TiredSoul

UA over SW any day by a country mile.
Fleet diversity (no jokes) for one and the ULCC model isn’t doing too hot right now.

VacancyBid

SW is a LCC - different model

11atsomto

I know right. Tell me about a time you flew with someone you didn't like?

As I understand, this alleged individual (living in Houston area) gave up seniority at a legacy, surrendered no chance at widebodies, and better NB movement, unless he lives in like Clear Lake or League City...the commute (both drives) I would think would cancel each other out, ..........all for the fact that he doesn't like the people he flies with. Man....I mean I never worked at WN, but I can tell you going from a ULCC to a legacy from a cockpit culture perspective can seem like going from a junior high school in a low income area to attending a catholic or military school. But certainly something most individuals could adapt to.
I don't know about this Schedule flexibility at WN, but it must be something spectacular for these people to advocate for WN over UA in this discussion.......cause I don't see any other area where WN wins.

wndriver

Which busines style do you like better? You want to fly big planes and over the pond?

Don't be misinformed about UA or SWA. You really don't know what it's like until you work there. A SWA new hire left within a year to go to UA, and decided to ask for his job back at SWA.
Many SWA FOs leave and forever happy at UA.

As a SWA pilot, I have flown five legs, maybe 3 times in five years. Yet, everybody who don't fly at SWA is convinced that we fly schedule like that. I know a guy who decided against SWA because he heard that SWA guys are always rushing and taxiing fast. I have flown with one person at SWA who taxied too fast in ten yrs, and this was 15 yrs ago.
When I got hired at SWA, I had a UA jumpseater who was ready to get furloughed for the 3rd time in ten years. He had been furloughed 7 yrs out of 10 yrs at UA.
I guess we don't have to worry about that any more?

Don't worry about the details of the contract. They're all good. Just look at the business as a whole. You'll be just fine at either company!

flyguy81

WN isn’t and has never been a ULCC. I agree I’d take the big 3 over a ULCC. Picking a company to work for depends on what your life goals are. Some want to drive to work, have tons of days off and make a lot of $ at work. Some want to collect min guarantee at home and never touch an airplane. Different strokes for different folks.

There’s no real wrong answer in this environment. I would say the big 3 are on the backside of their hiring bell curve though…best time to get hired was 2021 in this cycle.

BlueScholar

UAL by a mile.

If you want to fly the narrowbody and bust your ass on 3-4 legs a day you are more than welcome to seek out those trips for as long as you'd like. I see there's even a 5 legger in the DEN73 bid packet with your name on it! If you'd rather take a break from that grind and fly widebodies and live the cush life you are welcome to do that too. If you get tired of the long haul stuff and want more narrowbody style flying then you can go right back to that if you go CA or wait for your 2 year seat lock to expire. Want to experience a more legs oper day narrowbody style trips in a more comfortable office, with some long haul sprinkled in? The A320 and 321's has you covered. Want to work in the training center or just get trips bought off you for TK currency? You can do that. Sit reserve and get paid to be at home? You can do that too. SWA will not come close to offering those opportunities. Again, if those typically popular WB or TK opportunities don't appeal to you, that still lures thousands of pilots more senior to you away so you aren't competing with them until you want to.

SWA isn't that cute little luvin airline it used to be. The low cost travel model is breaking down, the company is overly beholden to the investors and they sent out WARN letters just like every other airline during COVID. The front office that was responsible for the billions in losses got massive bonuses while the pilot profit sharing got shafted. It's only a matter of time before they furlough just like everyone else. I'm sure you can have a comfortable, lucrative career there too, but you're going to be pigeonholed into the low cost, 737 only model for literally your entire career. That was the deal breaker for me.

11atsomto

I didn't say WN was an ULCC. I was just comparing my culture experience at B6 (which could be argued isn't really one either) and recognizing that there is a noticable Cockpit culture change from there to a legacy.
All in response to A few posts up...someone said they left UAL for WN...because they didn't like the people they flew with.

For the record I like some people I fly with more than others, but can't say I dislike anyone so far. That notwothstanding as mentioned above it is a very noticable difference in cockpit culture and custom. I'd imagine Southwest similar dynamic, No?

Squawkbox2012

We are so fortunate to be in an environment where there are now choices that can be made. However I'll share what happened to me for what it's worth.

I was hired at FedEx in the Summer of 2022. I had CJO's at multiple legacy carriers and everyone said "FedEx is the place to be, you won the lottery, you will make so much money". I could go on... Everything was looking rosy and wonderful until the logistics market bubble collapsed abruptly and most of the fleets in the system went down to contractual minimums. Coupled with contentious contract negotiations and a disunified pilot group it suddenly wasn't the place to be anymore. When I decided to leave FedEx I had a CJO with United and SWA and I chose SWA. I live close to the airport and my QOL even as a junior guy is very good with ELITT and TTGA. I had the opporutnity to fly to Europe at FedEx and realized going across multiple timezones wasn't for me so narrowbody didn't bother me. I also think some on here don't know the type of flying SWA does when they say 4-5 legs a day, long duty days etc... They do exist but I have seen they're rare.

But all that being said, United offers more opportunity because of the fleet system amongst other things. It is an excellent choice and if it makes sense for you I say absolutely do it. SWA is in a shift with management, the culture and business structure but it will figure itself out. However I believe it will continue to be a great place to make a career if you so desire.

My only point in posting this in the first place is not to suggest one place or the other. It is simply this... Be VERY careful about taking other pilots' advice when making career decisions. During COVID guys said to younger, more impressionable pilots (who were at UAL, DAL, AA, SWA) they should leave and go to FedEx, UPS etc... and guess what... it cost them nothing giving that "advice" and the pilots who listened lost seniority, money and some degree of mental stress because nobody likes to find out they made a decision that wasn't the best. YOU have to look at YOUR situation and decide.

Great decisions to make today and I wish you the best in it. I have friends at every airline and I want all of us to have long, fruitful careers!

at6d

I did my 737 type training at the United training center (through FTI) on the -300 EFIS. By the end of the course I had explored the old classrooms, found shrink wrapped QRHs from 727’s, spoke with many UAL pilots. The instructors were great and it seemed like a great operation. I was asked to apply as I had seen all the profiles—UAL was my next choice had SWA said no.

We have to make decisions with the real concrete information we have at the time. It’s not 2015 anymore and the environment has drastically changed. It will change again.

Being that you just got hired, you aren’t losing anything if you leave WN. It won’t be held against you; it’s business. Better to do it sooner than later if you choose to jump ship.

Great problem to have! Best of luck.

e6bpilot

Your measured and logical response has no place here, sir. Good day. I SAY GOOD DAY!!!