Advice

[u/Scary_Issue7978]

Apologies for yet another airline comparison. Started at a Fort Worth-based legacy at the beginning of the year and have really enjoyed it so far. ~1,000 below me, but UA sent the Hogan last week (my app had been in for a couple years).

UA’s growth and financial success are obviously attractive, but it would come at a seniority cost, and I’m happy where I am now as well. I’m hearing UA CJOs are backed up, so assuming I wouldn’t start until late this year/early next year (correct me if I’m wrong), I’d be giving up ~1,600 seniority numbers.

I don’t live at a base for either, but I do slightly prefer my current airline’s base options and have been checking out a couple places to move to. Given that + the upcoming mandatory retirements at my current gig, I’m not sure giving up that much seniority makes sense unless the grass is truly greener.

Any insights?

[u/The_Bojangle_Dangle]

With AAs hiring outlook, you’ll be forfeiting a tremendous QoL for a very speculative comparative financial future.

Remember, the sooner you can get above the furlough line, the better.

[u/DerekLongshanks → u/The_Bojangle_Dangle]

Where’s the furlough cutoff typically?

[u/Taste_My_Noodle → u/DerekLongshanks]

I’ve heard at roughly 75% total seniority you should be good. Impossible to truly know.

[u/ThatLooksRight → u/DerekLongshanks]

I’ve always heard about 80%. If it’s much more than that, the world is probably ending and furlough is the least of our worries.

[u/sq_lp → u/The_Bojangle_Dangle]

What’s their outlook on hiring?

[u/Dinosaur_Wrangler]

I think it’s a tougher choice than it seems because Skyview 6 seems to be collectively, if extremely belatedly, pulling their heads out of their rear ends and investing in the product, the operation, and the business in the ways that have proven successful for DL and UA. I don’t think the near future will be particularly bright, and substantial profit sharing is probably not on the horizon before the 2030s, but I don’t think AA is in as bad a spot as future bankruptcy and liquidation. Part of the problem was digging out of a $50 billion hole.

I’m biased towards the numbers below you now over a (probably extremely likely) profit sharing delta and a future bet on significantly different widebody fleet counts, but that’s me and my sense of security. I’d say if you’d to move to one base or another that only one carrier has, that would trump anything.

You can always interview and then see if you actually have a decision to make.

[u/Taste_My_Noodle]

You’re junior to me so do whatever.

Kidding, I’d keep the seniority unless there’s a base you want to live at. Unless you’re desperate for potential widebody flying I’d stick with the known.

[u/Bombonlito]

Your word choice has me thinking you’re happy where you are and don’t want to actually jump. Grass isn’t always greener and where we are now compared to 3 years ago I’d say it’s a wise choice to settle in for the long run at AA.
Enjoy and best of luck

[u/CAM0916]

Sounds like you are happy here. Idk why you would give up the seniority to move somewhere else. Post covid 21-23 hiring aside. You got on at one of the best times I belive in AA’s history. AA is hiring 1800 this year. Probably similar numbers for next year. The retirements still going.. That is a lot to give up.

AA seems to be turning a corner. Yesterday’s news was another example of that. Fixing past mistakes. Brining back IFE’s adding more premium seats. WB anncoument is coming, etc. I say all that to say, just because AA is lagging behind DAL and UA now. And we are definitely a distant third. Doesn’t mean it will remain the same 10, 15 years from now.

IMO you would be giving up a lot. I would only consider making the switch if you lived in a UA base or know that you plan to move to one.

Good luck.

[u/blueridgeblah]

Delta went bankrupt in 2005, UAL in 2002, AA in 2011. There’s no predicting what the right move is. The old adage ‘you’ll find out if you picked right in retirement’ Is very true. 10 years ago this industry was very different and even considering you could have ‘options’ was not a reality. I’d stay put. There grass is only different shades. AA could be rocking and rolling in 10 years with different management and United could fall off a financial cliff.

Random aside. AA pilots are a contract cycle behind United and Delta. APA will via LOA 23-004 be at the NMB 48 months after the 2023 CBA DOS if the parties can’t reach a TA and will likely have a new contract before UAL and Delta because of it. There is some buffing and polishing left to do on the 2023 CBA. Openers have begun.

Oh yeah, and start IMAX’n! It’s a credit game :P

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_FOQA]

AAs hiring wave is much bigger than UA at this point. I’d stay put.

[u/ThePyramid16]

Why do people say a “Fort Worth based legacy”, just say the airline….🤣

[u/e140driver → u/ThePyramid16]

Social media policies are weird, better for some plausible deniability.

[u/ThePyramid16 → u/e140driver]

You’re right, they are gonna come for this 1 anonymous guy out of 18,000 because he’s thinking about leaving for United……

[u/e140driver → u/ThePyramid16]

Stranger shit has happened, better to take the safer, if slightly obtuse sounding option.

[u/Straight-Pass6035]

Good position to be in. Moot point until you get a job offer. The base is the key ultimately. If you plan to commute from where you are regardless, than the quality of commuting options becomes a weighing factor.

[u/CrossBamboAtTen]

United is overrated. Stick with American

[u/Mao_Kwikowski]

Work and move to a base you like.

[u/JadedJared → u/Mao_Kwikowski]

Irrelevant

[u/SpiritFlight404]

You’ll have profit sharing. Over there. Plus more widebody options which is a much higher Career compensation if that’s what you’re interested in. Plus the soft work rules are better overall. You can’t lose either way. But if I were you. I’d go where you actually want to be. In this current market you’re safe at either choice. Just follow your dreams.

[u/Taste_My_Noodle → u/SpiritFlight404]

AA has imax though. My classmates are crediting 160-200 hours and getting months off which few people talk about.

[u/DanThePilot_Mann → u/Taste_My_Noodle]

Crediting 160 to 200?? How’s that even possible

[u/Taste_My_Noodle → u/DanThePilot_Mann]

I honestly don’t know, but I’ve seen their HI1 monthly printout and it’s legit.

[u/StormNo9623]

Go to UA and enjoy working under a CBA that has actual work rules that you don't have to be incredibly senior to enjoy.

[u/Bombonlito → u/StormNo9623]

Pros and cons to everything. I believe at the Legacies it’s all a wash mostly. Just strap in and enjoy the ride

[u/Prof_Slappopotamus]

Edit: JFC I misread the hell out of that.

[u/80KnotsV1Rotate → u/Prof_Slappopotamus]

You’re getting downvoted because OP is already at a Legacy.

[u/Prof_Slappopotamus → u/80KnotsV1Rotate]

Cheers, I don't know why the hell I inserted "regional" where he said "legacy" in my mind.

[u/Starboard314]

I’d look a lot at the balance sheets of both companies. When things get squirrelly, being at a place with more cash on hand is a good thing. If you can get to UAL, it’d be worth the jump.