UAL, SWA, or FDX?

[Remington]

It appears that UAL will be hiring late next year. Since the battle is always over FDX or SWA, lets add UAL to the mix. UAL has the bigger planes and long haul. What would be the wiser career move and why?

 

[frog_flyer]

troll?

 

[Huck]

I'm getting misty. I actually remember threads like this from the 1999-2001 timeframe....

 

[SWA GUY]

You should go to UAL, they need your intellectual prowess there.

 

[Yuppyguppy]

cuz they already got it at SWA??

 

[SWA GUY]

cuz they already got it at SWA??

Our track record looks pretty good. How does yours look?

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Our track record looks pretty good. How does yours look?

don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.

 

[SWA GUY]

don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.

Why would I?

 

[propjob27]

You seen United's pay scale (especially on the FO side)?

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/legacy/united.html

That oughta simplify things a bit.

And yeah, I remember these threads too back in 99, 2000, and 2001. Cracks me up that someone brought it up again now.

This also made me realize that I'm kind of a loser for using the 'net in 1999.

 

[MrSuupaFly]

I guess FedEx doesn't have BIG planes or LONG Haul

 

[Booker]

Yes, quite the trip down memory lane. Let me save everyone the trouble: What's QOL like at UAL? What's the junior base? How long is reserve? How long is upgrade? Which airplanes are the new-hires going into?

 

[chase]

It appears that UAL will be hiring late next year. Since the battle is always over FDX or SWA, lets add UAL to the mix. UAL has the bigger planes and long haul. What would be the wiser career move and why?

Three different choices allow those with different goals, desires and risk levels to choose different paths. As some have mentioned, ask these type of questions & assess how important each one is to the equation of which airline is best for you:
1. Job security? Liklihood of layoff....assess which one(s) is least likely
2. Job growth; improved seniority = Quality of life (QOL)
3. Type aircraft; big metal, enjoy upgrading, training hound or not
4. Type of flying; pax or boxes; days or nights (not all cargo is night though)
5. Domestic only or international options; SWA will go international but not likely London or Shanghai anytime soon vs. others
6. Corporate culture; which is the best fit
7. Pay; benefits; huge issue for some, not so for others, be honest & consider honestly your answer

Lastly talk to the folks you respect the most and to those who work at all of the places you desire; listen closely to what is said & more importantly what is not said about their work enviroment;
"What do you like best/worse abour current job?",
"If you had to do it over again, would you?"
"Have things changed since you were hired and if so, how & for the better/worse?"
"Do you enjoy driving into work as much as driving home from work? Why or why not?"

Lots of other questions to ask but you get the drift....good luck in your search for the correct answer.

 

[instructordude]

I guess FedEx doesn't have BIG planes or LONG Haul

They do but it's just a little different over there.

 

[Quimby]

spoon + pot = stir & let simma.:laugh:

 

[propjob27]

They do but it's just a little different over there.

Yeah, it is a little different over there. FedEX pays a LOT more.

 

[BVT94]

At least UAL isn't PFT...

 

[Jolly Roger]

At least UAL isn't PFT...

Yeah,

...like SWA

 

[LearLove]

98 -99 I remember guys leaving SWA and AWA to go to UAL, DAL, AA. Recalled DAL guys leaving FDX to go back to mother DAL.

Laughing at JB when they came to BUF.

The guys back then that went to SWA that i knew were the Mesa/Florida Gulf guys who had rich parents (san juan program + daddy paid for type) based in RDG and IPT who wanted out. Others were ALG commuter guys with no college.

Lines at airinc conf. out the door for UAL, DAL, AA (eagle and coex for commuter guys) and no lines what so ever for SWA, UPS, FDX, Alaska. He11 "national" companies like spirit and airtran did even show up back then.

In 01 i turned down a job with a "national" to stay at my commuter to upgrade and get PIC for what back then was my dream job at UAL. Anyone still have their scan-ton updates? Back in MAy 01 a UAL friend who checked on my app estimated that i'd get the call in Sept to come out to DEN.

Time have changes and they will change again

 

[instructordude]

Yeah, it is a little different over there. FedEX pays a LOT more.

Money ain't everything.

 

[Huck]

In late '98, i believe, I went to the Airinc seminar in Dallas. I was late and didn't get there until lunch. 500 guys, all in navy blue suits with muted red ties, sitting around round tables eating chicken cordon bleu.

I finally found an empty seat and sat down. THE FIRST thing anybody said to me: a guy looked at my moustache and said, "Facial hair - that's a risk, isn't it?"

The big stars that day were Plato from Delta and the USAir guy. Delta was hiring 1000/yr, as was UAL. AA wasn't hiring yet, but was gearing up for 1000/yr. SWA's rep was a lady from the people department. UAL was there but I can't remember who talked. I don't remember FDX being there.

You got to remember, back in the day, this industry was growing so fast, and the pay was so good, there were a LOT of people coming just for the money. At ASA I flew with 22 year old doctor/lawyer sons who had just got out of Riddle or FS and were looking at a Delta job within 5 years. Flying was just a means to an end. All the sh!t that's happened since, at least maybe we flushed some of them out of the business.....

 

[Hvy]

Our track record looks pretty good. How does yours look?

Pretty big heads at SWA these days. Things weren't so rosy there before 9/11 w/ the junior guys. Don't be so smug that it'll always be that way.

 

[SWA/FO]

At least UAL isn't PFT...

