Should I leave American for Delta?
Seeking genuine career advice.
I am 26, turning 27 this summer. Currently a pilot at AA, I have been here for 9 months, and have 1,300 pilots below me. I have a class date at Delta, and I am considering leaving. I'd really appreciate any advice, perspective, input, or thoughts.
Domiciles are a wash, I am from Denver, CO (United never called). For Delta, I'd move to SLC or commute there from Denver; for American, I’d move to DFW or PHX or commute from Denver. I am single, no kids, willing to relocate. I could be happy anywhere.
The big draw for me at AA is seniority progression. I could upgrade in 2 years here. I would take the first upgrade and invest heavily in my future, buy a house, help my parents and brother, etc. I want to make as much money as possible, especially while I’m young. However, AA is the weakest financially and operationally in comparison to UA, DL, and WN, and that concerns me. I want to take pride in my company and trust the longevity/profitability/future of the company I work for for the next 38 years.
The draw for DL is its strength, profitability, operation, prestige, brand, stability, and it being the consistent industry leader. All of that is very appealing. DL is worth 40B, AA is worth 7-8B. Big difference. I think DL will have industry-leading contracts before other carriers get them. However, seniority progression is much slower at DL. From what I have been told and discovered from playing with seniority tools, upgrade times will be 7-8 years for anyone hired today. The wait for a widebody would be similar. That time is trending down as DL is hiring more, but still slower than American. I already have 1,300 below me at AA, and I’d be starting from the bottom again on a slower-moving list.
However, the future is not known, and just because something is true today, doesn’t mean it’ll be true tomorrow. AA could make a comeback, and then I would greatly regret leaving, or Delta could grow more than expected, and I would regret staying.
If I leave American, would I be making a worthwhile seniority sacrifice for a better company, or would I be making a foolish decision chasing today’s best thing?
I realize how lucky I am. Timing is everything. This industry is unfair.
I would really appreciate any advice, perspective, input, or thoughts. Sincerely, thank you for your time.