Cal V Fdx

[MemTrash]

A buddy of mine just got the call from CAL and he starts Ground school next month. He also has an interview this month with FedEx. While I know CAL is hiring a bunch of folks and retiring a lot over the next few years. Is the airline growing or just replacing retiring guys? FedEx is retiring a bunch too and growing the airline like crazy (20 wide bodies this year alone) and I think our retirement is safe.
My question is what do you CAL guys think about the decision he may have to make? He may not get the job at FedEx, but if he has both offers what should he do?

I'm a little over the top about FedEx and if there is anything about CAL that I'm missing I'd love to hear it. I'd hate to advise him to do the wrong thing just because I've been surrounded by Purple for 10 years. Never a down year for me, I know the legacy guys have been on a rollercoaster for 10 years. So what do you think?

By the way I think it's great that CAL lets you know very fast how you did. That is one thing FDX should do much better.

 

[capt. megadeth]

I think our retirement is safe.

I don't think anyone's retirement is "safe"....only the upper executive management's of course.

Unless your buddy absolutely abhors the thought of flying at night and/or lives in HOU, EWR or whatever other bases CAL has and cannot stand the thought of commuting, I think it's a no brainer.

 

[coogebeachhotel]

FEDEX,FEDEX,FEDEX.....

Where does one start?

W-2'S,
QOL,
Profitable vs Unprofitable
Boxes don't bitch

 

[flatspin7]

At the same time--- If you have a class date at CAL you would be a damn fool to give it up on the chance to get hired by FedEX. This is a high school dance... you dance with the one that asks first. Now I am not arguing that FedEX is a better long term shot than CAL but you are making the choice between an INTERVIEW and a JOB.

Now I wouldnt say no to the interview if possible but I wouldnt use an interview as a reason blow off CAL ground school.

PS I start at CAL in 4 days.

 

[AlbieF15]

Go to CAL school. Talk to FDX HR and ask to reschedule interview until later (done with IOE would be a good time).

Allows you to 1) preserve a pretty good job and 2) at least take a LOOK at the inside of CAL and see what you think.

I know very few folks who passed on FDX, but those who did passed them for SWA, JetBlue, and Delta. The guys at Delta are bummed, but honestly...the other guys are VERY happy where they are. W-2s are a very big deal...but not the only deal in life. If you lived in a Continental hub city, always wanted the "traditional" Airline life, etc etc there might be a case for it. However, in any case--an INTERVIEW is not the same thing as a JOB. Protect the job, then try to work in the other interview. When you have 2 job offers--then it gets real tough--but your buddy will have at least gotten a sample of the culture at CAL.

 

[GogglesPisano]

I think there was a 5 or 6 page thread on this a few months back. Not much has changed.

 

[MemTrash]

Go to CAL school. Talk to FDX HR and ask to reschedule interview until later (done with IOE would be a good time).

Allows you to 1) preserve a pretty good job and 2) at least take a LOOK at the inside of CAL and see what you think.

I know very few folks who passed on FDX, but those who did passed them for SWA, JetBlue, and Delta. The guys at Delta are bummed, but honestly...the other guys are VERY happy where they are. W-2s are a very big deal...but not the only deal in life. If you lived in a Continental hub city, always wanted the "traditional" Airline life, etc etc there might be a case for it. However, in any case--an INTERVIEW is not the same thing as a JOB. Protect the job, then try to work in the other interview. When you have 2 job offers--then it gets real tough--but your buddy will have at least gotten a sample of the culture at CAL.

Well, AlbieF15 you are probably one of the best at this question and he is going to spend some time with AJ and you guys next week. He will take the class at CAL and he'll have the interview at FedEx behind him by almost a month. I figure with the long time before you hear up or down on the job then the pool stuff he'll have time to get his feet wet at CAL. I told him if he had to get up and walk out of class at CAL and come to FedEx (if that is what he wants) then do it. I would and not look back. It's not like CAL would hesitate to lay him off if they thought it would help them. I'm sure a lot of AA,DAL,etc would agree with that.
I just see more options at FedEx period and he is almost 46 so I think the pay check ($117 year two at FDX, plus CAL $30 first year FDX $52) and seat advancement matters, but I've had my head stuck in the purple sand for some time now and I was just looking for reasons to pick CAL over FDX obviously I don't see any, but I'm open to enlightenment. I know there are some smart guys on here so I figured I'd get some solid advice instead of my standard FedEx line of crap.

