CAL vs NWA - Which To Choose?

[JonnyKnoxville]

The NWA pilot group has certainly proven themselves in the past. They used to have one of the best contracts in the business. The CAL pilot group on the other hand has a very poor history as you know.

The CAL pilot group has an opportunity to change this and is in negotiations as we speak. The NWA contract cannot be amended UNTIL 2011! In the end, there is every reason to believe that CAL will be a stronger airline going forward than NWA. NWA appears to have no interest in growing the Mainline domestically and 18 787's in the coming 5 years is pretty anemic Int'l growth in my opinion. While they are at the beginning of their hiring, they have very little growth plans and a VERY old fleet. With oil appearing to remain in the $90 - $100/barrel range its hard to believe they can sustain those 9's for many more years.

With the total loss of their scope protections this probably means tremendous growth for their regional partners and slow growth at mainline.

Even with age 65 CAL still boasts a SUB 5 YR UPGRADE! The dollar cost averaging of that earlier compensation means FAR more earning potential at CAL than NWA to say nothing of the horrible B fund match that NWA has at the present. The B fund match at CAL is not great, but it is nearly triple that of NWA.

I don't think Dollar Cost Averaging has anything to do with this (or maybe I need to go back to business school)...Did you mean Time Value of Money?

 

[California]

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[Superpilot92]

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I see you deleted it but i will bite.

Played that game and most say its a great time to get on. I have heard the other side also though. It all depends on who you ask. I have talked to one who had no idea they were hiring

 

[Fly2AK]

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.

Coming in late to this thread but I thought US Airways had the oldest pilot group and NWA was the second oldest?

 

[hockeypilot44]

Coming in late to this thread but I thought US Airways had the oldest pilot group and NWA was the second oldest?

This is true if you do not count the America West side. Throw in the America West side and NWA's group is older. Also, NWA will still have some pre-65 retirements while US Airways will not.

 

[jonjuan]

Also, NWA will still have some pre-65 retirements while US Airways will not.

None? Aren't you lying to us now???? You forgot to say, "I guarantee." LOL

 

[Ex737Driver]

Moot question. DAL has been pushing NWA but will end with UAL if any merger is going to go through. Pardus and Bethune are currently making the case now. If anyone thinks that the current administration will allow hub closeures with the election so close that the dems could exploit, think again. Yes in the past they would have allowed it but not now. DAL/UAL has a synergy of +$600M and looks to make a good combo (for shareholders, mgmt, etc.). CAL and NWA would end up together with no base closeures other than CLE and an extremely larger pacific operation that would allow for massive far east traffic grwoth with the 787.

Go with either, it would appear it will be the same thing soon.

 

[Superpilot92]

Although the 600 million is a nice, dont you think that if NWA and DAL merged they would be an international powerhouse airline=lots of money? Plus CAL and NWA really dont have much fleet commonality at all. Who knows what will happen, we probably will be the last to know though.

 

[hockeypilot44]

None? Aren't you lying to us now???? You forgot to say, "I guarantee." LOL

I heard a rumor that there were 70 letters of retirement on file at US Airways when the age changed, and that the day after the age changed, all 70 had been rescinded. I do not know how true this is, but I would guess there would be very few if any retirements at US Airways for a while.