Polar or Southern? What would you do?

[furloughfodder]

Well, if you were offered a class date at both of these airlines starting the same day...what would you do?

Pros and Cons that I have so far:

Polar Pros: 747-400's, type rate everyone, bigger more stable(?) company, unionized, 16 day bids

Polar Cons: Based at JFK have to get yourself there, longer upgrade (3+ years?), the whole ATLAS/POLAR thing

Southern Pros: potential FAST upgrade (like 6 months), expanding (gone from 1 to 4 jets and getting more soon), based at home

Southern Cons: no union, 20 days out a month, sort of unproven

Any help would be great, especially from people working at these companies.

Yes, yes. I know! The decision is mine to make. So before you flame me, just remember I am only asking for input, not someone to tell me where to go..

thanks!

 

[CSY Mon]

Well, where do ya live?

I would go for Southern 'cause the upgrades and the home-basing system.

They are both quite shaky as far as a long term future, but so is several "majors".

Yeah I know, Polar is an ALPA carrier and they fly -400s so the type could be a stepping stone to some foreign carriers with better contracts....

Dunno, crystal ball is still in the shop, it never worked good anyway.

 

[FearlessFreep]

I am intrigued by your response CSY. It seems contradictory.

I quote you, on the Furlough board, Air Atlanta thread, you state:

I know some Southern Air guys, based on their horror stories, I ain't applying to that outfit.

So which way is it? Did you get a job at Polar or are you going to go to Southern?

FurloughFodder,

You will in the end make more money at Polar and have more time at home. The work rules at Polar make it so that if you do not want to stay out longer than I think 19 days you WILL be sent home. That was in the Polar contract the last time I interviewed there. From what I have heard you can get stuck out on the road for a substanially longer period of time at Southern with no recourse.

You do have the union at Polar and the MEC there appears to be reasonable and have a good working relationship with the company management, so there may be a modicum of job protection there.

 

[CSY Mon]

I know some Southern Air guys, based on their horror stories, I ain't applying to that outfit.

Yup, ya are right.

Plenty of horror stories from guys with Southern.

What sort of changed my mind a bit was the positive comment from rvr1800:

I was not aware of the homebasing system, or all the new (used) planes to be delivered on the property.
As well as the change of pay-scale that rvr1800 mentioned.
This is new stuff to me.

Based on that and the fact that I hate commuting, I shot off a resume to Southern Air.

Many folks says it is a "scum-bag" outfit and that is probably right.
That being my back ground however, I won't be too shocked.
One can always quit.

We shall see.

 

[waazzuuuup!!]

I would choose Polar since i work here.

Pretty good gig they got going!

Best kept secret in aviation!!! Sshhhh

 

[timetoquit]

When is the class at Polar?

 

[CCDiscoB]

Home Basing

Southern Pros: potential FAST upgrade (like 6 months), expanding (gone from 1 to 4 jets and getting more soon), based at home

Those are big pros.

How much is home basing worth to you? I guess it depends on each individual, but that’s a question you want to figure out. It hard to quantify something like home basing, you get to live where you want, you would have no commuting stress, which start days before a trip, not to mention crash pad issues and there associated costs (on first year pay). I figure it’s worth a few thousand a year to me.


I’d go with the home basing and quick up-grade time. The 747 will be flying for many years to come. It would be a very nice type rating.

 

[CSY Mon]

CC:


Ya hit the nail on the head:

Stress induced commuting is something I can live without, having done it for 13 years +.

In the beginning commuting ain't too bad, but it gets old fast.

For a year and a half I commuted between DFW and Kuwait..3 legs, 20 hours or more...Constantly jet-lagged, miserable life, all for the mighty $.

The commute between FLL and JFK is fairly smooth in the summer, thanks to JB and others, but in the winter it can be hell with snow storms and cancelled flights etc.

Best at home, based at home...