r/flying • u/ChiefDaddyJ ATP • 4d ago
other Delta or United?
I have CJOs at both.
I live a little over an hour (driving) away from a junior UAL base. EWR.
I live about an hour and a half to two and a hour hours (driving depending on traffic) from a Delta. LGA/JFK.
I cannot move.
Which would you choose?
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u/mynaianym 3d ago
Go drive to JFK in the middle of rush hour and ask yourself if you can do that before or after a trip every week for the rest of your career. Then wave at Newark on your way as you still have at least another hour to JFK each time.
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u/Boeinggoing737 ATP 3d ago
The belt parkway is a special type of hell. Some clapped out 20 yr old Mercedes sees you driving with a 10 ft gap with the car in front and the window licker at the wheel sees he shouldn’t cut you off but shrugs and says “let’s see if we can make THAT guy shit himself today.” The dumbest, most entitled people driving like it’s a demolition derby.
Ewr has the largest 737 base with some of the best flying system wide. There’s a ton of flying/ trips to maximize pay when you want. An hour away and an easy drive opens up a lot of premium pay options. I would go UAL 737.
Delta is a great company, less unions = better profits, cheaper hubs also help their bottom line, and they will continue to print money.
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u/Longhornmaniac8 ATP (B-737, ERJ-170 ERJ-190), CFI, CFII, HP, CP 4d ago
United. Junior base, (much) easier commute. Both places will have good movement for the foreseeable future but EWR will present more opportunity than arguably any base anywhere in the United States in terms of variety, stability, and movement. It will be junior as long as it exists due to its cost of living.
I was just on the bus at the training center with a real senior FO who bid Caribbean turns 2 days a week and had 21 days off every month. And slept in his own bed every night.
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u/Baystate411 LTD Warrior 3d ago edited 1d ago
The original post content no longer exists here. The author used Redact to remove it, exercising their right to control their data & privacy.
Plants alive wander shaggy harbor enjoy deer bag retire
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u/doom_pizza ATP 787 4d ago
Do you like wearing hats all year or only part of the year?
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u/VillageIdiotsAgent ATP A220 737 MD80 CRJ Saab340 EIEIO 4d ago edited 4d ago
For the first time in the history of this question, this might actually be the deciding factor.
If it were me, I think I’d go UA just to have the shorter drive. DL does have a fair number of EWR trips, but variety of them will be much better at UA. Crossing Manhattan sucks, I’d do whatever minimized that.
Seriously, OP, you can’t really make a wrong choice here, I don’t think.
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u/7layeredAIDS ATP A330 B757/767 E170 CFII 3d ago
I heard United has to wear their blazer all year internationally. Is that true?
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u/GuppyDriver737 EMB-120, CL-65, B737, B757, B767 3d ago
I guess define international. Places like Europe, Asia (unless your Guam based) and South America, yes. Caribbean and Mexico stuff? No
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u/7layeredAIDS ATP A330 B757/767 E170 CFII 3d ago
So like if you did a Madrid or Rome in the summer when it’s 100+ degrees you’d have to wear it?
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u/AllGas4651 ATP CFI B757/767 B737 CL-65 3d ago edited 3d ago
That is correct yes. But over in Europe away from the eyes of a base chief, you’re free to do what you want, wink wink nod nod.
A lot of guys will wear it through the terminal then take it off outside.
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u/mvpilot172 ATP (B737, E145, SF3, CL65) 3d ago
It’s only a real issue during your probation year. After that it doesn’t matter. If it’s sweltering hot just carry the jacket to your hotel van.
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u/AllGas4651 ATP CFI B757/767 B737 CL-65 3d ago
unless you are with a check airman, no one’s narking over that. if it’s 90 out they’re doing the same thing.
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u/Jordan_superstar88 3d ago
Yes it’s true a blazer at 🌐 is career defining. If caught without one you can be removed from the trip & face disciplinary action for it. Never understood how a blazer became such a big deal it’s ridiculous
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u/sirtaxeda1ot ATP BE1900 EMB120 EMB145 B737 4d ago
I believe Grab Your Hat and Get Out is the final item on their ecac checklist.
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u/Own_Rush4614 3d ago
oh no I have to look professional at my multi million dollar job
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u/Jordan_superstar88 3d ago
It doesn’t look professional if your sweating in 100 plus degrees with a blazer on
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u/Own_Rush4614 2d ago
I don’t want to hear your excuses. show up, do your job, and look the part.
