Should my buddy leave CAL for UPS?

[Non Union]

I frankly think he is already overpaid , but my friend just got a UPS offer, after just over one year in at Continental.

He's on the 777 and hardly ever works now as it is, but the UPS offer seems pretty good. Also, it seems that 50% of the CAL pilots are retiring in the next few years, he said.

He will probably get based in Anchorage with UPS, but he's based in Newark now, so how bad can it be in Alaska.

I think he should go to UPS. Any thoughts?

 

[Ex737Driver]

I'm sure the several hundred pilots he's senior too would agree with you, leave.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

It is totally up to him. At some point in all of our careers' we should stop trying for the next best thing and be happy where we are.
That said I had a buddy of mine do that in 88. He got on the front side of all of UPS airlines hiring. It worked for him. The situation at CO was a little different back then as well. CO has a great group of people that actually like the pilot group whereas UPS think that they do not need pilots to operate the company.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I know a guy that left FDX for United in 2001 and that did not work out very good for him at all.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Ya know? A few years back I would have said it's a no brainer but in my old age....I realize that things are just not that easy.

I have 2 friends that I recommended for UPS but UPS never called them. They got on with CAL and are very happy. I asked them if they would want me to still push for them at UPS. They said they want to stick it out with CAL. Things can go south really quickly anywhere, IMO but I do feel more secure at UPS. I have a decent feeling about CAL and I don't blame my buddies for staying. It sure doesn't make it any easier already being off probation IMO. There are a lot of things to consider.

BTW, I would rather be in ANC than anywhere near EWR....but that's just me.

 

[jhill]

I frankly think he is already overpaid , but my friend just got a UPS offer, after just over one year in at Continental.

He's on the 777 and hardly ever works now as it is, but the UPS offer seems pretty good. Also, it seems that 50% of the CAL pilots are retiring in the next few years, he said.

He will probably get based in Anchorage with UPS, but he's based in Newark now, so how bad can it be in Alaska.

I think he should go to UPS. Any thoughts?

He should go to UPS if he wants to ruin his life. Are you kidding me? How many pilots has UPS hired in the last 5 years? maybe 350. How much has their fleet grown? Try none. I think they have fewer airplanes now then they did 5 years ago. He would be junior forever at UPS. It doesn't get any worse than being junior at UPS

 

[Pocono Pilot]

He should go to UPS if he wants to ruin his life. Are you kidding me? How many pilots has UPS hired in the last 5 years? maybe 350. How much has their fleet grown? Try none. I think they have fewer airplanes now then they did 5 years ago. He would be junior forever at UPS. It doesn't get any worse than being junior at UPS

I agree.

With all the retirements, CAL could be the most secure major out there. Also, there is a good chance that CAL will be the highest paid eventually with a new contract.

I hope to be there soon.

 

[donger]

Buddy of mine left CAL for FEDEX. Guess he'll find out if it was the right choice in 20 years.

 

[jtf]

What kind of flying does he like? Can he deal with a significant amount of his life on the back side of the clock? Where does he want to live/ be based? Cargo doesn't complain, seems to be a little more secure, and will most likely pay out a lot more at the end of a career at least with the current contracts, full pension, B fund, and 401k. However, most of the cargo guys I've met seem to be old beyond their years from the time changes and back of the clock flying. I know they can get day schedules eventually, but it isn't overnight. Both jobs seem like a good place to be so it depends on what is most important for the individual. Pure pay and probably time off will be UPS- over 100k by the second year would be very nice, but you pay for it in other ways that you don't at a major airline. I'd be a money whore and happily take ANC, but that's just me. Must be nice to be in your friends position.

 

[propjob27]

Buddy of mine left CAL for FEDEX. Guess he'll find out if it was the right choice in 20 years.

I did the same thing. Hired CAL in Aug 2006. Quit in Dec 2006. Went to FedEX Jan 2007

So far, W2 wise, I definitely did the right thing. (128 an hour currently, vs the 65 an hour I would be making at CAL)

In 20 years, who knows. There probably isn't a right answer to this question. Just do what you think is right, and don't look back.