UPS, ABX, FEDEX, or commute to SWA at MDW?

[FlyBoeingJets]

Reread your request for info. It did say any and all info would be appreciated....


I recommend you look at these companies like an investor. ABX is not a company I would go work for. Growth opportunities look poor. They are at the whim of DHL. They will be played against Astar.

UPS and FedEx look good to me. But cargo always looks stable to me. You need to like to be out on the road 4-5 days at time on the Boeing and 8 days on MD-11. Growth looks good and your time on reserve, in the Boeing, should be short. You are making a bet that DHL/Astar won't hurt UPS or FedEX. . You are also betting the mail contract stays at FedEx. I think those are safe bets.

SWA looks good but I would not disregard Airtran or JetBlue either. JetBlue, I hear, is mostly a commuter airline. Will Airtran get another domicile with all the planes coming in? I wouldn't be surprised.

Commute options are critical here. Some claim they hate to commute, yet they continue to do it. Must not be that bad. SWA has best commute for you here. Even if you work for Airtran or JetBlue you can still commute on SWA planes fairly painlessly. Load factors out of the place you want to commute out of are crucial. SWA has a good commute policy but you lose money if you can't get to work.

 

[HoursHore]

Something else to consider when it comes to commuting.

Both UPS and FDX have quite a few trips with deadheads on Pax carriers at One or Both ends. Both companies allow you to change these tickets to leave or arrive from your Home. Obiviously if the new ticket is more expensive you will have to make up the difference.

I know guys who live in another Airlines hub who almost never have to set foot in MEM except for the hub turn.

 

[OUT]

please...Please...PLEASE ....don't let that attitude show itself during your interview...

No...wait...on second thought....let it come out....I'm quite sure thats exactly what the company recruiters want to hear....yeah, thats the ticket...they really like those kinds of opinions. Be honest with them...

Tejas

It sounds like your attitude is biased against gays. I'd love to be flying with you and have you show that attitude. Can you say sexual harassment?

 

[Dizel8]

It sounds like your attitude is biased against gays. I'd love to be flying with you and have you show that attitude. Can you say sexual harassment?

Can you say: Grow a pair!

 

[satpak77]

It sounds like your attitude is biased against gays. I'd love to be flying with you and have you show that attitude. Can you say sexual harassment?

can you say go back to the closet gay boy

 

[enigma]

Looking for advice on what I'm missing:
I'm exiting the air force very soon, will be flying part time with Springfield, Ohio Guard, and trying to figure which major I'd fly for if the stars all aligned and I had my choice. My number one [combination] goal is to live in Southern Ohio and take care of my Mother and family WHILE NOT COMMUTING (QOL, don't want to be gone unless I'm earning money). I know....already hit a showstopper and we ain't got started yet. Right now, my choice would be UPS for a lot of reasons, but that's still 3+ hour drive to SDF. ABX is 1 hour drive from my Mother's mailbox, but I assume that they aren't hiring. Far as I can tell, noone domiciled at CVG or CMH is hiring, and I don't know of any majors at all that domicile at DAY. I'll appreciate all input anyone is willing to offer.
(By the way, why are there always FEDEX birds on the ramp at Rickenbacker, but noone domiciles there?)
Thanks!

Lafe,

If I'm reading correctly, you want to avoid a commute. I agree, and can understand your desire, but.....In my experience, most if not all of us will commute at some point in our career. In other words, you probably can't avoid a commute. The only way that I know to avoid commuting is to move to base. At that point, you can avoid a commute by: getting lucky and working for carrier that remains stable for the rest of you career(never shrinking,furloughing, etc), or passing by advancement opportunities that occur at other bases (wait for upgrade until it comes at your base, etc).

This is just general info, not specific to your location.

I hope it works out for you,
enigma

 

[fox3]

It sounds like your attitude is biased against gays. I'd love to be flying with you and have you show that attitude. Can you say sexual harassment?

perv!

 

[ultrarunner]

Looking for advice...

...and trying to figure which major I'd fly for if the stars all aligned and I had my choice.

Lafe, I'd take this approach:

Fire off apps to all those outfits you mention, and see what happens. Not to be a nay-sayer, but from reading your post, it comes off as you need to figure this all out by yesterday.

In actuality, it could be YEARS before you even need to worry about it.

With that being said, sit tight, do your PT flying, and when you have those 5 offer letters staring you in the face at the same time, give us a shout. ;-)

 

[Dodge]

1500 hours. You gotta be joking, man.

 

[AlbieF15]

Yeah....but 1500 PIC turbine. And he's NEVER read a book, magazine, or stretched his legs going to the John even once. His autopilot will not capture, couple, or otherwise do any routine NAV functions. I FLY more when I fly a 1.2 in an Eagle than when I fly a 4.0 to Boise in the 727. Both are fun, both are cool...but they are each very, very different. Flying a SAAB in and out of Duluth in the winter is a challenge. So is leading a 4 ship to the ranges or out to the MOA/Whiskey area for a 4v4. Until you've done both, its not really your job to judge. The airlines have taken guys from both backgrounds over the years and decided both can do the job...so I'll defer to them to make the final call.

 

[Wesb737fo]

Oh Brother,

I guess I have been too busy looking for my next job to post here, but what the hell....

Lafe..thanks for your service in the defense of our country. I'm sure the job you do is not easy. I'm pretty sure you have done your research on your number one picks. I have seen a few friends (Civilian and Mil.) go to FedEx. With the money you would make from either FedEx or UPS, you would be able to move your whole neighborhood to Memphis or Louisville. Your flight time seems low( F-16's ..thats understandable), however, if you meet the minimum qualifications, you have as much of a chance as anyone else.

Good luck

Once again, for god's sake, it doesn't matter wether you are mil. or civ. What matters is wether or not a person is an A$$H@LE. If someone is an A$$H@lE, please do everyone a favor and quit flying. It makes it so much easier for the rest of us who are tired of dealing with it.



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