Elvis90

From a July 2010 post:

Continental Airlines, based on age 65 only:
2010 - 0 (but at least 25+ retirements so far and counting)
2011 - 5
2012 - 20
2013 - 183
2014 - 198
2015 - 186
2016 - 205
2017 - 210
2018 - 180
2019 - 194
2020 - 169
2021 - 188
2022 - 180
2023 - 187
2024 - 154
2025 - 157
2026 - 167
2027 - 167
2028 - 208
2029 - 154
2030 - 171
2031 - 150
2032 - 138
2033 - 163
2034 - 173
2035 - 190

rk772

As far as "get the job then decide", please read my initial post. My sponsor has been at FedEx ever since they were required to pay cash to fuel up the Falcons every night. I plan on being 100% on my decision before asking to put his name on my application again.

Everything else you said was good advise except that I'm not really asking someone to tell me what to do. I can make that decision "with the help of my better half." I'm just trying to make an informed decision by gathering the positives and negatives of each company. Like you said, I'm "taking into consideration how the life style, company culture, income potential and career advancement between your two options will influence the rest of your life."
Emotions are high at Continental as anyone who was at the LEC 171 meeting last week can attest to. The last thing I want to do is make an emotional decision about my career or turn into one of those "the grass is always greener" guys.

Thanks to everyone for all the post so far.

rk772

Both have good movement due to retirements. I had the list for CAL but can's find it. It was given to us in new hire training and was based on age 60. I seem to remember it being an average of 200 a year.

Elvis90

This chart was from an August 2007 post:



So for age 65 move to the right 5 years.

Looks like 150/year to about 2020, then 200+ per year.

LifeNtheFstLne

If you're senior to me at CAL....don't let the door hit you on the way out. :-P

Airhoss

Here's the deal my friend. You can only get information based on the now because this industry changes so fast that the now is only good information today it can all change tomorrow.

UAL is a PERFECT example of that! When I got hired at UAL in mid 90's it was THE place to be. We had FedEx, UPS and SWA guys coming over in droves. I left AWA to go to UAL. At three years seniority I was a LINE HOLDING 777 F/O averaging 19 days off a month. At 11 years I was a captain on the 320. I am, now a bottom feeding reserve F/O on the 7576 fleet barely paying my bills flying only the worst trips and working every weekend and holiday for the foreseeable future. After the SLI I am going to be junior to guys who have less than half the time on property than I do. Heck I'm going to be flying F/O for guys who were hired at CAL 8 years after I was hired at UAL. NICE!!!

Every descion you make in this industry is a cr@p shoot. So when it comes down to it you make your descion and you take your chances. At age 65 you'll know if you were lucky or not.

The moral of the story is you simply never know in this business. When I got hired at UAL if you would have told me I was gong to be where I am today I would have laughed at you! The same thing can happen at FedEx, UPS,SWA any of them are susceptible and anybody who thinks they are secure with their darling of a company for the long haul is kidding themselves.

Elvis90

United, Delta predicted to lead way as airlines post $4B in profits | Triangle Business Journal

forgot to bid

I 100% agree.

----

Okay if you won't apply, get the job and then decide then I say just go to FedEx.

I'm just picking the one that charges $20 for an envelope versus $300 for a human being. I think the best part is building miles, beats the snot out of paying to nonrev does it not?

Airhoss

Dude, that's Awesome!

contrail67

Why dont you just put the application in and go to the interview if they call you. Unless you know the future, and what the new UAL contract will bring; you or anyone else on this board has no idea what the end result will be...only thing we see is 20/20 hindsight.