 

[angry tanker]

Bird in hand...

 

[Green]

He would literally make millions more during a career at Fed Ex. I say bet the farm. The majors are all the same these days. Maybe you'll make a couple dollars an hour more or less, one might give you 28 days vacation vs. 21, etc. etc. FedEx is in a whole other league. Much more money for much less work. I think he should ask Cal to delay his ground school, take the first possible interview at FedEx, and if he misses out on CAL so be it.

 

[Pig]

I faced a similar dilemma 8 months ago. I decided to tell KD @ FedX that I was starting a CAL and wished to keep the option of an interview @ FedX open in the future. (My Fed X interview was before my CAL class date too). If I interivewed at Fed X then started at CAL, then got hired at Fed X too, I didn't relish the idea of doing 2-3 more months of training at Fed X right after 3 months of training at CAL, including IOE.

KD at Fed X, not to be confused with KD Jost @ CAL, was very understanding and said she would put a note in my file saying I was in training at CAL and that I could just contact my sponsor again should I decide I wanted to interview at Fed X in the future.

This allowed me to keep Fed X open as a possible option. Otherwise I would have had to burn a bridge either with CAL or Fed X. It also allowed my sponsor to start sponsoring someone else sooner rather than later.

 

[Daddy]

If CAL buys/merges with another ALPA carrier your buddy could get screwed at CAL...just something to think about since vitrually every airline CEO has predicted massive consolidation in the coming years, but then again what the he11 does an airline CEO know?

 

[bearcat]

These threads kill me. 1) I will tell you in about 25 years if CAL was a good decision or not. Fed Ex, SWA, UPS, are the flavor of the month. Or past 5 years. If this industry has told you anything, it is on a continuous roller coaster. The Freight Dawgs are NOT immune to this. Remeber how Fed Ex and UPS got their pay scales. It wasn't cause of the internet, or the boxes...it was from UA, AA, DL, etc. The MGT over there knows it. Whos to say Fed Ex wont merge with DHL, UPS??? Rember that your medical and this profession is very fragile..regardless of who you work for.

So far I love CAL. I don't have a complaint in the world. It is what you make of it. The grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side. Had an SWA in the jumpseat the other day commenting on our ops. Blah Blah Blah...Welcome to CAL and good luck on the interview at Fed Ex

 

[atlcrashpad]

FEDEX everybody will still send packages in bad times.

 

[fartknocker]

Isn't it:
FedEx

??

 

[foofighter145]

He would literally make millions more during a career at Fed Ex. I say bet the farm. The majors are all the same these days. Maybe you'll make a couple dollars an hour more or less, one might give you 28 days vacation vs. 21, etc. etc. FedEx is in a whole other league. Much more money for much less work. I think he should ask Cal to delay his ground school, take the first possible interview at FedEx, and if he misses out on CAL so be it.

VERY dangerous advice.

Highly NOT recommended.

 

[UPSer]

These threads kill me. 1) I will tell you in about 25 years if CAL was a good decision or not. Fed Ex, SWA, UPS, are the flavor of the month. Or past 5 years. If this industry has told you anything, it is on a continuous roller coaster. The Freight Dawgs are NOT immune to this. Remeber how Fed Ex and UPS got their pay scales. It wasn't cause of the internet, or the boxes...it was from UA, AA, DL, etc. The MGT over there knows it. Whos to say Fed Ex wont merge with DHL, UPS??? Rember that your medical and this profession is very fragile..regardless of who you work for.

