leaving jetblue?

[vindiesel]

an offer from netjets...
anyone with their thoughts, please chime in. I'm a first year fo, btw...

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Why not? If NetJets is what you want than more power to you. If only for the pay you'll probably be ahead. Hell, a lot of guys would kill of either of those jobs.

 

[realmanofgenius]

it's not as simple...different flying, different product/service, much closer to pax....what does your happy meter say about those?

now would be the time to leave if you did...not senior, haven't upgraded...

i'm waiting for the interview call as they say my paperwork is accepted and i'm on the interview list...

the pay would be one key reason to go there. plus 7 on, 7 off.

good luck

 

[pilotgolfer]

Plus, it takes a lot less time for you to clean a Citation X than an Airbus.

 

[MD80DRVR]

Sooooo witty!:erm:

 

[inthewind]

an offer from netjets...
anyone with their thoughts, please chime in. I'm a first year fo, btw...

Think really long and hard. The money may be better and maybe 7 on 7 off is for you. But you also have to deal with kissing the a$$es of hard to deal with rich people, long sits in FBO's, weird or last minute catering requests. Maybe a little less at NetJets than at a 135 operator but I venture to guess not.

At least on the plus side no more comute, no employee cost medical, dentl, vision. No furlough, no merger worries. And the planes are pristine, dude I'd eat off the hangar floor at Bridgeway!

Best of luck in your decision.

 

[CA1900]

But you also have to deal with kissing the a$$es of hard to deal with rich people...

Uhhh... no, you don't. I don't kiss anyone's ass. Ask anyone who knows me.

I'm polite and efficient with our passengers, take care of their needs within reason, and get them on their way in a clean, well-kept plane. That's what I'm paid to do. If they want a kiss-ass, they can bring one along!

... long sits in FBO's, weird or last minute catering requests.

We don't handle the catering orders -- we simply pick them up and set them up in the airplane. If the share owner wants something unusual with his catering, he'll generally get it. The mechanism for that to happen is for him to tell his rep what he wants, the rep gets it ordered from a local catering company (or even flown in from another city if necessary), tagged with an order number.

As a NetJets pilot, my responsibility is to walk up to the FBO desk and ask for a particular catering order number. If said order isn't there, or is missing items, I call in and it gets taken care of by our catering department ASAP.

Maybe a little less at NetJets than at a 135 operator but I venture to guess not.

Well, don't guess if you're not sure.

Sure we sit at FBOs for a few hours here and there. I sat at airline terminals for hours on end at my last job. I'll leave it for you to guess which of the two places I'd rather spend my afternoon in if I'm not in the air. (Hint: It's the one with free internet, coffee, computers, a big-screen TV, sleeping lounge, good food, a car to borrow just for the asking, etc.)

In Houston yesterday, I had a 3-hour break and we borrowed a BMW to go get Mexican at Pappasito's. Sure beats walking to a food court and eating Panda Express for the 8,000th time, that's for sure.

Sitting isn't my favorite thing to do, but since it'll happen in any flying job, I'd rather do it at an FBO than an airline terminal any day.

 

[On Your Six]

an offer from netjets...
anyone with their thoughts, please chime in. I'm a first year fo, btw...

Vin,

I've spoken with two former Jet Blue pilots who left for Netjets. Both flying the Citation X now. See below:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1313708&size=L&width=1050&height=770&sok=&photo_nr=46


It actually makes a lot of sense - have you seen the new TA at Netjets:

• 100 pilot domiciles - select any domicile
• at least $60K to start,
• adding 50 jets net this year
• Tremendous route variety
• Free health care for you and your family
• Fly interesting people (celebrities, sports stars)
• 4 meals paid for per day on the road
• Excellent hotels - 3 and 4 stars likely
• 3 different types of schedules (7/7 is an option)
• Advanced equipment
• Collect hotel/airline points to use for family trips
• Top fractional in the industry and owned by Warren Buffet (strong financial backing)

So, the point is that you are going to a market leader vs. staying at a market follower. The LCC market will only get more competitive over time as LCCs get more aircraft and find places to put them. Who knows how the consolidation game will play out - Jet Blue could become a target. At Netjets you won't have to worry too much given that it is the market leader by a big margin...

