JetBlue or UAL

[UAL-GSO]

Keep in mind that UAL will also allow you to accept a recall but take a leave of absence to fulfill a training/employment contract such as what you will have at Jet Blue. I don't know all the details, but that is an option to consider.

Cheers!

 

[MRYFLYER]

Do what will make you happy. It is anybodys guess as to what the industry will look like in 10 years or more. If you have friends that were recalled chat with them about what the company is like since BK. If you have friends at JB talk to them and see what that flying is like. Weigh your choices and whatever you do don't rely on this site for the answer

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Keep in mind that UAL will also allow you to accept a recall but take a leave of absence to fulfill a training/employment contract such as what you will have at Jet Blue. I don't know all the details, but that is an option to consider.

Cheers!

While this is true, you need to have been hired and signed that contract with JB PRIOR to your initial recall.

When I was hired at JB I figured about a 10% chance that I'd return to UAL. Now, it has completely changed. Unless things start changing at JB I'll probably return to UAL sometime next year.

I think JB has about 1700 pilots now. If you decide to stay at JB with a 1700+ seniority number it will be many, many years until you have the chance to upgrade to A320 captain, which is the only seat at JB where one can make decent money. And, unless you have 25+ years until retirement you will stay junior on the Airbus for most of your career as there are many young A320 captains at JB.

One of the biggest reasons I am seriously considering going back to UAL is because of ALPA. I know that their reputation hasn't been stellar in the past five years, but when UAL's contract is up in '09 I believe that the pilot group will be demanding increases in pay and benefits. At JB we have no representation and just have to take whatever management tells us they can afford.

There are way too many factors involved for any of us here on FI to give you sound advice. In the end it will be a personal choice based on the facts you have at the time. Unfortunately, none of us has a crystal ball.

Good luck with your decision.

GP

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Jetblue seems like the better move to me.

 

[JBLU]

Amish RakeFlight,

Are you kidding me, or are you in denile?

 

[oldxfr8dog]

Jetblue seems like the better move to me.

I mostly disagree with you, but I must respectfully ask why you think JB is a better move.

 

[AlbieF15]

Ms Luge, as you call her, is not looking for her old job or seniority. She's trying to be part of the solution at Jetblue. Whether or not they make it or you approve of her "act", she knew the consequences when she bailed. She was not furloughed--she resigned--and that's a horse of a different color.

My own take? JB has communicated with its crew force, kept everyone in the loop, and generally tried to be a good place to work. If you think they have a chance at continuing to grow, or if you think the 190 rates will be adjusted this Jan (common speculation--I have no clue...), you may end up with a good place to work the next 20 years. Or--you might not. Its still a new company (geez...its only 6-7 years old..) and has a lot of challenges ahead.

United, on the other hand, is what is left of what was a glorious place. However--don't compare the company you are returning to with the one you left. QC the work rules, benefits, etc very closely. Also--United has proven when things get tough you are expendable. They are aggressively flirting with merging with someone or selling off some assets for cash flow. If you are just now getting recalled, you can pretty much bet you'll be at the bottom of whatever United morphs into if they merge. While work rules may be better now on the junior bus or guppy, who knows where they will go if United can't make money--and they have a history of being terrible at that.

So--its a tough call. I have no dog in this fight, and wish you the best. I've got 3 furloughed United pilots in my squadron, and all are bypassing for now. Their biggest fear is a merger while they are out. If you bypass another year you can at least sit and watch and get a better guess as to where each company is really headed.

Good luck...

 

[laterallymobile]

The fact that these two companies are close to an even match speaks volumes as to where JB is headed. I don't see them going away but in the long term I would bet that United is a better call. I don't like JB selling airplanes out the back door and it also makes me uncomfortable that they are nearly the only ones still paying their bills at this point. Most others have renegoitiated everything in BR or the threat of it. Also worrysome is the regional operators flying emb products that are getting bigger by the year. Pretty good rah rah culture but it really is just another airline with some good possibilities of creating a "brand" if things go their way.

Also, I think Delta, UsAir, and United demonstrated that they can't really go away, short of a merger of some type. JB on the other hand could be gone with a few lean years and nobody would blink. Is it fair, no but probably very true.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Risk vs. Reward.

Good luck, we're all counting on you.

 

[AlbieF15]

Also, I think Delta, UsAir, and United demonstrated that they can't really go away, short of a merger of some type. JB on the other hand could be gone with a few lean years and nobody would blink. Is it fair, no but probably very true.[/quote]


I imagine Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton, and Charles Schumer (sp?) would argue with that. JB's upstate service for the last 7 years has created a lot of good will...