Advice Please! AirTran vs. Delta?

[FDJ2]

Can you believe how DIFFERENT this is than 1999-2000?

With that thought in mind, can we really even guess at what 2009-2010 will look like, let alone even further down the road?

 

[ron burgundy]

Right now I fly for the AF Reserves and this is my first opportunity to fly for anybody outside the Air Force. I'm looking for long term stability at a company with steady growth. Got snubbed by Southwest, and already applied with UPS & FedEx, but assuming they never call, I'm trying to find the right fit for me and my family. Thanks for the inputs!

HA HA . IN THIS INDUSTRY? MIGHT I SUGGEST HOME DEPOT OR STARBUCKS?

 

[Ty Webb]

There was a Delta furloughee who was hired at AirTran, and it is my understanding that he has now gone back to Delta . . . . so that tells you what he thought of the situation.

I also hear from the AA and TWAA guys that most plan on going back when their number comes up- even if they have upgraded.

If it wasn't for the possibility of the USAirways merger, it would be a no-brainer . . . . . that, to me, is the wild card.

How about this - don't go to either of 'em, but focus on SWA, Fedex, UPS or CAL.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

.

 

[Max Powers]

Also think about debt. Delta's overall debt burden very high albeit with some lucrative routes but remember you will be paying off that debt with your hard work. Even after the bankruptcy their debt load will be massive. AirTran lower debt load and Casm's are very low making their inevitable growth good for the near term. But AirTran lacks the lucrative route structure delta has. Its all a freaking crap shoot. But looking solely at business model and what Wall street thinks Airtran is the better bet their PE ratio is at 49 massive for the industry(meaning wall street is betting on their cont'd growth)

 

[dtfl]

There was a Delta furloughee who was hired at AirTran, and it is my understanding that he has now gone back to Delta . . . . so that tells you what he thought of the situation.

I also hear from the AA and TWAA guys that most plan on going back when their number comes up- even if they have upgraded.

If it wasn't for the possibility of the USAirways merger, it would be a no-brainer . . . . . that, to me, is the wild card.

How about this - don't go to either of 'em, but focus on SWA, Fedex, UPS or CAL.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

.

Uhhh I am a furloughee hired there. I took mil leave from DAL and havent taken a class date there because I have mil obligations through June. So..if that was ME they were talking about..I haven't gone back to DAL. Speaking of..I need to email Sarah and update her.

 

[PHXFLYR]

Right now I fly for the AF Reserves and this is my first opportunity to fly for anybody outside the Air Force. I'm looking for long term stability at a company with steady growth. Got snubbed by Southwest, and already applied with UPS & FedEx, but assuming they never call, I'm trying to find the right fit for me and my family. Thanks for the inputs!

Either way Delta or Air Tran , keep the AF Reserve gig going until you get 20 years in. This way you will have some sort of traditional pension check coming in. As far as Delta vs Air Tran that's a tough call . Might come down to what kind of flying you would like to do. Delta has a little more to chose from in that regard. International flying,wide body aircraft etc. My wife is a ticket agent there and if you like a little more polished product I would have to say Delta would be the way to go. If that stuff isn't all that important to you, Air Tran may be more to your liking. hope this helps.


PHXFLYR

 

[FDJ2]

Also think about debt. Delta's overall debt burden very high albeit with some lucrative routes but remember you will be paying off that debt with your hard work. Even after the bankruptcy their debt load will be massive.

Actually, DAL's balance sheet will be amongst the best in the industry. I believe the debt load is suppose to be approximately $7.5B by the end of 2007, down from $17.5B when DAL entered BK. Not bad for a company the size of DAL. DAL also has the lowest CASM of any of the legacy carriers.

IMO, both AAI and DAL will do fairly well in the forseable future. The real questions are, what type of flying do you want to do? Do you want a quicker upgrade to the left seat at AAI, or the opportunity to fly wide bodied aircraft overseas and eventually make more at DAL due to the higher rates on the larger equpment? Eose matters. each pilot has to make his own decision on that. Determining the financial strength of the companies more than 5 years out is just guessing.

 

[CheyDogFlies]

If you don't go to that Delta interview, I'm gonna kick your ass next time I see you at the Deid.

