CAL vs NWA - Which To Choose?

[SMOE]

All,

Got the invite from both for an interview. Looking for some honest feedback.

CALs been going strong, looks solid, but I'd be getting in on the tail-end of a hiring boom. Six month wait for bennies. Appears to be very selective.

NWAs just starting their hiring. I'd be on the front of the wave and I'm already 47. Rift between mgt and pilots supposidly fixed? (don't flame, going on heresay). Bennies kick in right away. Lots of guys getting the call that don't even meet the TPIC mins.

Anyone?

 

[propdog]

I was in the same boat as you. I went with NWA and currently very happy with the decision.

CAL already hired around 1400 pilots. NWA hired only around 150 yet. You are definitely at the head end of the hiring boom.

Over half the pilots here at NWA are +52 yrs of age...the oldest pilot group in the US. More than half are not staying to see 65 because they have frozen pensions which they can get at 60.

NWA can only add another 18 RJs to the regional feed...don't have to worry about all the DC-9s magically dissappearing soon.

NWA growth plans consists of 18 787s plus 50 options. Rumor is that...options will be utilized.

About management-pilot relationship....I don't care if we hate each other as long as I get my pay check on time! Hopefully, NWA will be able to negotiate better pay-rates at the next possible opportunity.

However, CAL is a great airline as well. Congratulations on having the choice and good luck with the decision.

 

[Quimby]

Either is gamble the way things are going. Pick the one where you can drive to work & hope for the best.

 

[Chairman]

Agreed go the the one where you can live at home or at least willing to move to. Pick a team and ride it out. Life is about living not just flying planes!

Chairman

 

[ATRCA]

CAL is getting many more A/C in the coming years than NWA however mergers will without a doubt change the current plans at both companies. CAL just increased the hiring to 48/mo for the remainder of the year and 09 has yet to be determined.

Good luck.

 

[rke44]

For what it's worth, I was offered a job at both 3 days apart. I chose NW for the exact reasons that Propdog stated. The NW bases suited my family and me better as well. Everyone has their reasons for choosing the company that they want to retire with (hopefully). You need to make the decision for your own reasons and not ones that someone here or elsewhere tells you. Good luck. It's a great problem to be facing.

 

[SteelerMan]

Touch choice, either one could be very scary with the potential mergers, but as a whole, just look at QOL. Trying to predict stability is pretty tough. People in their first few years have left CAL for other airlines not so much because the hate CAL, but because of better bases, etc. It's not that great there. Gotta do what's best for your family, including considering not leaving for either right now. Mergers will probably include at least some furloughs, depending of who lands with who and how many planes, routes are lost. Good luck.

 

[whymeworry?]

What NW ha better bases than CAL? Come on.

If I were in your shoes, I would go with NW. Beginning of a hiring boom and plenty of older pilots to retire sooner than CAL. Plus, of the pilots hired over the past 2.5 yrs, many were very young. I would say predominantly most are in their 20s or early 30s.

Also, NWs contract is indeed better and their pilots are less apathetic than CAL.

 

[SteelerMan]

NWA has better bases if you live in DTW, MEM, or MSP, I would think.

 

[ExAF]

Cart Before Horse

Not flaming here, but go to both interviews and get a job offer before you start deciding between the two. Learn as much as you can about both. If both offer a job then you have a choice to make. Good considerations above, but everything is ripe for change right now. A lot of uncertainty. Not commuting would be HUGE in my book if that is an option with either one. And for the record, the rift between NWA pilots and mgt is NOT fixed. I doubt it ever will be fixed, at least not while the current mgt is still employed. Good luck either way.

 

[ProLine4]

CAL just increased the hiring to 48/mo for the remainder of the year and 09 has yet to be determined.

Good luck.

ATRCA,

Just to clarify, CAL is planning to hire 48 per month for the rest of 2008? Is this a reliable source?
Thanks

 

[IAHERJ]

Yes, we initially came out last month and announced that we would cut hiring in half to 8 a week. We now have increased that figure to 12 a week. These numbers are only forcasted through May. We forcast hiring numbers for a 6 month period in accordance with our system bid information.

IAHERJ

 

[IAHERJ]

And to add to what others have said, you are always better off going with the airline that is in the beginning of a hiring wave. As much as I want to encourage people to come to CAL, a job with a major carrier that is just ramping up hiring might be a better move.

 

[flyboy006]

All,

Got the invite from both for an interview. Looking for some honest feedback.

CALs been going strong, looks solid, but I'd be getting in on the tail-end of a hiring boom. Six month wait for bennies. Appears to be very selective.

NWAs just starting their hiring. I'd be on the front of the wave and I'm already 47. Rift between mgt and pilots supposidly fixed? (don't flame, going on heresay). Bennies kick in right away. Lots of guys getting the call that don't even meet the TPIC mins.

Anyone?

I was in the same boat as you with getting offered 2 Legacy carriers. You just have to go with what is a better fit for you and your current situation. The industry is such a crap shoot and yes CAL has done extremely well but they have been hiring for a while where NWA hasnt. The benny's kick in day one at NWA i assume vs. CAL 6 months. The fact is with merger talk who know what will happend to any of these carriers. In my opinion, I would pick the one that better suits your families needs and then dont look back. Thats what I did and what happends happends..

 

[johnsonrod]

Pick NWA if you want to fly for Delta someday...