I wish Southwest treated me as well as United does its employees.

Pretty big heads at SWA these days. Things weren't so rosy there before 9/11 w/ the junior guys. Don't be so smug that it'll always be that way.

Things were just as rosy before 9/11 for those of us smart enough to look. Shoe on the other foot? Don't like it? Tough. :bawling:

 

[Remington]

Obviously Fdx has long haul and big planes, but why i found Ual interesting to add to the mix is that the big reasoning behind going to Fdx over Swa is that at Swa a pilot cant have their 757/767 and overnight for 48 hrs in Hawaii, and Swa pilots have to "work." How is the restructured Ual comming along? Work rules etc.

 

[SWA/FO]

Swa pilots have to "work."

did you mean "fly". I have another word for you "rigs". You think the UAL folks don't fly or work? Heck even the Fed Ex guys fly too.. Rigs are all but gone at UAL. Fed Ex must have some great rigs cus you all brag about how great your LONG layovers are. Funny you never hear Fed Ex guys talk about the joys of flying, its all about $$$ or a layover. Guys that like to fly work at Southwest, fact.

What good is a 48 hour layover in Hawaii without your kids and/or wife? You don't even have an FA to bang cus you be flying different kind of boxes around. Are you able to get any home/lake/cottage projects done sitting in a hotel (in Hawaii)? Nope.

Somebody give me their per diem hours for the month of October for Fed Ex and UAL. I'll look mine up. Time away from base, in hours.

 

[BVT94]

Obviously Fdx has long haul and big planes, but why i found Ual interesting to add to the mix is that the big reasoning behind going to Fdx over Swa is that at Swa a pilot cant have their 757/767 and overnight for 48 hrs in Hawaii, and Swa pilots have to "work." How is the restructured Ual comming along? Work rules etc.

How's Captain Beadie Eyes treatin' ya?

 

[SWA/FO]

254.6 hours of per diem in October 13 days of work.

the SWA/FO!

 

[Sluggo_63]

254.6 hours of per diem in October 13 days of work.

the SWA/FO!

October 2006 (35 day month)
Work 15 days
Off 20 days
Block 54+26
Credit 90+15 (plus International override)
TAFB 293+27

September 2006 (28 day month)
Work 12 days
Off 16 days
Block 44+39
Credit 72+00
TAFB 235+08

 

[Big Beer Belly]

I'm getting misty. I actually remember threads like this from the 1999-2001 timeframe....

LOL! I was thinking the same thing. Can't wait for another JetBlue "cleaning the cabin" thread, followed by whether it's professional for SWA pilots to fold the seat belts and pass out peanuts (I say no!)

BBB

 

[Fox-Tree]

did you mean "fly". I have another word for you "rigs". You think the UAL folks don't fly or work? Heck even the Fed Ex guys fly too.. Rigs are all but gone at UAL. Fed Ex must have some great rigs cus you all brag about how great your LONG layovers are. Funny you never hear Fed Ex guys talk about the joys of flying, its all about $$$ or a layover. Guys that like to fly work at Southwest, fact.

We do have great rigs. It’s nice you’re happy where you are. Long layovers are great. You, on the other hand, are content to bang out 8 hours of flying a day between 15 hour layovers. Great. Many of us would rather fly 10-12 hours to a two day layover somewhere cool. I’ve done both, have you? To each his own. If you actually get “joy” out of sitting in a Guppy 8 hours a day, good on you. I liked to fly fighters. Again, I’ve done both, have you? If you’d flown something that was truly fun, maybe you’d understand why some of us use an airliner or freighter as a means to an end. If you’d actually had a 2-day layover in Hawaii, maybe you’d think more of them. I fly a freighter to get to a good layover, make lots of jack and have at least 2 weeks off each month. I “like” flying – I just like time off (on a layover or at home) more. You tell me. If you could get paid the same to sit in Hawaii for two days after flying one leg in and then fly one leg home or fly 2-3 legs a day for 4 days with short layovers, which would you choose.

What good is a 48 hour layover in Hawaii without your kids and/or wife? You don't even have an FA to bang cus you be flying different kind of boxes around.

What good is it? It’s good for getting paid. Since you’ve never done it, I guess that’s hard to understand. I know it’s hard to imagine, but some of us would rather sit on a beach and get paid then sit in a Guppy for a 4 leg hop around the lower 48.
Yeah… No FAs to bang. Funny, I’ve never really limited myself to the pu$$y I actually transported into the city I’m laying over in. F/As are overrated but sometimes can be worth the effort. My experience is when they want to play around, those with a bit of judgment tend to look outside the company they work for. This tends to be more of a factor on the long international layovers at the large hotels that cater to multiple airlines (again, not something you’d be familiar with – so you’ll have to trust me). You can do some good work in an environment like that, especially when you have a couple of days vice a couple of hours.

Are you able to get any home/lake/cottage projects done sitting in a hotel (in Hawaii)? Nope.

Nope. I take care of that stuff when I get back from my trip and I’m off for at least a week.

Dude,
Why can’t you just be happy that YOU’RE happy? Not everyone is going to think your idea of the greatest aviation job is the same as theirs. SWA seems like a good place to work but it’s just a job. I’m glad I don’t work there and you’re glad you don’t work at Fedex – so we’re both happy. Isn’t that a good thing? Stop treating every critic of your employer like a heretic.

 

[BVT94]

That pretty much sums it all up Fox-Tree. That was a great post.