DL or UA..? ATL v IAH
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 309
Talks of seniority movement at Delta being over are a bit overblown. Yeah we are on the other side of the 2,500+ a year wave, but we are still planning 1,000 a year for the foreseeable future. That could change, but if worse comes to worse, our retirement numbers are still around low 500's-high 400's for the next decade. United has a lot more WB opportunities overall, but Delta's expansion plans are pretty squarely focused on international, and OP would likely have more WB opportunity in ATL than in IAH.
That being said, by all accounts UAL is just as fantastic a place to work, and if OP would rather live in IAH then that is what they should do! Though I wouldn't turn down the DAL class date without a class date at UAL in hand, can always hop ship once that happens.
Great problem to have, you can't go wrong, congratulations and good luck!
That being said, by all accounts UAL is just as fantastic a place to work, and if OP would rather live in IAH then that is what they should do! Though I wouldn't turn down the DAL class date without a class date at UAL in hand, can always hop ship once that happens.
Great problem to have, you can't go wrong, congratulations and good luck!
#32
The point I was trying to make is, if the question was about IAD offering a southern culture, it can be had in easy driving distance - espeically if you go west or SW of IAD.
And for the record, the downwind for IAD overflys the Manassas battlefied (which the South won twice ;)
#33
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2024
Posts: 16
Talks of seniority movement at Delta being over are a bit overblown. Yeah we are on the other side of the 2,500+ a year wave, but we are still planning 1,000 a year for the foreseeable future. That could change, but if worse comes to worse, our retirement numbers are still around low 500's-high 400's for the next decade. United has a lot more WB opportunities overall, but Delta's expansion plans are pretty squarely focused on international, and OP would likely have more WB opportunity in ATL than in IAH.
That being said, by all accounts UAL is just as fantastic a place to work, and if OP would rather live in IAH then that is what they should do! Though I wouldn't turn down the DAL class date without a class date at UAL in hand, can always hop ship once that happens.
Great problem to have, you can't go wrong, congratulations and good luck!
That being said, by all accounts UAL is just as fantastic a place to work, and if OP would rather live in IAH then that is what they should do! Though I wouldn't turn down the DAL class date without a class date at UAL in hand, can always hop ship once that happens.
Great problem to have, you can't go wrong, congratulations and good luck!
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2023
Posts: 128
Right seat QOL for a decent paycheck is better than left seat plug QOL even when you get more money (that you will be paying 39% in taxes on)
If you haven't started yet you have no idea what is happening with how fast the upgrades will be specifically for you either. If you know what the market is going to do you then you should be placing bets on wallstreet instead of flying planes.
737 upgrade in IAH at about 2 years... I would say thats probably correct- for someone hired 2 years ago. Past performance DOES NOT ALWAYS indicate future performance- although it is usually a good measure
UA is getting some 787s and ZERO new 737s delivered for forseeable future while DL continues to get 320s, 220s, and 330s/350s. Now factor in that DL 220s and 320s are constantly going down for inspections over next 1-2 years. Now factor in UA is getting leased 321neos in 2026. Now factor in the ports will probably shut down next week and the economy will take a hit. Now factor in an election. Now factor in a hurricane or oil becomes less important to Houston and the city ends up dying like detroit did. The point I am making is there are way too many factors to try to predict upgrade times, especially when you are not within 6 months of upgrade at either carrier.
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2022
Position: 787 FO
Posts: 678
UA is scheduled to get 10 more 321s in 2024, 25 321s in 2025 and 25 moren 787s through the end of 2025. I would expect additional Boeing delays to reduce those numbers.
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2024
Posts: 237
You say you want to live in "the south" which can mean a lot of things, but I'm assuming it's some sort of cultural affinity because "someplace warm" would get you more options. Texas and georgia are very different. Atlanta and Houston are very different. No income tax vs income tax is very different.
But really the things that will REALLY determine whether UA or DL is a better choice are unknowable and will happen 10 to 20 years from now. You have the delta class - take it and if for some reason Delta seems awful, then jump to United when they offer you a class date.
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: 18%er but I’ll enforce UPA23 to the last period.
Posts: 471
No, it's not a big difference. You're looking at a 38 year career. 3 years isn't a big deal. And putting a bullseye on your back upgrading with 36 years to go is ... poor judgement.
You say you want to live in "the south" which can mean a lot of things, but I'm assuming it's some sort of cultural affinity because "someplace warm" would get you more options. Texas and georgia are very different. Atlanta and Houston are very different. No income tax vs income tax is very different.
But really the things that will REALLY determine whether UA or DL is a better choice are unknowable and will happen 10 to 20 years from now. You have the delta class - take it and if for some reason Delta seems awful, then jump to United when they offer you a class date.
You say you want to live in "the south" which can mean a lot of things, but I'm assuming it's some sort of cultural affinity because "someplace warm" would get you more options. Texas and georgia are very different. Atlanta and Houston are very different. No income tax vs income tax is very different.
But really the things that will REALLY determine whether UA or DL is a better choice are unknowable and will happen 10 to 20 years from now. You have the delta class - take it and if for some reason Delta seems awful, then jump to United when they offer you a class date.
#38
line slug
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: B777 Captain
Posts: 227
#39
off weekends (if Reserve)
Joined APC: May 2023
Posts: 420
In MCO, LAS, and IAH its 39%.
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 558
from the Pilot Pulse YouTube channel he did a breakdown on UA’s WB Capt time to upgrade per base, very analytical & good video.
777 Cap IAH Is 18 years & 787 is 25 years. Just so you can fly to South America 90% of the time. I kno some older UA guys that dislike IAH flying so much they purposely commute while living in Houston (EWR based).
in fact he’s quoting everything to be atleast 18 years for plug 787 Cap. If delta takes an extra handful of years I’d consider that time negligible?
On WS for DL, if you project for the WB growth and are willing to be a plug for NYC WBA, looks like equivalent time of 25 years assuming no growth. So for both companies it’s approx 25 years and should go lil’ junior from there.. that leaves 13+ years as a WBA at DL or UA.. It also seems DL may have another large WB order ahead to account for the 7ER’s when UA has already done that
777 Cap IAH Is 18 years & 787 is 25 years. Just so you can fly to South America 90% of the time. I kno some older UA guys that dislike IAH flying so much they purposely commute while living in Houston (EWR based).
in fact he’s quoting everything to be atleast 18 years for plug 787 Cap. If delta takes an extra handful of years I’d consider that time negligible?
On WS for DL, if you project for the WB growth and are willing to be a plug for NYC WBA, looks like equivalent time of 25 years assuming no growth. So for both companies it’s approx 25 years and should go lil’ junior from there.. that leaves 13+ years as a WBA at DL or UA.. It also seems DL may have another large WB order ahead to account for the 7ER’s when UA has already done that
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