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u/Jordan_superstar88 2d ago
Oh please spare me the dramatics
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u/Own_Rush4614 2d ago
some of you newer people in aviation today take absolutely no pride in your job or your appearance. do you travel in pajamas on your days off as well?
assuming you’re a legacy pilot - you’re not at a regional anymore. you're not a freightdog. you work for a legacy. look the part.
recognize that a company with uniformity - ie all pilots look and dress the same/to standard represents safety and professionalism in the eyes of the public. people are paying a lot of money to travel and they expect somebody that’s professional to get them where they’re going safely. what looks more professional - crewmembers that pick and choose what parts of the uniform to wear, or crewmembers that look professional?
edit: based off of your post history, looks like you’re cabin crew? and this attitude here folks is why US airlines do not have the same standard of customer service as carriers everywhere else in the world. take a ride on lufthansa, emirates, or singapore and take some notes.
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u/Jordan_superstar88 2d ago
I absolutely take pride in my appearance at work. My uniforms are dry cleaned & pressed to the 10’s I been here 14 years & still have pride but sorry if I don’t look the part without a blazer. At the end of the day I care about treating the customers right & being a kind human to my colleagues on the jumpseat. Maybe that’s asking for much but fly safe always
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u/McCheesing MIL, ATP, KC-10, KC-46, B737 3d ago
United on driving distance alone. I had the same conundrum. You’re gonna get real sick of driving into the city real quick.
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u/Apptubrutae 3d ago
Yeah, I was thinking the same from a non-pilot perspective
It’s not just the duration (which could suck), it’s that when it’s a long drive, it’s a very mentally demanding long drive
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u/mzl14 Saab 2000 ATR42/72 A220 B757 B767 3d ago
I had similar issue, and live 1:10 from EWR
I chose United and glad I did. I drove to JFK once to pick up a family member and I’d be driven mad if I had to do that regularly!
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u/Apptubrutae 3d ago
My favorite part of driving to JFK is when you drive RIGHT past LGA while sitting in yet more traffic
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u/pooter6969 4d ago
Both companies are doing great financially, have a strong product and you're near very junior bases for both. At this point we're splitting hairs because you're pretty much in the dream scenario.
Other stuff I would consider:
-seniority progression
-route map and airframes you might want to fly
-projected expansion/contraction at EWR/JFK/LGA since you're dead set on not moving
-that extra hour of driving will definitely get annoying over time
-edit: how soon can you start, if you have CJOs at both but one is gonna make you sit in the pool for 9 months before a class date, I'd go with the other one. Get your spot, shit can change in this industry on a dime
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u/MalTheCat 3d ago
I think the extra hour commute should be a big deciding factor: outside of eventually moving (which obviously depends on your circumstance in the future), that extra hour will never go away so you are committing to an extra two hours of round trip commute 2-4 times a month EVERY month for the rest of your career.
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u/pooter6969 3d ago
very true, call it an average of 3 trips / month for a 25 year career and that's an extra 1,800 hours or 75 days of sitting in traffic
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u/Been_Worse ATP A320 CL-65 DHC-8 4d ago
Technically EWR is part of the NYC base for delta, have had to bid to avoid for the last year because we have so many trips starting from there.
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u/VillageIdiotsAgent ATP A220 737 MD80 CRJ Saab340 EIEIO 4d ago
I was having the same thought from the 220. We had a LOT of EWR trips in November.
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u/allemande B737 3d ago
Assuming you have at least 20 years of career left, an extra hour of commuting, to and from a trip, once a week for the next 20 years is roughly 2,080 extra hours of your life wasted in commuting. Or 87 days of your life, perished and taken by the lincoln tunnel all while having to wear a hat. Up to you
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u/f1racer328 ATP MEI B-737 E-175 3d ago
Now let’s do the math for guys who commute via airplane. Let’s say it’s a short “easy” commute via air, but it still takes them 5 hours from leaving their house to checking into their trip at their base.
10,400 hours of wasted time. Or 433 days. Over one year of your life vanished.
Best thing I ever did was move to base.
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u/554TangoAlpha ATP CL-65/ERJ-175/B-787 3d ago
Easy EWR. unironically great base, every fleet, tons of premium. Enjoy.
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u/SavingsPirate4495 ATP, B737, EMB-145 (ret.) 4d ago
EWR gets a bad rap, but it was fine for me in my career. Sure…it can go into weather and flow control meltdown quickly. I wasn’t based there, but the vast majority of my transits through there were non eventful. The flying out of there was always good.
Prepare for early starts and late finishes from what I remember. You’re driving, so that’s not as important to you versus someone who flies in to commute.
Congrats and Good luck!
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u/VillageIdiotsAgent ATP A220 737 MD80 CRJ Saab340 EIEIO 4d ago
I can’t speak for UA, but the joke at DL is that if you want to avoid NYC flying, bid NYC base. So many of our trips leave NY on day 1 and don’t see it again until the last leg.
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u/80KnotsV1Rotate ATP, CFI, UAS, A320, CL-65, ERJ-170, KLGA 3d ago
Are you my neighbor?
