Air Tran or Flexjet? (Also posted on the frac board)

[On Your Six]

i've know a guy that left Colgan for Flex Jet and regretted it. I have only heard negative about Flex Jet. Though this was almost 2 years ago.

Are you kidding me? Anything would be an improvement over Colgan. Perhaps he didn't live in one of their domiciles and he had to commute - that's never good. I would think going from a Beech or Slaab to a nice Lear/Challenger would be a step up but I guess I am wrong. I hope he returned to Colgan to fly to his 10-15 destinations and cruising altitude of 15K.

As far as Flex is concerned, I have heard good and bad but I think things are getting better. With the new Netjets TA you can expect things to get better at all of the frax companies - if not, people will leave for Netjets. Flex's management knows that. I forsee both a salary and a QOL bump at some point. That said, fractional flying is very different from 121 flying and you need to recognize that - very adhoc in nature. There are plenty of Flex guys on these forums and I would send PMs to all of them to get the positives and negatives.

As far as the commute, do yourself a favor and avoid it if you can. I wouldn't choose Air Tran if I had to travel from DEN. If you do go to Flex and you have a choice of aircraft (rare but it happens now and then from what I have heard), go for the Challenger 300 or 604/606. I hear the 300 fleet is busy because it is a very popular airplane with the owners. Check it out:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?...RNA ZBQR)) beqre ol cubgb_vq QRFP&photo_nr=1

I would go to Flex and not commute from Denver. Let us know what you choose. Good luck!

 

[BAT31]

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate the input.

On your Six, thanks for the well thought out responses, and from an Eagle/Bone guy no less, wow.

I just dislike commuting so much that I think this decision was made before I posted the thread. Also, I think for my personality, fractional flying will be the best fit. I've flown 121, and the monotony makes the days long.

All companies have their good and bad, but as I've seen posted before, as long as their's cold beer at the end of the day, then I'll be ok!

 

[PCL_128]

Why not try for Netjets? DEN will be available as a gateway airport after the TA is signed, and they have an amazing contract.

 

[Kharma Police]

What airline you work for, missing a flight at fredex is the same as reporting for the firing squad. guess who gets the blind fold.

I guess you must be waking up and didn't see the parentheses (not my airline) in my statement. Talk to some other guys with that particular secton in their contract.

BTW, Can't you guys book your jumpseat several days in advance and what's the deal with the travel bank?

 

[johnsonrod]

I agree with OYS. Given that you already live in Denver and you could be based out of Denver with Flexjet, I'd go there. Plus, flying celebrities to exotic locations in high performance Lears and Challengers wouldn't be too bad.

I hope Flex's schedule someday changes to 7/7 (at least offers that option) - that would make it more appealing to me.

 

[Clyde Frog]

I'd go there. Plus, flying celebrities to exotic locations in high performance Lears and Challengers wouldn't be too bad.

.

That gets old after a while too. Just like flying into FNT and CAK.

 

[redneck captain]

Came from 121. Been on the lr-45 4 months. So far the easiest job I have ever had! Sure there are some long days, but there are also a lot of easy days. And I am not flyng those d@#n canned routes anymore! The people at flexjet are really great also.

 

[On Your Six]

Came from 121. Been on the lr-45 4 months. So far the easiest job I have ever had! Sure there are some long days, but there are also a lot of easy days. And I am not flyng those d@#n canned routes anymore! The people at flexjet are really great also.

I hear there is a lot of movement onto the Challenger 300 too due to very high owner demand for the airplane. That 300 is a nice airplane...

How many Lear 60XRs are you guys getting through the end of 08?

 

[redneck captain]

not sure about the 60xrs. A lot of people predict the 60 fleet to continue shrinking. As far as the 300 is concerned, they can't get them fast enough. People are waiting in line. I do know we are taking the bulk of our deliveries through the rest of this year.

 

[GSXR600]

I came from the 121 world as well, and so far I love it. I am on the CL300 and yes they do fly a lot so there is a good opportunity to make some extra cash if u want to fly. The CL300 is a beautiful bird and there is a lot of demand for it. Everyone here at Flex has been really nice to me.
And before anyone starts to accuse me….Yes there are some things that need to be change here and hopefully it will happen soon. Now flying the line…….. there are some bad days too just like everywhere else, but for me is nothing like what I was use to.

If you need more information, I know someone base in Denver that I can ask.
PM me.

Good luck on your decision

 

[skydan5]

not sure about the 60xrs. A lot of people predict the 60 fleet to continue shrinking. As far as the 300 is concerned, they can't get them fast enough. People are waiting in line. I do know we are taking the bulk of our deliveries through the rest of this year.

The new Learjet NXT is on the horizon. It will be interesting to see whether or not we (Flexjet) will continue to fly the 60s once this new airplane is on line. The NXT is in a class of it's own and it's capabilities are between the Learjet 60XR and Challenger 300. I've heard we are the launch customer.

www.learjetnxt.com
http://www.aviation.com/firstclass/071030-bombardier-launches-learjet-nxt.html

 

[CoolSidePillow]

Commuting and must riding are two different things. Both have to sit in airports with people. Both have to watch the herd that is the American public and throw up in your mouth once in awhile because of it. Getting paid to have to endure it is a better deal though.
Do you want to do a 4 day trip in a row or a 7 day trip in a row?
Do you want to fly to and from about 60 cities or the possibilities of thousands?
Do you want to make about 30 grand or so more top out pay?
Do you want to sit behind a locked cockpit door and not care who is on the other side or do you want to do a lot of face time?
Do you want to spent a lot of time in FBOs or spend most of your day flying and be done?
Do you want to fly nice new biz jets or nice new Boeings? ( I think that is a wash either way)
Do you want to fly around obnoxious, rude trash that is the American public or do you want to fly around obnoxious, rude trash that is the American upper class?
Do you want to load bags?
Do you want to live the constant uneasiness of the airline industry or the more stability of fracs?
Do you want to wear a hat with your uniform?
Do you want to wear a black leather jacket and look ok or wear a brown leather jacket with a blue uniform and look like a total a$$ clown?
Learjets and Challengers are nice planes, but Netjets is a better company.
NJ is opening about 100 gateway cities with their new contract, Denver is probably on there.

