F D X v. S W A

[Tejas-Jet]

I would have a hard time flying SWA lines at 6 goes per day and never leave Texass, but that's me.

6 goes per day???? Well, if someone wants them...they are there....but if you don't ....don't bid 'em....and you won't get them. I've been junior and middle of the road seniority-wise and the only time I have ever flown 6-7 legs per day is when I actually wanted to ( and that's been two days in the last 10 years).

I'm a Texas based guy and have a 3 day tomorrow....4 legs on day 1...3 on day 2 and 3 on day 3....Uh...and layover on the East Coast tomorrow and the West coast Friday night....So it looks like I will leave Texas on this trip...

Tejas

 

[Purpled]

Not boasting or jinxing. Simply trying to understand your statement implying that FedEx had only a couple of good financial years left in it. Didn't understand where you were coming from is all.......

Allow me to clarify, the 'sure thing' aspect of that prediction is only good for a limited time. I, like you, think and hope that it will be true for a lot longer.

Nothing after yesterday is guaranteed.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Night freight sucks. Yeah, they'll argue that it's not all night freight, but that's not the point, most of your career you'll be flying on the backside of the clock.

It's not hard at all to stay up 24 hours straight twice a week, if you commute home on the weekends. Compare that to the guys over at SWA flying 12 days per month on either a morning or afternoon shift, in bed by midnight at the latest.

With SWA captains earning close to $200k per year (and a lot earning a quarter million) you can't make the earnings argument anymore.

If you don't heed my advice and go with Fedex, I hope you'll have a little voice ringing in your ear the third or fourth day that you are stumbling into the hotel at seven in the morning while the rest of the world is going to work..."this sucks, he was right!"

The flamers will start now with "postal this" and "it's not all bad", but heed my words.

What is the difference between flying a widebody for NWA/UAL/DAL/AA and FedEx?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The issues FedEx will have to deal with are on CapHill and competiting with globalization... so far successful!!

 

[Purpled]

What is the difference between flying a widebody for NWA/UAL/DAL/AA and FedEx?

The difference is that he didn't get turned down by NWA/UAL/DAL/AA.

Or maybe he did.

 

[800Dog]

FedEx, no brainer.

 

[walkthasky]

Which one would you pick if you were hired at both today?

oh COME ON! youre actually gonna base THAT choice on this forum's opinion?

oh, and pick SWA!!!

 

[skykid]

It's not hard at all to stay up 24 hours straight twice a week, if you commute home on the weekends.

Why in the world would anyone stay up 24 hours straight twice in a week? I prefer to fly nights at FedEx and generally get 7-8 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. I'm a commuter too. At night there are less thunderstorms, almost no traffic (except at MEM), and NO PASSENGERS. Course there are a ton of guys here who chose (and it doesn't take that long depending on how you bid and what seat you go to) to only fly during the day.

If you have an interest in flying literally anywhere in the world, I'd consider FedEx. Some guys don't care about that - whatever floats your boat. I'm going to the MD11 after a couple more years domestic to get in on some of these around the world trips.

 

[CX880]

For what it's worth if I was in your situation, I would go Fedex and never look back. Southwest is just like any other airline with better pay. Fedex is a special company.

 

[scoreboard]

Dude, if you have to ask, don't come to SWA. Not slamming just an observation. My best buds love Fedex, if you don't like 7 legs in a day, go for Fred. If you like working with people, go SWA.

 

[HighSpeedClimb]

No brainer...FDX, more money, more stability, better business...Packages are better than pax and when the cost of oil goes up FDX just ads the surcharge to the customer. Pax airlines get all kinds of flack when they raise prices due to oil increases. You will retire at FDX, pax lines, who knows. I have to say though, if I was in your situation, I wouldn't need to ask a bunch of shmucks on Flightinfo to make my decision.

 

[jball2]

My friend, I must say that most of these people have no clue. If you are single, SWA all the way!!!! Married with kids, ( like me ) you have a decsion to make. First of all, SWA pilots do not all fly 7 legs a day. I am on 3 day right now that is 4-2-4 and it pays 26.1. I have flown 7 legs once in 5 years. I did that to myself so I can't complain. FedEx is Awsome in its own way. The pay is great, the A/C are well taken care of but leaving the hotel when the SWA guys are showing up to the bar would be hard for me. I know, not all of the flying is night, but a lot of it is and that is enough for me.

Either way , you are in GREAT shape. my friends at Fedex love it and I can't think of anyone here at SWA that doesn't. Live where you work!!!

 

[propjob27]

Real tough call. And I HATE these threads. I can't belive I actually started one myself way back when. I must have been out of my mind.

Don't ask for this kind of advice on this forum. It just turns into "My company is better than your company! and My dad can beat up your dad!" Not to mention these nut jobs that say "My god! If you even have to ask, go to the other company, not mine! We don't want your kind here. We just want zealouts who would give their left nut to work here..."

Ask your real buds, make a decision, and live with it.

 

[Babylon]

Good options. FEDEX can be great but night flying/intl flying is tough. As I type I've been up for about 30 hours - plenty of time to sleep but it's difficult after flying all night on an intl 2 leg flight and dealing with body clock shifts, etc. I think financially there's no question that Fedex is in a much stronger position and will probably continue to be so. I think you have more variety at Fedex - SWA flying is all the same - you will rarely have the opportunity to enjoy any layovers because there are no long layovers - are there any rigs at all? I just got off a 48 layover in Hong Kong and have another 48 hour layover in Singapore in a week - pretty cool stuff. Flying back and forth to the same place domestically will get old fast.

You can't really compare the pay rates - you will make far more money at Fedex when you consider the benefits. Yes there are SW guys that make $250K+ working their tails off and their are FX guys that make $350+ doing the same. I think one big thing is that at Fedex things get better as you get more senior - vacation, trips, the bidding - it gets a lot better. SW guys seem to pretty much stay the same. I will say this though - SW guys just seem happier and more optimistic - not sure why that is but I jumpseat quite a bit on SW and their cockpit crews are just cooler guys to hang with. At Fedex we have a LOT of old ex military farts (I'm a young ex-military fart) and they are just boring as you can imagine.

Great options though. Good luck.

 

[propjob27]

Babylon said it right.

Bottom line is, you will DEFINATELY make more money at FedEX, and you will make more money for flying LESS. When compared to the pax industry, FedEX pilots absolutely spend less time strapped to the seat.

However, like Babylon said, the Southwest pilot group is also "cooler" and more laid back than the typical FedEX guy. Now there are cool guys here at FedEX, and there are dorks at Southwest. But in general, Southwest crews are probably more fun to fly with. There are more guys at FedEX that for some unknown reason, seem to enjoy making this job tougher than it actually is.

There is no right answer. Like I said before, ask you buds, not flightinfo.