As a bit of an outsider, it’s hard to imagine this being a serious question.

Who do you trust to spend the rest of your career with? Are you comfortable being stuck in a 737 for the duration?

What?

 

I kind of agree. I think people that ask this question should be told unequivocally to go to SWA.

 

to be fair, SWA or this rate at UAL MCO, he’s going to be stuck in a 737 either way.

 

At least with SWA there is a light at the end of indoc of holding MCO.

As of now there are a handful of active 737 captains, in various bases, that cannot hold 737 MCO FO. Sure it’s due to an unusual situation, but it’s still significant to point out. Yes those captains are at the bottom of their respective lists.

 

For sure. It’s a long wait right bore to get into MCO in either seat with UAL. But if he isn’t moving for a few years anyway…

it’s all one big crap shoot

 

I’m new to the airline thing. The first rule I’ve heard people talk about is: “don’t commute”.

My 2 options (for family) are staying in Pensacola or moving to MCO. Tracking SW has a bigger footprint in MCO. Tracking UAL has bigger and different airplanes (but would require a commute to fly those airplanes)

Thanks for all the replies though - I’m still not sure what to do

 

My two cents.

I know this isn’t everything that goes into your decision, but it is worthy of consideration.

I’ve got 5,000 in the 737 and in my opinion it’s an absolute POS and I couldn’t even imagine being stuck in that plane for 25 years. Again in my opinion, but what a miserable work experience that would be. Yes, they could get another type or types but how long will that take to have plenty in the fleet with zero on order today.

SWA is like going back two or three decades technology wise. Not that a website matters that much. I can tell you they are just going AQP today not like more than 26 years ago for the other legacies. Heck they didn’t even use VNAV until 5 or 7 years ago. The entire company is very behind the times technology wise.

Most importantly today SWA is going through big changes in their business model as they have out grown what has worked very well for them in the last 3 - 4 plus decades. Not that they’re going anywhere, but I’d say their financial security and future is nowhere as secure looking forward like it has been in the decades of the past. What’s the old financial saying past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. That doesn’t mean they’re going out of business. But you may see long periods of stagnation and not the growth historically they’ve seen there.

Nobody knows the future, United could be out of business in five years. But given you have a 25 year career and looking what the realistic odds are moving forward. You would have a much better overall career at United vs. Southwest. I personally think you would regret deeply not going to United in five, ten or fifteen years.

How do you know in five or ten years Orlando is gonna be that important to you? Life happens and priorities change. You asked for opinions, that’s my two cents.

Either way best of luck!

 

My 2 cents……. I have over 12,000 hours in the 737 and would agree that it’s never going to be nominated as the queen of the fleet, but I can’t imagine basing my career on what I fly. I’d look at crew bases that I’d be willing to live in, or that are easy to commute to, scheduling flexibility, trip construction, seniority progression, and QOL. Being that both companies pay well, compensation/benefits would be next. I personally wouldn’t even factor in aircraft types. It’s just a job. Do your time, get paid, and go home.

 

I have been at United for more than 30 years. There have been times when Southwest, Fedex or UPS would have been the better call. Today and for the foreseeable future it is United or dare I say Delta. I could be 4% in MCO or 50% as a 777 or 787 Captain. The flexibility and lifestyle is infinitely better at United. I am on the 737 but will probably bid the 787 in the last few years as my swan song. I have an adult daughter in SFO who will let me sleep in her guest room. My wife can work remotely and will probably tag along to New Zealand/ Australia/Vietnam. You never know where life is going to take you but with United you'll have enticing options.

 

Imagine the spouse gets a new job or gets transferred to another city and he moves there to support the spouse. Lets say its a tech company and its the SF Bay Area. He can stay on the 737 in SFO or go fly WB now. Or he gets a divorce and his spouse remarries and moves to the Washington DC area so he moves there as well because of his kids. I know a ton of divorced pilots that moved because the spouse moved. Or they move somewhere that requires a commute no matter what airline you fly for. At least you have more choices with United.

Just pointing out that when you pick an airline that's a mostly final decision, but if you're 35 you still have 30 years of live and anything can happen.

I'm not sure that wrapping my whole career and life around one city is something I'd give much weight to in my decision making.