Danger Close

One thing to consider if you’re comparing DL ATL is the non flying positions available. Lots of new folks getting SLI jobs that were paying 777 F/O.

PilotJ3

The highest pay FO last year was a 717 guy making around 400-450k.

If you live in base and are willing to work green slips, you can definitely be ahead of break even. But you need to work the system and willing to lose days off.

If you want to fly 737s all your life, stay at SWA. If you want to have choices in life and live in ATL then go to DAL. You are still in a good position hiring wise.

crewdawg

An often overlooked positive. So many (well paying) opportunities outside of flying the line if you're willing to seek them out. Instructors, duty pilot, etc...all nice gigs for locals, especially if you want to be home most nights.

symbian simian

https://www.reddit.com/r/technicallythetruth/

Comment of the week imho

Cosa Nostra

He'll definitely upgrade to a NB before he does at SWA.

Catflyer

I can speak first hand, left Swa after 2 1/2 yrs to Delta 2014, best move I every made and allot happier! Swapped from the backside of a wave to the breaking front of a wave! But got say to each there own and not easy starting over!

Very simple and one word,

““OPTIONS””

Delta you can fly turns all day long if you live in base, or fly one large 10-12 days and live any where! You can upgrade in 1-2 years to a NB or go to large WB, or go SR in NB and GS all month it the fact that you have a choice and you go back and forth during your carreer!

Hired right into WB, now on ever large WB for past two years.

Delta has enough “planned” retirement in next 8 years, that mean anyone hires now will be 1/2 up the company in time frame, and 2/3 in the next 12.

SWA is still a great company and great people! But Delta has a great culture too.

Please pm me and happy to tell the difference I have found.

Happy to help,
Catflyer

Sniper66

In 8 years 50% seniority or 6800
I doubt that
7000 got hired since January 08 as we speak

8 years 525 average per year yes I will buy that
Around 9500 seniority or 70 percent yes

m3113n1a1

I'm going to second what everyone else says about going to the airline with the base that you want. I'm at Delta, but have no desire for long haul type flying and 737s and multiple legs don't scare me!

Someone hired right now at Delta will have a vastly different career than someone hired in 2014. We have hired about 4,000 pilots since then. That's about 30% of the seniority list. It will still be a great career, don't get me wrong, but it is something to consider.

As far as QOL, it is pretty good at Delta once you get some seniority (which will happen quickly on a junior fleet in a junior base). There have been quite a lot of opportunities for 200% flying on the junior fleets the last couple of years, but this ebbs and flows and could go away tomorrow. The PBS that we use is pretty decent, I have no complaints, the only time I miss line bidding is training/vacation months, but that can be improved (in negotiations) by increasing the amount of credit we get for those things. Days off for a middle of the pack lineholder on the 737 probably average 15-17 at about 70-79hrs of pay. You can pick up more if you like.

Upgrade time is a moving target. I think if hired today you could be reasonably sure you could be a captain within 5ish years in a junior category. Keep in mind lots of people bypass upgrade here until they can hold a specific base and category and a decent schedule. Have a delta buddy show you the ALPA seniority tool so you can see what type of relative seniority gets you what today.

Contrary to the popular myths, the pilot group here is actually pretty awesome. I've never had a problem with anyone. It's been a very welcoming and fun environment to work in.

With all that being said, you really have no wrong choice. I would probably say to stay at SWA unless you absolutely hate it, absolutely need to be in a Delta base, or absolutely need the option to fly wide bodies one day. But if you decide to come to Delta, it wouldn't be a bad choice either!! Does that help?

marcal

This is purely just a debbie downer post, but on the last AE, junior narrow body CA(NYC 717) went about 5 years seniority*.

*Still crazy fast for a legacy.

I suspect it will not be in the 1-2 year range especially with the -88 going away. That was the true reason for such early upgrades. No one wanted to fly it lol!

PassportPlump

100% false. The junior B717A in NYC was a 2016 hire on the last AE, and this is the second time he has been a 717A at Delta.