Mil to AA or DAL?
03-02-2024, 10:23 PM
#11
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Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: Gear slinger
Posts: 2,980
Hey all, looking for advice. I know there's no clear answer so i'm just looking for opinions and maybe experiences that can help me decide. I'm a military guy in the fortunate position of having a CJO at both Delta and American Airlines. They both have domiciles I'd love to live near, so i'm mostly torn at the seniority, flying, and benefits portions of each. I know I could progress faster at American, but one of the perks my family is looking for is to travel the world (for free) and Delta has more international trips. On the other hand I'll never advance in seniority at Delta, but they do pay well and all my friends seem to have gone to them. Any sage advice?
03-03-2024, 06:05 AM
#12
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,704
Delta has tended to hire older pilots than American and United so your seniority progression might not be as bad as you think near the end of your career. You will also earn substantially more over a career with the profit sharing at Delta. Delta also has the best disability in the industry. I don't know the specifics of AA's new contract on disability but the prior contract was terrible. You have a 50% or greater chance of ending up on disability over a career.
03-03-2024, 06:24 AM
#13
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Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 618
Congrats on having two great offers!
For whatever it’s worth, the happiness index seems to be higher at delta. Every airline pilot engages in sport b*tching, but it seems to be more prevalent at American and more of an ingrained cultural thing.
*source = I work at one of them and commute on both of them.
For whatever it’s worth, the happiness index seems to be higher at delta. Every airline pilot engages in sport b*tching, but it seems to be more prevalent at American and more of an ingrained cultural thing.
*source = I work at one of them and commute on both of them.
03-03-2024, 06:35 AM
#14
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Joined APC: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,183
Delta has tended to hire older pilots than American and United so your seniority progression might not be as bad as you think near the end of your career. You will also earn substantially more over a career with the profit sharing at Delta. Delta also has the best disability in the industry. I don't know the specifics of AA's new contract on disability but the prior contract was terrible. You have a 50% or greater chance of ending up on disability over a career.
03-03-2024, 06:48 AM
#15
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,704
I keep hearing that but have seen no specifics. United's is not close to ours.
Edit: Found some details. It appears with PS the Delta program is still better. American does have a tax free option but it involves a significant expense.
Edit: Found some details. It appears with PS the Delta program is still better. American does have a tax free option but it involves a significant expense.
03-03-2024, 09:10 AM
#16
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Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 742
Do you mean to more correctly state that 50% of pilots *at some point in their DAL career* will go on LTD for some time period, with most coming back to being fully cleared and flying for the remainder of their career, and some small percentage staying on LTD until retirement?
In UALs most senior category (DEN 787 CA) there are 3/80 that are on LTD. So just wondering if DAL’s industry-leading LTD is so good that it’s making pilots unable to fly.
03-03-2024, 01:22 PM
#17
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,704
You keep saying this, as in “50% of pilots over 60 are on LTD” which is demonstrably false.
Do you mean to more correctly state that 50% of pilots *at some point in their DAL career* will go on LTD for some time period, with most coming back to being fully cleared and flying for the remainder of their career, and some small percentage staying on LTD until retirement?
In UALs most senior category (DEN 787 CA) there are 3/80 that are on LTD. So just wondering if DAL’s industry-leading LTD is so good that it’s making pilots unable to fly.
Do you mean to more correctly state that 50% of pilots *at some point in their DAL career* will go on LTD for some time period, with most coming back to being fully cleared and flying for the remainder of their career, and some small percentage staying on LTD until retirement?
In UALs most senior category (DEN 787 CA) there are 3/80 that are on LTD. So just wondering if DAL’s industry-leading LTD is so good that it’s making pilots unable to fly.
03-03-2024, 01:25 PM
#18
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Joined APC: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,360
when in doubt, drive to work
AA has hired 63 year old in new hire in last 12 months. I know this for a fact
not one legacy has the "lock" on hiring "older" new dudes.
if you have the experience, quals, etc and are a good guy, you can prob get hired
did I say drive to work?
AA has hired 63 year old in new hire in last 12 months. I know this for a fact
not one legacy has the "lock" on hiring "older" new dudes.
if you have the experience, quals, etc and are a good guy, you can prob get hired
did I say drive to work?
03-03-2024, 03:03 PM
#19
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Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 742
When the retirement age was 60 historically half would not make it to that age. That was spot on for my class. Guys get fired, quit, retire early and end up on disability. Based on my projections verses where I retired that number was pretty accurate across the board.
03-03-2024, 06:28 PM
#20
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Joined APC: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,189
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