Go to Netjets. The two former Jet Blue guys who are flying the X at Netjets now really enjoy it and claim that they would never return to 121 flying. Netjets certainly ain't for everyone (ad hoc flying, loading some bags, etc.), but after the new TA with 100 domiciles and a much-improved comp plan, a lot more poeple are reconsidering that option... Consider yourself lucky that you got interviewed and hired at Netjets - I hear that the stack of resumes is very high (probably includes a bunch of current Jet Blue pilots).

I do not work for Netjets but I have a few friends who do and they love it. For any Netjets haters out there, check out the facts and figures about Netjets here:

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/fractional/netjets.html

 

[Guitar Guy]

But you also have to deal with kissing the a$$es of hard to deal with rich people, long sits in FBO's, weird or last minute catering requests. Maybe a little less at NetJets than at a 135 operator but I venture to guess not.

"Kissing a$$es" is not something I've had to during my career at NetJets. In fact, most of the people are actually very laid back and easy to deal with. I even flew one rock star and he and I chatted about music and guitars while he waited for his limo. No "kissing a$$" there. As for the sits in the FBO, it's possible but not a very common occurrence for me. That said, most FBO lounges are nicer and quieter than the airline terminals that I see. I've never had a last-minute catering change though the company has people in CMH who are paid to handle those requests.

Just trying to add a little perspective to your post. I do agree with most of the rest of your post though I wouldn't eat off the hangar floor at Bridgeway. That's just too unsanitary for me.

 

[johnsonrod]

an offer from netjets...
anyone with their thoughts, please chime in. I'm a first year fo, btw...

Are you kidding me? Why would you ever want to leave Jet Blue? The beautiful smell of sewage at JFK every morning. Such nice, well-mannered people working at that airport. Flying into and out of JFK several times per day - it's so easy and stressfree... The same old, monotonous routes over and over and over until you memmorize the frequencies. There are so many reasons to stay...

Please stay so that I can take your slot at Netjets. I am hoping for an interview at some point and I would love to take your slot right now. Like someone else stated earlier, I'd love to fly for a market leader and not have to constantly worry about my airline's future or its ability to pay my checks. I'd be happy to hang out at interesting layovers like Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Aspen, Saranac Lake, Bermuda Dunes, Scottsdale, Ocean Reef, Napa, Marco Island, Martha's Vineyard, etc. vs. the hectic hub airports every day. Please stay so that I can go to Netjets.

Good luck.

 

[xjt40]

Congrats on the offer!! I know a bunch of guys at Netjets and they all love it there. In my opinion it is the only place to go right now. A sept newhire just left for Netjets. They get 100 new apps a day !!!!
Best of luck.

 

[realmanofgenius]

a friend told me netjets has 10,000 apps on file. is hiring 3 out of 10 now instead of 7.. since i guess they only need 3000 more pilots

 

[aerobato]

Are you kidding me? Why would you ever want to leave Jet Blue? The beautiful smell of sewage at JFK every morning. Such nice, well-mannered people working at that airport. Flying into and out of JFK several times per day - it's so easy and stressfree... The same old, monotonous routes over and over and over until you memmorize the frequencies. There are so many reasons to stay...

Please stay so that I can take your slot at Netjets. I am hoping for an interview at some point and I would love to take your slot right now. Like someone else stated earlier, I'd love to fly for a market leader and not have to constantly worry about my airline's future or its ability to pay my checks. I'd be happy to hang out at interesting layovers like Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Aspen, Saranac Lake, Bermuda Dunes, Scottsdale, Ocean Reef, Napa, Marco Island, Martha's Vineyard, etc. vs. the hectic hub airports every day. Please stay so that I can go to Netjets.

Good luck.

When was your JetBlue interview?

 

[Whiskerbizkit]

Since your junior to me then do what you want, you don't help me

For you NJ guys, do you know where you are going for the full 7 days or do you find out the night before for each night?

 

[JBass]

Whisker, You never know where your going till you get there. But you do know that you will be back home in 7 days.

 

[Smoking Man]

I am sorry that my company wasted it's time on you.



:uzi:

 

[MINIME]

The rich are only getting richer. Therefore, it's a no brainer. Go and don't even think about looking back! Congrats....

