Leaving SWA at 6yrs for UPS?
#91
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Position: C/HC/KC/MC-130J Instructor Pilot
Posts: 43
Not yet, tentatively in an Aug class. I'm trying to get as much perspective to decide if leaving my flying job with a military OEM is the right move. I've done night flying with AFSOC but UPS night flying is on a different level.
I don't get enough flying where I'm at. My financial calculations say go to UPS... but I want to make a good decision for my family.. and my health.
Sorry for sounding disgruntled, I just don't have union experience. With all the good things that IPA has earned it seems like scheduling is a big loss.
#92
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 983
I’ve often wondered what is a senior schedule at Southwest like? Junior folks here at UPS can enjoy weekends off on the domestic system and some longer layovers (used to be longer) on the international side. Living in base definitely helps and although SDF isn’t the epicenter of excitement the cost of living is nice compared to the coasts or bigger metropolitan areas.
#93
I’ve often wondered what is a senior schedule at Southwest like? Junior folks here at UPS can enjoy weekends off on the domestic system and some longer layovers (used to be longer) on the international side. Living in base definitely helps and although SDF isn’t the epicenter of excitement the cost of living is nice compared to the coasts or bigger metropolitan areas.
Senior schedule at SWA is the same as a junior schedule except it begins on Tuesdays.
#94
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 919
I am very thankful to be here and wouldn’t leave for any other airline job, but I was under the impression this thread was about leaving SWA for UPS. People need to know what they are getting into here because this place has such a different dynamic than most other airlines. The flying here CAN be very challenging, but most people eventually find what works for them. Me personally, would stay at SWA, but in the end, it’s your decision…. Good Luck
And no, I’m not disgruntled, just a realist.
And no, I’m not disgruntled, just a realist.
I was responding ignorantly to someone who is a current UPS pilot that is very unhappy. I understand the thread is about someone comparing UPS to SWA, and I agree they should probably stay put. I posted without reading carefully what was being said and by whom. My bad.
#95
Occasional box hauler
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,683
To clarify, I dropped a question in the thread but didn't mean to hijack it.
Not yet, tentatively in an Aug class. I'm trying to get as much perspective to decide if leaving my flying job with a military OEM is the right move. I've done night flying with AFSOC but UPS night flying is on a different level.
I don't get enough flying where I'm at. My financial calculations say go to UPS... but I want to make a good decision for my family.. and my health.
Sorry for sounding disgruntled, I just don't have union experience. With all the good things that IPA has earned it seems like scheduling is a big loss.
Not yet, tentatively in an Aug class. I'm trying to get as much perspective to decide if leaving my flying job with a military OEM is the right move. I've done night flying with AFSOC but UPS night flying is on a different level.
I don't get enough flying where I'm at. My financial calculations say go to UPS... but I want to make a good decision for my family.. and my health.
Sorry for sounding disgruntled, I just don't have union experience. With all the good things that IPA has earned it seems like scheduling is a big loss.
I faced a similar choice when I retired, except I wouldn’t have been flying at all in my airline alternative job. Ultimately, I chose UPS and am relatively happy here. As others have said, living in domicile is what makes this (or any airline gig) a great job. If that is something you refuse to do, you may be better off where you are. You will make dramatically less (unless you climb the ranks in that OEM), but having greater predictability for life’s major events enables you to save a lot of money.
If you come here, move to domicile, and apply some thought to how and what you bid life will be very good.
#96
Originally Posted by MCJdrvr
With all the good things that IPA has earned it seems like scheduling is a big loss.
Everything is a matter of perspective.
At UPS, just like SWA or DAL or UAL or FDX, you will have a better quality of life if you live in domicile. If you commute, palatable schedules become fewer and changes to those scehdules more significantly impactful. If you're junior, your palatable choices will be fewer than if you are senior. At our rate of hiring, looking at our projected retirements in coming years, one shouldn't be junior for very long...
Express integrators fly at night, and a junior pilot is going to do exactly that. If that isn't your cup of tea, then gut it out until you can hold day flying or international trunk flying, or you might consider employment elsewhere that is better suited to the preferences of you and your family. We're lucky right now that SO MANY people are able to change employers to better their individual situation.
This job ain't for everybody...but it is a damn good job.
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