E-mail me--I've got an airTran interview when I get back. GY

 

[Jonny Sacko]

I can not believe the header of "Airtran vs. Delta". Wow. Think back 10 years ago. How bizaar an industry we live in.

 

[Gear Down]

Get hired with Delta. Airtran appears to have a dark future.

 

[spongebob]

It cracks me up to read so many "sure thing" replies. Anyone who has read the slightest bit of business history and airline history in particular, knows that there is no sure thing. This industry has morphed a thousand times and carriers have come and gone. In ten years Southwest may be a goner, brought down by over reliance on fuel-hedges, point to point route cherry picking and growing labor costs and the US domestic and International leader may be Cape Air. You never know. Our glorious cargo carriers might be brought down by the stroke of a pen when our government allows Cubana Cargo and Sri-Lanka Package Express to run parcels from Detrit to Tampa. You can only make your decision based on what you know today.

If I was to chose between AirTran and Delta I would consider stability of course but also factor in quality of life, home base, corporate culture and similar issues. Never burn a bridge if you can avoid it and ALWAYS be working on your next job. If there is one thing I regret was believing "this is the last job you will ever hold - because you will retire from here in many years a happy man". Now I keep my resume updated, alwys keep looking at the industry and work on plan B, C, D and so forth.

The one tiny benefit we see of the pension dumping is the portability of experience. Right now you can presently get high paying jobs as 777 Captain with Emirates, ANA and Cathay. That may become something you see here stateside. (direct hire Captains) When your carrier has no pension to hold over your head, you are more likely to run for greener pastures at some point. So NEVER assume you will finish your career with who you started. If you go to Tranny (or DAL), keep your eyes open to the next best thing. It may be smart at some point to jump ship and go fly as Oprah's pilot or start up a new carrier based out of Boise. Management relies on pilots not wanting change and they have wrung concessions out of us because too many believe they have to stay.

Well, I encourage you to do what many have mentioned and stay in the reserves. If anything, it is fun and gives you a chance to take a break from running from one concourse to another to do your third pre-flight of the day.

Good luck in your decisions...
SB

 

[Turtle21]

Either way Delta or Air Tran , keep the AF Reserve gig going until you get 20 years in.

PHXFLYR

Good advice, Crewdog. If stability is what you are after then don't look at the airlines with rose colored glasses on.

Active Air Force=Real Stability:beer:
Airlines + Reserves = partial stability
Airlines = Crap shoot:bomb:


I was in a situation similar to yours back in 98 when I left the Air Force active duty. US Air had not hired in 10 years and I got in on the beginning of the wave---had 1000 pilots behind me 6 months after I was hired and had better payrates than all but FedEx. Added to that all the pilots at US Air are old as dirt so it looked awsome on paper cause I was gonna be in the top 4% of seniority for my last 10 years. Still could be but who knows in this industry. Right now I am on military leave in the Reserves and making out lots better than I would at US Air. I command a desk now so for me to ever fly again it will be at US Air as a hobby, hopefully once I retire.

Good luck to you in your decission!

 

[Ty Webb]

Get hired with Delta. Airtran appears to have a dark future.

What are you basing your statement on? Rejection letter?




.

 

[bestpilot]

Get hired with Delta. Airtran appears to have a dark future.

Beerkeep! I'll have waht hee's havin. Duude, iz dat a legal sustance yoo be havvin? Do ya swill it, smokes it, or shootz it?

Bee carefull, dark future dude, causz looks at waht dat stuff done ta Anna Nicole Smitty an stuff. Now she da best actress under six feet an stuff, or iz it six feeet under, duude, I'm so friggin confused.

I ate tex-mex last night dude, and like itz killin me dude, friggin killin me.

I gotz ta read my Mexican-Ammerican translater book befoe I eatz dat stuff annymore. Enchillladder is mexican fer eddible butt dinomyte! If it aint, it sho feels like it dis mornin! Ya go ta sitz down, and likez CAH-BLAMMMMM!!!!

If dats da DARK FUTURE yoo be tawkin bouts at da Tranny den i reckon your friggin right, ole Geardown--buch o nummbers!

Naw Bro, Tranny done lookz purdy brite ta me, bro, yeah, purdy brite.

AWWWW YYEAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!