flyguy81

Makes way more sense now. With the time you got left, anywhere you go would be a great career. I’d figure out where you want to live and see who has a base there or near there within driving distance. Like RJ said, DL is prob the best run of the big 3 but has fewer WB jets if that’s your thing. UAL has more WB and forecasted growth. AA has old people. I’d check a retirement forecast at each to see what % you’d end up at to see what your options would be as you get older. If you want WB CA option, be nice to know how soon you could theoretically hold it where you want to live.

Fly4FunAA

Yeah I’ve taken a look at the seniority projections and it shows that if hired today…American has the best overall seniority, Southwest/United follow with both being similar, and then Delta is last due to how many people they’ve hired since 2014 and the age of those hired…

it’s tough 1st world problem to have…all 4 airlines could work for my life situation…some better than others. Delta and American are my top two.

Pros for Delta are: the company itself, contract, financials, culture, etc. Cons: commuting and seniority.

Pros for American: seniority, bases
Cons: the company financials, and maybe the work rules

ironically both airlines have the opposite pros/cons…I just have to figure out what matters more to me in the long run.

Currently im thinking…come off mil leave…fly with SWA in the meantime and see if anything bites with American/Delta/United…give it til the end of this year and then reevaluate if it doesn’t happen by the end of this year or early next. Biggest risk is I just don’t know when the music will stop.

flyguy81

Solid plan....if you can figure out forecasting the future in this industry you should prob play Powerball. Lol

Fly4FunAA

lol yeah between COVID and then the hiring boom and everything in between, this industry really is a gamble

RckyMtHigh

Commuting is a HUGE con. It should be in it's own category before you consider anything else like work rules or financials.

hookedleft

Funny that you say this. The only two airlines I hear people passionataly say “Oh I love airline” are Southwest and Delta. I’ve never heard someone swear by United and especially American. Just an observation

Otterbox

35 years? Most likely worth leaving SWA if you want to fly WB. Even if you end up not loving it you'll have the opportunity for quicker upgrade and higher relative seniority at a place with WBs.

If your sole concern is the ability to fly widebodies the list should probably go UAL, DAL and AA in that order. Seniority moviement is great but, it's worth more if there's WB captain spots to move up to. UAL has the most WBs followed by DAL then AA. IIRC DAL contractually flys with 2 CAs on ocean crossing flight over 12hrs where AA requires a second CA once over 16hr FDP.

Commuter rules wise. AA, DAL then UAL

Reserve Rules wise DAL, AA, then UAL.

OverUnderDone

You read through the new contract yet? Co-Terminal language is prevalent and hints towards future growth of the practice. Would not be surprised to see MIA/FLL/PBI as a Co-Terminal within the next 5 yrs. Might get what you want after all unless you really want to fly that WB or wear a sweet hat.

hoover

I think sw is getting a new hat.

J3nkums

No dog in this fight just reading the comments. Im a post 2014 AA hire and I have no clue what AA was like pre-2014 since I was a mil guy. But I've had nothing but good things to say about AA and the "culture" on the flight deck and with my fellow crewmembers has been great with very few exceptions. We all make decisions based on what's best for us and our families and in the end its just a job. Be a professional, do your job and go home to what matters.