New-hires passing on AA, DAL, and FedEx?
 

A good buddy of mine just returned to the property after 2nd furlough/COLA. He finished New-Hire Orientation on Apr 14th. He said there were several new-hires that passed on AA, DAL, and FedEx. Now I can understand AA and possibly DAL, but FedEx? My best friend was hired by both DAL and us about a year ago, and he chose Delta. His dad is a retired UAL mechanic and grew up wanting to fly for UAL, but he lives near Detroit so that explained it. When I came back on property back Oct 2014, I bumped into one guy who turned down an offer from Fedex in favor of United, but he also had a mil retirement.

For you future UAL guys with class dates, did you pass on offers from others?

Just curious if the tides are changing.😎

Passing on Fedex is an easy one. For some it's their true #1 choice, others just are not cut out for back side of clock flying, and career military may have already figured that out.

They all called at the same time. I think most of the guys in my interview group and interview prep group all had multiple interviews scheduled. Delta has a 3-4 month wait right now for classes and United is at a 1.5-2 month wait. Southwest called last and I pushed it back as much as possible. I start class at United soon. One delta and one southwest person was at my UAL interview. It is a pretty hectic hiring environment.

Delta is down to less than a month from interview to class. Just FYI.

I didn't even apply with FedEx because I prefer to be awake during daylight hours for the most part. Just not for everyone.

It's a rare buyer's market. I'm sure some folks have choices between airlines so they end up getting more particular and making choices on base preferences vice airline preferences.

After I got hired by UAL, and then a month later DAL, I quit updating apps. I declined a UPS interview opportunity that followed, and also declined Alaska and Jet Blue interviews. I did a thorough analysis and wouldn't leave UAL for number of reasons, and of course it helped that they were the first to give me a seniority number. None of my decisions were based on domiciles though, and I know for some that is everything however.

Saying you dont want backside of the clock flying is saying you wont fly anything but senior bus or 737. A little short sighted.

Fedex was always my first choice by a lot post military. Got hired but sat in pool a few years. Got called by United and went. Really liked it, so when Fedex class was offered finally, and even when SWA invited me to re-interview, i decided to stay with the one who brought me. SWA was easy to turn down. Fedex came down to at my age starting over made little financial sense, living in base for me was better QOL at UAL then in Memphis, and like i said i like my job here.

Having said that if i had gotten a class date soon after interviewing at Fedex i would never have looked back. Most of my Fedex interview class did go there when called. To each their own. Seniority and QOL matter.

I think all it's saying is you don't want to fly in a company that does nearly all back side clock flying--unless you're pretty senior.