight that anyone may have!

Originally Posted by fiftyfourtyten

I've been wanting to post something on APC for a while, because I'm facing a big career decision similar to yours...

Here's my situation... I'm currenty at Delta (hired in mid 2023). I live about 1hr 20m from EWR and anywhere between 2-3.5 hours from JFK/LGA (depending on traffic). Obviously, that extra hour to JFK/LGA isn't very fun ($30+ in tolls, bridges, horrendous traffic, etc.). Aside from the drive, I've also been concerned about the seniority situation at Delta. We've hired nearly 11000 out of our 16900 pilots in the past 10 years and recently announced that hiring will slow down in 2024. I'm extremely grateful to have a job at Delta, but I am well aware that I am probably on the backside of one of the biggest hiring waves in company history and that will have an impact on seniority for my entire career here.

I currently have a CJO at United with a class date in early March. I'm trying to make a decision of whether or not to make the jump from DAL to UAL while I'm still fairly junior at Delta (I have about 900 below me on the seniority list currently). I am aware that United has hired a similar ammount of pilots as Delta in the past decade, but it seems that the retirements and planned growth for United will translate to a similar (if not better) seniority situation. I also really like that United has more widebody flying and oppurtunities to upgrade quicker on the narrowbodies.

I'm not sure what to do and this decision has been weighing on me for a few months now. I'd really appreciate any advice or insight that anyone may have!

Originally Posted by fiftyfourtyten

I've been wanting to post something on APC for a while, because I'm facing a big career decision similar to yours...

Here's my situation... I'm currenty at Delta (hired in mid 2023). I live about 1hr 20m from EWR and anywhere between 2-3.5 hours from JFK/LGA (depending on traffic). Obviously, that extra hour to JFK/LGA isn't very fun ($30+ in tolls, bridges, horrendous traffic, etc.). Aside from the drive, I've also been concerned about the seniority situation at Delta. We've hired nearly 11000 out of our 16900 pilots in the past 10 years and recently announced that hiring will slow down in 2024. I'm extremely grateful to have a job at Delta, but I am well aware that I am probably on the backside of one of the biggest hiring waves in company history and that will have an impact on seniority for my entire career here.

I currently have a CJO at United with a class date in early March. I'm trying to make a decision of whether or not to make the jump from DAL to UAL while I'm still fairly junior at Delta (I have about 900 below me on the seniority list currently). I am aware that United has hired a similar ammount of pilots as Delta in the past decade, but it seems that the retirements and planned growth for United will translate to a similar (if not better) seniority situation. I also really like that United has more widebody flying and oppurtunities to upgrade quicker on the narrowbodies.

I'm not sure what to do and this decision has been weighing on me for a few months now. I'd really appreciate any advice or insight that anyone may have!

Originally Posted by UALinIAH

Have to agree with the others. Take the CJO with UAL. With only 900 below you and now only 1000 supposedly being hired at DAL this year, you'll likely have the same number of pilots below you at either airline in a year. Being within SC distance to EWR gives you many opportunities. Every fleet is there and it's a relatively jr base so your options over a career are tremendous.

Best of luck either way.

Originally Posted by PilotJ3

By March it will have 1500 below and by December 2,000. That’s a lot of seniority to give away.

He is also within SC distance to LGA/JFK since delta doesn’t have a specific amount of time and he lives considerably close to EWR.

As things start slowing down everywhere we might be close to the next downturn.

Originally Posted by UALinIAH

He will have almost 2000 below him in December as well at UAL. We're still planning to hire approximately 2400 this year and he has a March CJO. That's why I said in a year it would be the same. 2 hrs driving time each way is a big difference. Especially for a reserve NB pilot potentially doing the drive multiple times per week. Either way he's set but I stick with my post,