AA717driver

This. I tried to tell anyone who would listen when negotiations started but, cash is king at APA and work rules were all but ignored.

Way back when (maybe before they got their first 767/757), USAir had insanely good work rules and they made a $h!t ton of money as a result. Disclaimer: I didn't work there but a good friend and her dad did. It was a great contract.

AA's QOL has never been good--all the way back to the mid 80's. (With the possible exception of when every trip was always green and you could drop or trade at will. But, even then, the company would pull you off your trip when you were running late and you had to live on 64 hours that month.) They just paid enough to take the sting out.

dsevo

Man, if some of you spent as much time learning the contract you work under as you do *****ing to strangers on the internet, you’d make a lot more money and work a lot less. Hilarious.

mudpie

At Delta you'll work less and get paid more, with more opportunity to get paid even more.

While seniority progression is better at AA. For several reasons I wouldn't put too much weight on it simply because it's AA. It ideally provides a cushion for furlough, but that is countered by the fact that AA is just a much crappier company, financially and culturally. It's more likely to run into trouble and furlough despite having more below you. Another thing is that you can be more senior at AA, and have less QOL/money than someone way more junior at Delta, so what is the point of seniority if it doesn't get you those 2 things? I'm willing to bet the median Delta NB CA outearns the typical AA WB CA when all is considered.

Even if all things are equal, you earn the same flight pay and have the same days off a month as a Delta pilot. Again, with Delta is a much more successful company, it'll cut a profit share check equal to between 10%-16% of your earnings and AA will be about 1%-3%. That in itself is probably $50K/year difference. I know it's not guaranteed, but over an 30 year career and compounding the difference in earnings, it's easily in the tune of millions and adding up all the days, probably years less worked.

Al Czervik

Laughable. I've compared W-2's with DL/UAL buddies.

Name User

This is all true.

US Air was THE PLACE to be. Best contract. Best retirement. Best network. Growing significantly. Straight into right seat vs seat sideways for years @ Delta. Delta was a podunk carrier back then. The senior pilots @ Delta right now? Yeah they went there because they didn't get hired at US Air.

All that being true (best contract, most pay, etc) and where did US Air end up?

I feel there may be a moral in that story somewhere.

Wink

Deleted. Confused members. Mea culpa.

mudpie

You compare W-2s with your buddies? You know that's weird right?

I've only talked to them about ways to credit in order to minimize work/maximize pay.

Al Czervik

No, weird is telling your CA he's gonna get shot for diverting.

mudpie

lol...okay

airbusflieger

Lets hope not! LoL

I'd like the paychecks to clear for 6 or so more years ;-)