Go to DL. It's a destination job. UA is a promise for sometime in the future. When that opportunity becomes reality vs hypothetical evaluation your choices again. Me? A 20 minute drive vs having to cross the Hudson EVERY SINLGE TIME I HAD TO GO TO WORK? Is being 600-800 numbers more senior worth driving to JFK vs EWR? You're going from easy to painful. I'd switch to UA. You can uber to EWR. Wife can drop you off and pick you up before and after trips while she's out running errands. We called being dropped off and picked up by your spouse 'princess parking'. Buddy taught his wife how to look at the operations data in the computer. She'd she his expected arrival time, look for his touchdown time, and drive to the airport from the house or while out shopping, gym, etc. "I can't tell you how many times she would be pulling up to the curb as I walked out the terminal door."

 

I sure as hell hope so!

 

This is the way.

 

I had a similar choice to make. Sounds like the drive is a factor, but all else being equal, try to jumpseat a few times and get a sense of cockpit culture and procedure culture.

From my observations, Delta crews had far less callouts and "looser" briefings. United crews had more callouts and briefed off of cards. The PM also seems to take a much more active vs. traditional role at United e.g. setting altitudes, calling "gear up."

Minor things but again, could sway an otherwise equal decision.

 

I just flew with a new hire who left Delta after only 6 months employment. His biggest factor was wanting to live in a UA base, but his opinion was that the culture at United was much more laid back than Delta. Personally, I think we're all the same and living where you want to is the biggest determination as to what makes one company "better" than the others. Life at a legacy, any legacy, is a good gig.

 

That needs to be cast in bronze and tagged with every post!

 

Yeah, that’s what I can’t stop thinking about. Having to cross the Hudson EVERY SINGLE TIME 😂
When I land in Newark, I am home. When I land in JFK, I basically still have one more leg. In a never ending traffic IROP 😂

And my wife is a flightaware pro. We have the pickup and drop off streamlined.

It’s just so tough to think about giving up that seniority but I guess less so when I think about seeing EWR come and go and then crossing Staten Island and the Verrazano bridge.

But it does seem likely that my seniority will grow faster in EWR more than any other base.

What is the likelihood I could get a wide body initially? Are they available as a new hire?

 

Unlikely in EWR for awhile, as they just displaced off the 777. First year pay is the same though, so just take the 737FO slot and immediately bid for WB. Or take the NB CA slot and wait out the seat lock. There have been ideas floated about a triumphant return to JFK but anybody who wants to stick with EWR trips only will get them.

EWR is a large, fairly junior base with a lot of great flying, which is only going to get better with 321s and new Maxes. That said, how many times a month you think you’ll make that drive? If on RSV could be zero. Or 10. Don’t know if that weighs enough to pick one over the other. Good luck!

 

It’s been a while. Did you make the leap?

good luck!

 

I did not! I went through my application several times and I still keep it up to date but haven't gotten a call. The rumor mill says it could be that I'm being "metered" for a year from the date I left the regional I was at, and if that's the case then I could get a call soon. I think it's more likely that there's something on my app UA doesn't like or I haven't checked all of the boxes that they're looking for. Either way, I'm not sure when I'll decide that it's too late to make the jump. I already have over 2,000 pilots behind me at Delta but commuting is still... undesirable.