L-16B
Well-Known Member
Do you even lift?
Leave AA for Fedex?
- Thread starter learhawkerbe400
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chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
But seriously, killer career progression man. I know there is a measure of luck in this industry, but to get there at your age does take a lot of work. So congrats on your success. That being said, I still say stay at AA.
Well, what are your career goals, how well do you know both operations, which one appeals to you?
I love flying at night as I'm nocturnal, but then I like people so the only blend for me, of sorts, is international flying.
Southernjets actually wasn't my first choice because I never looked that deeply at the company before applying, but it's been an amazing match and I've been able to do some really tremendously cool stuff which I wouldn't be able to do anywhere else. But for someone else, it might really suck.
It just really all depends on the person with the choice to make.
AAPalmTree
Well-Known Member
I completely agree and totally disagree. Got to do what's right for you but, I on the other hand haaaaate flying at night. I wouldn't touch FX with a ten foot pole. The Ops of both companies are petty far apart. Have a buddy at FX dying to leave. Night flying is "killing" him. I think derg hit it on the head. Got to know what each company brings to the table and decide which fits best for YOU.
dasleben
That's just, like, your opinion, man
Done both. Freight is amazing. I have absolutely zero interest in flying passengers. Then again, long-haul international freight tends to be quite a bit easier than hub turns in the middle of the night, at least at my company (and equipment).
But seriously. Freight is great.
But seriously. Freight is great.
typhoonpilot
Well-Known Member
Your retirement at #5 is no where near guaranteed. Do not make this part of your decision. I'll give you two case samples that I am personally familiar with. Since one is me it's pretty hard to refute. I would have retired in the top 10 on the USAirways list right up until the merger with America West. Almost every America West pilot was placed senior to me. 2005 hires placed above a 1989 hire. Case 2: Very good friend of mine at NWA would have retired in the top 10. After the DAL merger he won't even crack top 400.
What you want to focus on is quality of life for the next 35 years. Not money, not aircraft, but quality of life. Which job is going to give you the best quality of life for the next 35 years?
Blown way out of proportion by ALPA. These are far far less of a threat than previous changes to airline careers such as: Deregulation; advent of the RJ; B-Scale; Loss of Pensions; LLCs; Open Skies; etc.
And, that said. There are cargo and express airlines elsewhere that will make a run at FedEx and UPS in the future. Look no further than SF Express in China as one very powerful company that has that in their current planning. They are very smart and they are building a solid base in China and Asia. Make no mistake that they will be coming after the market of both FedEx and UPS within the next 35 years.
In any event, any advice is just a wild guess. There are far too many factors that will occur in the next 35 years that nobody can foresee.
Funny, a good friend of mine who is a very senior captain now at FedEx was desperate to leave there in 1989/1990 and join a passenger airline. He wanted to join USAir and I was trying to help as best I could. Fortunately they stopped hiring and he never made it.
Typhoonpilot
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chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
I would still say AA. Look at their number of retirements and the relative number of pilots they have already hired. And then look at the average age of the guys that have already flowed up from the regionals. They have huge retirement numbers plus an almost "2nd wave" of retirements being built in because of the flows right now. I do sincerely think that we will see automated cargo flying.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
I think it's incredibly short sighted to look at retirements and pick a 30+ year airline career based on that single fact. Just insanely stupid. Look at the business model, the management, etc. of the company! Who has a history of making smart decisions going back decades? There aren't very many on that list. If you're betting a long career I personally would be wanting to work at a company with a long term history of growth and staying power, not one that over time has continued to shrink and lose market share YoY.
chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
And as I said, I think long term fedex will continue to be more and more profitable. I think part of that will involve automated aircraft. And I think it will happen in the cargo industry long before it happens in the passenger industry. Is fedex a smart move in the next 10 years? Probably. But factor in the fact that the OP has 3 years seniority, will retire 5 from the top, and I think long term (longer than 10 years) AAG is a safer bet. But FedEx surely is tempting.
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Trip7
Well-Known Member
Personally I wouldn't touch UPS or FedEx with a 10 foot pole.
I like flying during the day normal business hours. I avoid late night departures to West Coast. However I don't mind red eyes since it's one leg and done. 3 day 1-2-1 Carribbean daytime flying is pretty close to perfection for me.
Can't imagine flying one or two legs to hub, 2 hour break in the middle of the night then one leg to outstation for overday layover. Rinse and repeat for years.
I also always been an airline type person. I like the interaction with pax and nice modern terminal environment. Haven't been inside them but on the outside UPS and FedEx hubs look like Rikers Island
But that's just me. Glad there are many choices out there for folks with different tastes and preferences.
dasleben
That's just, like, your opinion, man
See, and I ride on commercial carriers 2-4 times a month and absolutely loathe going to the passenger side of the airport each time.
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