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

[Lafe]

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!

 

[AlbieF15]

What you are missing seems to be part of the big picture.

Would you commute to make twice as much money for one company as another? Would you stay at home to "avoid not making money commuting" if that meant being an FO for ten years instead captain in 5? Would you commute if it made it more likely the job you get in 2006 is there in 2016 or 2026? Would you move 1.5 hours south of town to have a chance to sit reserve in your own home at UPS and drive 1.5 hours north to go see family a few days a week?

There is no "right" way to play the game, but a little flexibility in your decision making will open a lot more possibilities. FYI...those guys on the ramp with FDX are likely either A) laying over across the weekend or B) deadheading (getting a commerical ticket to/from that area) to or from that field. If A) the dude from that area who COMMUTED in to work is now getting PAID to be laying over in his home town Sat-Mon. If B) he/she has a commerical ticket he/she can use to fly either to their home OR they can use the ticket later in the month if they are local and want to drive home. In that case, they are paid for the time they would be on the commerical flight, regardless of whether or not they actually fly the deadhead (DH) leg. I expect those tirps are being held by someone fairly senior on their respective seats so they can spend this extra time at/near home. UPS and FDX have slightly different work rules in this area, but the punchline is either company offers a lot of advantages for commuters over the hub/spoke passenger companies.

Another point...most of our info here is revealed in our profiles. A few of us even have our names/callsigns in our screennames. Most of us, however, don't have our work info on the boards--technique only but otherwise you'd be getting a lot of this...

Albie
Lieutenant Colonel/FLANG/F-15 IP/UIP/IP/Combat Vet/Combat FAC/727 First Officer/PornStarWashout/InterviewCoach/SarcasticbecauseitslateandI'muponflightinfo insteadofinbedwhereIshouldbe(again)mywifeissurelyp!ssedI'mstillonthe stupidcomputer

 

[Jurassic Jet]

I just heard on the local news today that the Springfield guard unit is getting closed down in the latest round of closings.

And ABX isn't hiring right now. Been hearing rumors of possibly next year though FWIW.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Albie's got the word on FedEx. But I like to think of it this way. If you have even a little seniority on the 727, you get paid to "commute" to where your trips starts and ends, for the hub turn lines. Your commuting day is a day of pay. But you are gone almost a week at at time and flying at night.

At SWA you commute on your day off or bid a late line and commute that morning. Usually you are unable to commute on the last day and spend the night in domicile and commute back on your day off. Not paid to commute. But you fly during the day. Day trips, I think, are on wide bodies at FedEx held by senior dudes.

If you want to commute, look at what flights SWA has near you. Find out what the loads usually are. It is always easier to commute on your own airline if you work for SWA.

Commuting by a 3 hour drive. That is better than it sounds. Better than my commute by air and I could leave when I want. You should show up an hour before takeoff at the gate for jumpseating. 30 minutes at the latest.

 

[TheBaron]

Commuting to MEM out of Columbus should be easy. FedEx has 2 flights a day Tue-Fri and 1 on Sat-Mon from Rckenbacker to Memfo. Depending on parking at the ramp and other factors, a 1:15 flight beats a 3 hour drive for commuting. I commute SDF to MEM 1 or 2 times a week and it couldn't be easier. There are also plenty of trips available that have DH's on both ends so you don't have to begin in MEM. Plenty of day trips available for the Boeing, but they do tend to go more senior, however, with 300+ new hires in the next year, seniority comes pretty quickly if you're willing to stay seated sideways. Good Luck.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Do you have interviews lined up at all 4? Because if you don't, the first thing I would worry about is getting in line behind about 12,000 people that already have applications in. Then I would worry about getting an interview at at least one. Then, I would worry about getting the job. THEN, I would worry about your first choice.....if you even have a choice. Good luck though.

 

[LittleLearBoy]

Out of the five posts (not including mine) I think you need to take the last one first(Capt Megadeth), and put that on the top of "things to do" list, before you worry about the others.

Good luck.

 

[TheDonger]

C'mon don't pee on his Cheerios dude. It's just another statistic in the land of misfit pilots.

 

[TGR]

The reality is, in this environment, you will probably go with the first one that offers a class date. But its probably good you are thinking about your options right now. You need to figure out what will work best for you then put that company #1 and take Megdeaths advice and focus on getting hired there. Thats whats really important.

Just some food for thought. The Guard thing is great--easy money. But you will come to the point where you are losing money by going to the unit to fly a double. For me, long term quality of life is better living close to domicile and commuting to the ANG. Im not the commuting type-- did it for a few years -- too stressful and time consuming. It works for others, but you are away more. Definitely dont commute to both.

Good luck.

 

[OUT]

Do you have interviews lined up at all 4? Because if you don't, the first thing I would worry about is getting in line behind about 12,000 people that already have applications in. Then I would worry about getting an interview at at least one. Then, I would worry about getting the job. THEN, I would worry about your first choice.....if you even have a choice. Good luck though.

But he's military. He's entitled to go strait to the majors and bypass the regionals, unlike us civilian types.

 

[L'il J.Seinfeld]

But he's military. He's entitled to go strait to the majors and bypass the regionals like us civilian types are.

Out--
Yeah, but everyone has the opportunity to serve in the military...oh wait, sorry. I realize this is flame bait. But I have to say that now is not the time to be attacking the credentials of an F-16 pilot. There is no conversion time for combat! Everyone getting hired at UPS is extremely well-qualified regardless of where they are coming from.

 

[TGR]

But he's military. He's entitled to go strait to the majors and bypass the regionals like us civilian types are.

I never understood this type of attitude. I highly respect the experience many civilian guys obtained hauling checks in under-equiped aircraft in the middle of winter or flying 10 legs a day for years at the regionals.

Why dont military guys get the same respect in return for being qualified in the left seat of a 4 engine jet flying halfway around the world and back or flying a single seat, putting bombs on target in combat? Not to mention the 1st class training you cant buy anywhwere.

There is all sorts of great experience out there, guys. Quantity of time isnt everything.

I know it was flamebate. Just my 2 cents.

 

[satpak77]

There is all sorts of great experience out there, guys. Quantity of time isnt everything.

you mean 4000 hours flying a SF340 from DFW to ABI back and forth is not twice as valuable as 2000 hours flying KC-135's around the world, some of it in war zones

say it isn't so

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

But he's military. He's entitled to go strait to the majors and bypass the regionals like us civilian types are.

Good job Mr. Flamebait.

Don't take the bait folks. Don't turn this thread into a Mil vs. all civilian thread.

We all know people, all civilian, who didn't work at the regionals. They flew corporate or cargo. Just becuase you chose the regional route doesn't mean everyone should. And military folks who look down on civilian pilots are myopic as well.

We all have to meet the mins for the application at our airlines. If you can differential yourself with interesting stories of "there I was" the time looks more valuable. Fighter guys and gals, in particular, look good with low hours because--

1) They fly short sorties and plan and debrief them to death. And they vary in detail almost every flight.

2) They were at the top of their class to get fighters. Known quantity of sharp airmen. All could be check airman and they learn quickly.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

But he's military. He's entitled to go strait to the majors and bypass the regionals like us civilian types are.

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

 

[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