United or American?

[beechjetdriver]

These questions are stupid. You're going to the one that hires you first.....period. After that, it's all luck.

While I agree that most will go with the first that hires you, I can guarantee that there are people that have offers from both or at least interviews at both. For those people these questions are not stupid. Don't forget that there will come a day in the near future where most people will have offers from all of the "big three" and most LCC's if they want them. The purpose of these web forums are to research job information. I'm happy for you if you already have a job that you love, but please don't shoot down somebody's question just because it doesn't apply to you. If you are looking for a new job perhaps one day you will appreciate questions like this.

I'm just trying to gauge the general consensus of people regarding these two companies. Most people seem to think Delta is the place to be due to their pay/contract and their financial situation. American (just out of bankruptcy) and United don't necessarily have the same financial results as Delta (yet). Thanks to all those that have responded professionally.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Have you flown either lately? Both are miserable, but I'd put money on American.

 

[labbats]

This isn't just an intellectual exercise.

A Skywest FO with zero PIC recently had job offers from both AA and United.

 

[jonjuan]

While I agree that most will go with the first that hires you, I can guarantee that there are people that have offers from both or at least interviews at both. For those people these questions are not stupid.

They are not stupid if one really thinks they can predict the future of two relatively similar companies and associated career projections. Pick a base/s and a uniform that doesn't make your butt look big and your pecs firm and roll with it.

 

[vetrider]

I don't think a new hire can really go wrong at Delta, United, or AA. Of the three CEOs, I think I'd feel a liitle better about having Anderson or Parker than Smisek.

The choice being AA or United, I'd personally take AA.

 

[beechjetdriver]

This isn't just an intellectual exercise.

A Skywest FO with zero PIC recently had job offers from both AA and United.

Which offer did he/she take?

 

[Furloughed80]

In the late 90s the best carrier to go to was UAL; what kind of career has a late 90s hire at UA had? In the late 80s it was US Air. What kind of career has a late 80s hire at US Air had versus a late 80s hire at CAL? CAL was probably most pilots' last option. It's impossible to predict how a 20 plus year airline career will go. That being said, I think your total career experience at either UAL, DAL, or AA will be remarkably similar.

 

[Pervis]

New hires at AA will in effect be the fifth group on the totem pole. AA, TWA, AW, and USAir seniority groups will mean a mess for years to come.

 

[MATHEWS]

Relax Pervis...they will all be gone soon enough. That's the point!

 

[labbats]

Which offer did he/she take?

She took United.

I would have chosen AA.

 

[pb4ufly]

American by birth; United by choice.

 

[K.V.]

From just the few responses on here, it seems most would favor AA over United, but don't offer a lot of insight as to why. I get the argument of long term speculation and CEO's, but as of right now it appears to me that the pay, benefits and all-in-all, total compensation at United is significantly better, especially for new hires. Does AA have a contract negotiation on the horizon that I'm unaware of?

 

[beechjetdriver]

From just the few responses on here, it seems most would favor AA over United, but don't offer a lot of insight as to why. I get the argument of long term speculation and CEO's, but as of right now it appears to me that the pay, benefits and all-in-all, total compensation at United is significantly better, especially for new hires. Does AA have a contract negotiation on the horizon that I'm unaware of?

Yes, they have large contract improvements in place after the merger closes and will begin negotiations for a new joint contract with US Airways as well. Pay rates and benefits are comparable to United after the merger closes.

 

[cbrown1]

From just the few responses on here, it seems most would favor AA over United, but don't offer a lot of insight as to why. I get the argument of long term speculation and CEO's, but as of right now it appears to me that the pay, benefits and all-in-all, total compensation at United is significantly better, especially for new hires. Does AA have a contract negotiation on the horizon that I'm unaware of?

Pay Goes into effect in a few weeks, the mou has pay matching or better than united and delta by 2015-16. The retirements are more than either delta or united. AA and US have hired less than 200 combined in the last 10 years, while united (cal) and delta have hired thousands. Plus American/US have more airplanes on order than all the us carriers combined.

Sure it can all go south but if AA goes down I'm betting so do delta and united at this point.

 

[Full of LUV]

This isn't just an intellectual exercise.

A Skywest FO with zero PIC recently had job offers from both AA and United.

Is she hot?