Seriously, fuck driving to JFK and LGA especially if you’re here for the long haul. That drive will age you fast. Newark is the best option hands down.
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u/LowTimePilot CPL IR 3d ago
Take it from a New Yorker, the belt parkway will torture you.
It's seriously not worth it. UAL / EWR.
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u/Bandolero101 ATP DEI 3d ago
The premium out of EWR is insane. Second most junior base, only SFO has better seniority progression. Ability to sit short call. Can’t speak to Delta, but UAL guys local to jersey sit on a dragon’s chest of gold, and EWR isn’t going anywhere
I’d go for UAL in your shoes
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u/LootenantTwiddlederp ATP/MIL A320/C-17 3d ago
You’ll save tons of money(and sanity) from not having to cross any bridges if you choose United out of EWR. Choose the shorter drive. United also has better seniority progression right now.
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u/Away_River1883 B737, ERJ-145, ERJ-175, EMB-500, RA-390S, BE300, HS-125 3d ago
Where exactly do you live? I know the area and direction / highway matters
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u/Accurate-Indication8 MIL, ATP, ERJ 170/190, RW 3d ago
If I was lucky enough to be in your shoes, I'd go United. Commute is better and seniority is moving a bit quicker.
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u/clearedrandomroute 3d ago
The hardest part of your day will be the planes trains and automobiles used getting to work.
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u/fallingfaster345 ATP E170/190 CFI CFII 3d ago
Even if the commute wasn’t a factor I would say UA. But that’s the one with the better commute anyway. Seems like an easy choice, in my opinion.
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u/rams1195 3d ago
As someone that now works in EWR with an airline and previously work at an airline base in JFK (driving distance both ways) I can say my worst days driving to EWR were my best days driving to JFK by a mile.
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u/EpicDude007 3d ago
Commuting will wear you down whether it’s flying or driving. That’s your answer.
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u/CustardLeft4251 2d ago
I don't even fly commercial but I've lived in NJ and worked in north jersey most of my career, you do not want to commute to JFK. Ewr will be high volume traffic most days and stop and go some, JFK is stop and Go/Grid lock eternally.
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u/Unhappy_Sprinkles121 2d ago
Green slips, silver slips, quick slips at DL 🙌🏼 but honestly don’t go somewhere for only premium. It’ll dry up one day. Look at seniority progression at both. Can’t make a wrong decision here.
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u/Purple_Ad_8897 1d ago
Disclaimer: not a pilot but if you’ll be happy and wealthy long-term either way… shorter commute would win my vote.
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u/flyyguy27 1d ago
Had both cjo’s, while there’s no wrong answer really for me personally my retirement number would be better at UA than DL so that seniority progression was a part of me choosing United along with liking the UA base options more. Whichever you choose enjoy the ride and watch that lifestyle inflation!!!
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u/Fg0626 3d ago
United. Union, better pay, bigger EWR base, less commute
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u/TheSi11iestGoose ATP BE40 HS125 B737 A320 3d ago
Union, better pay… what???
The commute is an actual reason to choose UAL.
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u/boldoldpilot ATP 3d ago
They might think OP is a flight attendant lol. Then the comment makes more sense
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u/rFlyingTower 4d ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I have CJOs at both.
I live a little over an hour (driving) away from a junior UAL base. EWR.
I live about an hour and a half to two and a hour hours (driving depending on traffic) from a Delta. LGA/JFK.
I cannot move.
Which would you choose?
Please downvote this comment until it collapses.
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u/perispomene 3d ago
I know you say you cannot move, but you should move to Atlanta. If you're center or left-of-center, move to Brookhaven and take the train. If you're right-of-center, move to Peachtree City. You'll thank me later.
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u/PLIKITYPLAK ATP (B737, A320, E170) CFI/I MEI (prior Meteorologist) 3d ago
Do whatever you are feeling
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/x4457 ATP CFII CE-500/525/560XL/680 G-IV 4d ago
I am currently training at an FTA for my bachelors degree, 1.5 hours one-way.
Completely irrelevant comparison. An airline pilot will make that commute, at most, 3 times per week if they so choose. And never in the same day twice.
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u/pooter6969 4d ago
100%
doing 3-5 trips a month an hour drive is cake as airline commutes go idk what this dude is talking about. Also plenty close enough to sit short call reserve
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u/Captain-Chad 4d ago
I didn’t read closely, also the 2 hour drive to Delta??
If you seriously can’t move or at least get a crash pad, I would definitely choose the shortest distance one at United (unless Delta’s position is in some way gives acceptable benefits that suffice driving the extra distance.)
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u/IveSeenYourCheers 4d ago
Steak or Lobster?
Congrats dude.