Stay and the new UAL or go to SWA?

[Whydoitry]

I had a UA jumseater, junior 757 CA who had left CAL when UAL was the place to be, said he would have been better off staying. you just never know.

 

[JUNK YARD DOG]

Hi, one pilot in ten makes out by changing airlines, at least that's my experience and I started in 1979. Good luck.. JW

This is good advice... I left a pretty good job to come to CAL... Now I believe I'm totally F**ked..

 

[tomgoodman]

Furlough insurance

If given a chance would you stay and Continetal (90% seniority) or go to SWA as a new hire?

Furloughs can happen anywhere. If you just got out of the bottom 10%, it would be risky to jump back in, even at SWA. I suggest you stay.

 

[IAHERJ]

I left AirTran in 2005. I would be on 8th year captain pay at AirTran had I stayed. Watching this merger with SWA and Airtran is interesting but I have to say I'm happy where I am. I only have 1,000 guys below me at CAL right now. Who knows where I'll end up with the SLI but one thing I do know. We will have steady retirements for the next decade as well as varied equipment choices and bases as a combined airline. It will never get boring. As far as the pay goes, one can only hope that we will be a leader once again in that area going forward followed by AA who will leapfrog us and Delta who will leapfrog them as the cycle continues. In 5 years, American will start hiring again big time. It will be interesting to see who will want to work for SWA in a few years.

I remember being a junior regional captain in the late 90's. I was flying an EMB-120 for COEX. We were wholly owned and had a flow through agreement with Continental so there was no chance at applying and getting an interview. The first airline I sent an application to was American. The fee was $100.00 and was non-refundable. My second application went to United(also had an application fee) followed by Delta and Northwest, in that order. I updated every 6 months religiously for 2 years. Like so many other guys I knew, SWA was a back-up in case we never got picked up by a major airline. I never applied although I had the paper application form. Then came the events of September 11, 2001 and the rest is history. A quick 2 years and 8 months at AAI and CAL started hiring. I gave it a shot and it worked out. Missed 737 CA by a few months seniority back in 2008 then the recession came along. I can hold the right seat on everything but the mystical aircraft that has not been delivered(787). If we don't get a big pay boost on this next contract I will be down earnings wise vs. where I'd be had I stayed at AirTran. If it is all about dollars and cents, SWA might be your best bet at this point in time. I just think the airline industry will look a lot different in 5 years than it does today. Heck it looks a lot different today then 3 years ago! I'd stay right here at CAL/UAL if I were you. That's just me. I like the varied flying the 757/767 allows me to do. Just got back from Buenos Aires last week. Heck of a layover. Decided to spend time at home this month so I bid reserve and will probably go the entire month without spending a night away. I like flying around the holidays so I'll bid a line in December with mostly domestic 757-300 flying. You get the point. Make a decision based on your career goals and what is best for your family(if you have one). Either way, you are in a better position than many.

 

[Fubijaakr]

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[bizicmo]

depends on what kind of bird is in the hand and what kind of bird is in the bush. If they are the same bird or bird of relatively close value i would agree. But maybe the birds in the bush have so much more value then the bird in the hand it would be worth going after them.

 

[pilotgolfer]

depends on what kind of bird is in the hand and what kind of bird is in the bush. If they are the same bird or bird of relatively close value i would agree. But maybe the birds in the bush have so much more value then the bird in the hand it would be worth going after them.

And the bush at SWA is much better lucking than the bush at UAL.

 

[AirMorgan]

Ordinarily, I'd advise anyone in your position to leave UAL for SWA. But in this instance, I'd stay because UAL is now being run by CAL management...and that right there is a huge plus over the old UAL.

I have a friend who was at Fed Ex and left for DAL (when DAL was "all that"). Looking back now...he regrets it. Don't leave CAL because you never know what's going to happen. 10% of the list below you is nothing to scoff at (especially at a huge airline). I think you'd do much better to stay.

 

[xjhawk]

Why do you believe this, given the recent history? When given the chance for organic growth SWA declined in favor of an acquisition.

Airtran had a lot to offer in respect to what they owned on the east coast. You just cannot create that with slow organic growth. They needed the gates and all that came with them. Not to mention with the exception of one crusty old guy who was bitter that the "junior" guys who have only been their ten years were selling out the retirement of the senior guys, they are a great bunch of pilots. There will be bumps down the road but when you combine two good groups of pilots I do not see how they could screw it up and make a US airways out of it. By the way, the two companys in question (SW and United), I would be honored to work at either one of them.

 

[GuppyWN]

Why do you believe this, given the recent history? When given the chance for organic growth SWA declined in favor of an acquisition.

Once we tap the international cherry Gary will not be able to stop. That plus the "way" we would fly into Atlanta with connections out the wazzu.

We'll be fine here. We just have to get this crap behind us.

Gup

 

[IAHERJ]

What do you mean by "once we tap the international cherry"? Do you think you are going to be some sort of international powerhouse? Out of what hubs. International is a whole different animal and favors the network carriers hub and spoke route systems. AirTran's international flying is not even considered international at AA/CAL/UAL/DAL for crew purposes and cabin service standards. I'm curious why some SWA pilots seem to think that they are suddenly going to go international and kick some ass. It just isn't going to happen unless we are talking about flights to Cancun and Belize or something. You guys tout your RNAV/RNP stuff but we've been doing that for a decade at CAL and AA etc to South American cities like Quito and we're good to RNP values of .15. I think you need a reality check my friend. SWA is one hell of an airline and they are going to become even stronger with the addition of AAI. AirTran has been doing all the right things for over a decade and will add significant value to your airline. That being said, I welcome the competition you think you are going to bring to the international arena.

 

[jonjuan]

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Joe Scarborough will clear this up...

http://www.pakistan.tv/videos-is-bush-an-idiot-[whhbPVrb5KM].cfm

 

[GuppyWN]

What do you mean by "once we tap the international cherry"? Do you think you are going to be some sort of international powerhouse?

Well....... yes I do! Except for guam. you can have that.

Gup

 

[IAHERJ]

Ever been to Guam Gup?

 

[GuppyWN]

Ever been to Guam Gup?

Negative but I've heard it has 100% humidity, snakes and it doesn't have Mirror Pond Pale Ale.

I'm out.

Gup