So far I love CAL. I don't have a complaint in the world. It is what you make of it. The grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side. Had an SWA in the jumpseat the other day commenting on our ops. Blah Blah Blah...Welcome to CAL and good luck on the interview at Fed Ex

If he medicals out at FedEx, I'm sure they have a similar LTD plan as ours. 66% pay till you retire. Acutally, I'm surprised more people don't do the dispability "scam". It's a good deal.

 

[AlbieF15]

Having been on the ropes with a back issue last year, I can tell you

A) Having an LTD does give you piece of mind...
B) The thought of actually having to use it due to a loss of medical is a scary gig. I never touched a day of any disability plan, but I REALLY missed flying (all of it...) after a few weeks at home. I don't really want that money.

 

[seahorse]

I fly for CAL and will give you some advice.

First, make the decision that if you had both jobs, which one would you take? The factors that I would use in determining that are crew bases and night flying preference, then weigh that out with more stability, more money, and more widebodies at FDX.

If you would rather be at CAL, then don't interview at FDX. If you would rather be at FDX, then keep the CAL option open, go interview at FDX, and the FDX guys who interview you will make the choice for you.

Both airlines have cool route structures and good flying.

 

[stonewall]

Why is always about night flying when it comes to FDX? Of course, we move alot of iron at night. However, in my two years here I've flown about 40% day trips. We fly around the clock. And the nights ain't bad!

I prefer them simply due to duty day. When you hub turn at night through MEM, you typically take off at city x around 10 and fly to MEM. One, maybe two legs. Sit in the AOC sleeping or BS'in for a few hours and fly to city X again. In the hotel usually by 0730. All told, about a 9 hour duty day with a 13-16 hr layover. Days are almost always pushing 12 hours with 12 hr layovers. You get to the hotel at 7 at night and are out again by 0630-0700 the next day. Bottom line when it comes to the FDX bid pack: There is something for everyone! And it's not only night flying!

 

[PurpleChimp]

CAL seems to be emerging as a leaner, meaner legacy but you probably should refrain from making the argument a CAL vs. FedEx company thing. Both companies are well run. Instead, it should be business model vs. business model. You cannot compare the profitability of the two. One FedEx MD-11 to Asia generates revenue in the millions of dollars vs. a Continental 777 in the low thousands. There is absolutely no comparison whatsoever. If you want a company for job security, pay, long term survivability and pure profitability, you cannot beat FedEx. If the fortunate dilema presents itself, think about PROFIT!

I am Poolie nobody for sure. But I have spent the past two years doing very little but research on the industry to vector my own career.

 

[tmac3333]

Some advice from someone who applied for both. I don't see any reason why you wouldn't start CAL ground school and do the FedEx interview. I was hoping for interviews from both, got hired by CAL, and couldn't get my foot in the door for a meet and greet once I got a sponsor in late October for FedEx. By the time Fed Ex notifies you after the interview (up to 55 days later from what I saw on one post), and you get out of the pool (2-4 more months from what I saw on another post), you'll be done with CAL training, IOE, and off reserve. At worst, would you rather make $15,000 in the 6 months with CAL during the FedEx waiting process on the 50% chance you do get hired at Fed Ex (from another couple of posts on their hiring rates of late) or bank your CAL spot on whether or not you do well on the 4 hour test, panel interview, sim, etc. I think most people on here would agree that FedEx is currently the #1 choice, but I wouldn't give up your #X choice, whether it's #2 or #10, especially when you have to wait MONTHS to start and it's not guaranteed that you have the job, on the hope that #1 works out, otherwise, you might not have your bird in the hand. That being said...I think you could do a lot worse than CAL (see other posts).

My 2 cents ...TMAC

 

[seahorse]

tmac is right on the money.

The one thing that I do not like about FDX are the bases (Memphis). I have spent some time there and it's disgusting. Lot's of garbage from the ghetto and gangbanger thugs all around. Then when you go way away from the airport, there really isn't that much. Some rednecks and Mississippi white trash to deal with too. Not to mention how much I hate Elvis.