 

[Spidey]

Commuting and must riding are two different things. Both have to sit in airports with people. Both have to watch the herd that is the American public and throw up in your mouth once in awhile because of it. Getting paid to have to endure it is a better deal though.
Do you want to do a 4 day trip in a row or a 7 day trip in a row?
Do you want to fly to and from about 60 cities or the possibilities of thousands?
Do you want to make about 30 grand or so more top out pay?
Do you want to sit behind a locked cockpit door and not care who is on the other side or do you want to do a lot of face time?
Do you want to spent a lot of time in FBOs or spend most of your day flying and be done?
Do you want to fly nice new biz jets or nice new Boeings? ( I think that is a wash either way)
Do you want to fly around obnoxious, rude trash that is the American public or do you want to fly around obnoxious, rude trash that is the American upper class?
Do you want to load bags?
Do you want to live the constant uneasiness of the airline industry or the more stability of fracs?
Do you want to wear a hat with your uniform?
Do you want to wear a black leather jacket and look ok or wear a brown leather jacket with a blue uniform and look like a total a$$ clown?
Learjets and Challengers are nice planes, but Netjets is a better company.
NJ is opening about 100 gateway cities with their new contract, Denver is probably on there.

"do you want to do a lot of face time"-yep, that says it all.

 

[Spidey]

Commuting and must riding are two different things. Both have to sit in airports with people. Both have to watch the herd that is the American public and throw up in your mouth once in awhile because of it. Getting paid to have to endure it is a better deal though.
Do you want to do a 4 day trip in a row or a 7 day trip in a row?
Do you want to fly to and from about 60 cities or the possibilities of thousands?
Do you want to make about 30 grand or so more top out pay?
Do you want to sit behind a locked cockpit door and not care who is on the other side or do you want to do a lot of face time?
Do you want to spent a lot of time in FBOs or spend most of your day flying and be done?
Do you want to fly nice new biz jets or nice new Boeings? ( I think that is a wash either way)
Do you want to fly around obnoxious, rude trash that is the American public or do you want to fly around obnoxious, rude trash that is the American upper class?
Do you want to load bags?
Do you want to live the constant uneasiness of the airline industry or the more stability of fracs?
Do you want to wear a hat with your uniform?
Do you want to wear a black leather jacket and look ok or wear a brown leather jacket with a blue uniform and look like a total a$$ clown?
Learjets and Challengers are nice planes, but Netjets is a better company.
NJ is opening about 100 gateway cities with their new contract, Denver is probably on there.

...hey kid... yer monnicker says you are very inexperienced...you wouldn't have the balls to defend the hubcaps on your home, let alone our Country....don't worry all those veterans YOU LOOKED DOWN UPON while you filled that pansy ass minivan with unleaded every Tues and Thurs at the college, Proudly Protected you and the EVERY other American they LOVE...a van,and you wouldn't even protect that...Sad...To all you VETS-THANK YOU...and GOD BLESS YOU!...
...and to the poster, just keep flyin at SIU...Kentucky isn't gonna shoot any missiles, kid...honest...

 

[Spidey]

...hey kid... yer monnicker says you're are a ************************* who wouldn't have the balls to defend the hubcaps on your home...don't worry all those veterans you look down upon while have protected your sorry lil pansy butt while you filled up every Tues and Thurs at the college fbo...spend a minute on this thread to say thanks...and change your monniker...or jez be spineless... questions...To all you VETS-THANK YOU...and GOD BLESS YOU!

...and God Bless You!

 

[Spidey]

...and God Bless You!

...and one of your questions is valid. Please let us know which one.

 

[CoolSidePillow]

...and one of your questions is valid. Please let us know which one.

Are you referring to me or just having an argument with yourself? Kid? I am in my 40's. Minivan? I never owned one. I dont have kids. I was in the first Gulf fiasco. I saw the light and the truth and I wanted no part of the roadshow or the sequel. Support the troops? Yes Indeed, bring them home! That is support. If you would like I can show you all the different ways I was taught how to harm a human being.

 

[Spidey]

Are you referring to me or just having an argument with yourself? Kid? I am in my 40's. Minivan? I never owned one. I dont have kids. I was in the first Gulf fiasco. I saw the light and the truth and I wanted no part of the roadshow or the sequel. Support the troops? Yes Indeed, bring them home! That is support. If you would like I can show you all the different ways I was taught how to harm a human being.

...if you served, thanks. And I don't need any nuggies from a loser liberal kid-middle aged. Go work for Hillary, she's probably man enough for you...and like you, those Clinton's like a lil face time!:blush:

 

[Britpilot]

Do you want to wear a black leather jacket and look ok or wear a brown leather jacket with a blue uniform and look like a total a$$ clown?

The Air Force guys wear a blue uniform with a brown leather jacket. So you think they look like "ass clowns"?

 

[PCL_128]

Do you want to wear a black leather jacket and look ok or wear a brown leather jacket with a blue uniform and look like a total a$$ clown?

Anyone wearing any color of leather jacket in uniform looks like an ass hat.