United or American?

[Hpilot]

Delta.....oh wait that's not a choice. American!

 

[NDPILOT]

go to med school...was that an option?

 

[General Lee]

Delta.....oh wait that's not a choice. American!

For you, that was probably correct.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Quack]

AA and US have hired less than 200 combined in the last 10 years, while united (cal) and delta have hired thousands. .

Does anyone know how many US Air has hired in this latest round of hiring? Seems like they have hired a lot more than 200 within the last couple years and continue to hire, wondering if there is a more exact number. thanks

 

[airgator]

US hired around 300 this year, and don't forget America West hired every year from 1995-2008 except for '06.

 

[dugan jones]

Does anyone know how many US Air has hired in this latest round of hiring? Seems like they have hired a lot more than 200 within the last couple years and continue to hire, wondering if there is a more exact number. thanks

I was hired in 2007 and have about 500 below me with classes starting every couple weeks

 

[SIG600]

The AA/US FAs are already going at it with each other. Couple that with the US/AW/AA/TWA food fight that is sure to ensue, they are going to have some serious labor strife within the ranks for decades.

 

[RT8VA]

Here is the real problem with this question, you are asking people which they would choose but very few if any have worked at both. The view from the inside is always different and you will only get half the view from every poster because they really can only say what it is like to work at the airline they are employed with. If you end up having to make the choice pick the one you think is best at the time and hopefully it works in your favor. Seniority is every thing so most likely the first to offer you the job will be the one.

 

[ExJmbDrv]

If you sum the retirement numbers posted on APC and assume zero growth/shrinkage, then you hit 50% seniority at Delta one year ahead of American or United. However, I still think you take the first one that dials your number and then the easiest commute if two call at the same time.

 

[skywiz]

The AA/US FAs are already going at it with each other. Couple that with the US/AW/AA/TWA food fight that is sure to ensue, they are going to have some serious labor strife within the ranks for decades.

.......

 

[UALjan15]

Meaningful long term factors (in order of importance):
Retirement picture
Where in the hiring wave you are in
Domiciles
Financial health/debt load
Company culture
Scope protections
Long term/lingering legal battles, especially in pilot group

Factors NOT to base a career decision on:
Current pay
Current management
Contract perks
Advice from buddies
Advice gleaned from FI!

To the OP's question, AA wins out on retirement picture, and it is not even close. Position in hiring wave should be good for both. I can't evaluate some of the other factors without some research. Culture is crap at both, DAL wins here hands down. Tough to tell how SLI comes out at AA, but UAL's result seems cleaner than what AA is likely to end up with. Domiciles are personal preference, but to me, I would predict more hub shifting at AA than UAL (just using common sense here).

 

[DCAA320]

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

Maybe it's you.

 

[Trogdor]

AA and US have hired less than 200 combined in the last 10 years, while united (cal) and delta have hired thousands.

Not even close. I'm an early '08 US newbie and I have roughly 450 guys below me.

 

[Flybywire44]

Not even close. I'm an early '08 US newbie and I have roughly 450 guys below me.

July 2011 hires have just over 400 below them.

 

[aa73]

There is plenty of overlap. Just because there are not nonstop flights that overlap doesn't mean there is no overlap. Also, I can't see how PHX stays the same size. See Cincy and Cleveland. All the gaps in Asia can be handled through JAl and CX. Gaps in the Middle East can be handled through Qatar. I'm not saying it won't be a great career but I just don't see more pilots needed.

That may have been true under the old management (Carty, Arpey, Horton) who were on a mission to shrink the airline into oblivion and let all the code shares do the work. A sure path to Ch 7, in other words. That concept has never, and will never work, in today's airlines.

To capitalize on the benefits of this merger, AA will have to push itself into many new markets, using its own metal. We have shrunk far beyond the others and will be playing catch up for quite awhile. Parker plans to do just that, plus he has mentioned more than a few times that he is not big on code shares.

Echoing what others said: go with the first one that hires you. Short term, you'll make a little more at UAL...long term, it'll be a wash. Seniority wise, I believe you'll rise quicker at AA simply due to the above, plus, I believe we have the highest # of retirements combined with a generally older pilot group.

If Parker plays his cards right, the new AA will be a great place to work. Hopeful...