You have some more options for living in domicile at CAL. Based in Newark you can pretty much drive from CT, NY, NJ, and PA. Lots of choices there.

With Houston, you have lot's of choices on nice suburbs, and a much nicer city with much more to do. I think you get the best bang for your buck in Houston over almost any area in the USA. It's super affordable, and nice with lot's of things to do. No state income tax either.

However, I would probably still take FDX. That's coming from someone who flys at CAL.

 

[Palomino]

don't forget Houston's murder rate is up 25% over the last year...

 

[TheBaron]

tmac is right on the money.

The one thing that I do not like about FDX are the bases (Memphis). I have spent some time there and it's disgusting. Lot's of garbage from the ghetto and gangbanger thugs all around. Then when you go way away from the airport, there really isn't that much. Some rednecks and Mississippi white trash to deal with too. Not to mention how much I hate Elvis.

You have some more options for living in domicile at CAL. Based in Newark you can pretty much drive from CT, NY, NJ, and PA. Lots of choices there.

With Houston, you have lot's of choices on nice suburbs, and a much nicer city with much more to do. I think you get the best bang for your buck in Houston over almost any area in the USA. It's super affordable, and nice with lot's of things to do. No state income tax either.

However, I would probably still take FDX. That's coming from someone who flys at CAL.

I agree that MEM sucks..but I would also say that Sewark and Houston are big toilets that need to be flushed.

 

[MemTrash]

I agree that MEM sucks..but I would also say that Sewark and Houston are big toilets that need to be flushed.

I'll have to agree with TheBaron on this. Most of our pilots commute and a lot of our trips start with deadheads. With most airlines I think you need to consider the base because you work enough life sucks unless you live in base. I've commuted with FedEx for over 10 years and I bid like I live in Memphis the commute is so easy. And I'll put Mempho up aginist Newark and Houston any day. Heck Houston just smells bad and the traffic is much worse than Memphis. With our operation in EWR he could live there and it would supper easy, maybe easier than being based there with CAL (have to dive to the airport fewer times a month).
I agree both are good companies but I haven't seen much on here that makes CAL worth truning FedEx down for head to head. Forget interviews and class dates he can walk away from CAL if it's the right thing to do. I wanted to know why you'd stay at CAL and trun FedEx down.

 

[instructordude]

I'm interested in both! Heavy international flying is where it is at. Now if I can just build some time to get there!

 

[Patriot328]

It's already been stated, but worth stating again. You have a job offer at CAL, not FedEx. Put it this way, wherever you're working now, would you leave there to go to CAL if FedEx were never an option? Yes? Then go to CAL. IF you get called for FedEx (if it's during training and you can't get the time off to do it, defer it for a few weeks), and IF you pass the interview and are offered a job, then you can sit down and have a powwow about where you'd like to spend your career...

In this case, you are trying to see the forest, but what you should really be doing is paying attention to the trees.

 

[FedEx]

I hate to hijack this thread, but INSTRUCTORDUDE, I fly widebody aircraft international, and I said I would give you a recomendation at FEDEX, just need your full name and SSN.
Thanks

 

[atlcrashpad]

Isn't it:
FedEx

??

It is... I was talkin' really LOUD.

 

[MemTrash]

It's already been stated, but worth stating again. You have a job offer at CAL, not FedEx. Put it this way, wherever you're working now, would you leave there to go to CAL if FedEx were never an option? Yes? Then go to CAL. IF you get called for FedEx (if it's during training and you can't get the time off to do it, defer it for a few weeks), and IF you pass the interview and are offered a job, then you can sit down and have a powwow about where you'd like to spend your career...

In this case, you are trying to see the forest, but what you should really be doing is paying attention to the trees.

Not really the question. He has the job at CAL and has a class date that's a done deal. The FedEx interview is a month before his class date. The class date and interview are not exclusive he will do both. It's just weather he should bail from CAL IF he gets an offer from FedEx. I realize it may not even happen but I was just wondering if there was any reason to pick CAL over FDX. I don't see one but I was looking for other opinions.