 

[CA1900]

For you NJ guys, do you know where you are going for the full 7 days or do you find out the night before for each night?

As he said, you won't know. Heck, the company doesn't know! Our shareholders can book flights on as little as 4 hours' notice, so the schedule is constantly changing.

It keeps it interesting, that's for sure!

 

[johnsonrod]

When was your JetBlue interview?

I will admit that I was interested in JB at one point but I am no longer interested in JB - I have learned to hate 121 flying (flying for a crappy regional doesn't help) after many years in the trenches. I have friends who are at JB - some like it and some don't (trying to leave to Delta, SWA and Netjets). To each his own. I have never been a fan of smelly, hectic, disorganized JFK and that's part of the problem with JB - you really can't avoid it too much (especially as a newhire).

I would choose Netjets in a heartbeat in this case - but that's my opinion. It's difficult to argue with 100 domiciles (including many on the West Coast - take your pick and see the link: http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=...-STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=navy&MAP-STYLE=visual) that you can bid immediately as a newhire and switch whenever by giving 30 days notice (say adios to commuting), free health care and roughly $60K to start. That's a great deal!

 

[inthewind]

"Kissing a$$es" is not something I've had to during my career at NetJets. In fact, most of the people are actually very laid back and easy to deal with. I even flew one rock star and he and I chatted about music and guitars while he waited for his limo. No "kissing a$$" there. As for the sits in the FBO, it's possible but not a very common occurrence for me. That said, most FBO lounges are nicer and quieter than the airline terminals that I see. I've never had a last-minute catering change though the company has people in CMH who are paid to handle those requests.

Just trying to add a little perspective to your post. I do agree with most of the rest of your post though I wouldn't eat off the hangar floor at Bridgeway. That's just too unsanitary for me.

Fortunately for you NetJets pilots David Chappelle is not a customer. Because he is possibly the hardest person that I have ever had to deal with! I don't kiss their A$$es either but it does get old dealing with the same ol' whiny crap sometimes. I will admit that getting John Daly's autograph was pretty cool though

 

[johnsonrod]

Somebody already provided the Netjets link. Compare the two packages and you decide:

Jet Blue:

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/major-national-lcc/jetblue.html

and Netjets:

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/fractional/netjets.html

It's true that they offer totally different types of flying. One offers routine while the other offers constant change (i.e., adhoc flying/destinations with a set schedule). Some people prefer one type vs. the other. One operator appears to be growing while the other is currently contracting. Compare the data and make a decision...

 

[its me]

I've been with Netjets for many years now and I can tell you this, the absolute worst part of my job is getting on an airline to go to and from work which is about 90% of the time. The best part of my job aside from the pay, benefits, qaulity of life, time off, the places we fly to and the equipment we fly is that I airline on company time and the companys dime (no jump seating). In my opinion, this is the best gig in town when it comes to flying for a living. On a side note, I personally enjoy shooting the breeze with some of the biggest headliners of the world. You'll learn that most of them are just ordinary people living extrordinary lives.

Good luck with whatever path you choose.

 

[sligo1]

delete

 

[sligo1]

R

Don't listen to this B.S. by everyone on this site. I know you and you have to do whatever you need to do to be happy. Screw these guys on here that say JB waisted the interview on you. This guy is very shallow and has no idea of the real world. Just do what is right for you and the wife, although I hope to see you up north.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Somebody already provided the Netjets link. Compare the two packages and you decide:

Jet Blue:

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/major-national-lcc/jetblue.html

and Netjets:

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/fractional/netjets.html

It's true that they offer totally different types of flying. One offers routine while the other offers constant change (i.e., adhoc flying/destinations with a set schedule). Some people prefer one type vs. the other. One operator appears to be growing while the other is currently contracting. Compare the data and make a decision...

Now who exactly is "contracting"?

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

I spent 4 years doing corporate and fractional flying before I left for JetBlue. I wouldn't go back. If you want to do it, it sounds like NetJets is the best deal going, but it's certainly a different lifestyle, and not one I could see myself doing for the next 30 years.

Good Luck

 

[clickclickboom]

I will second that I spent almost 8 years at a fractional in the top 10% of the sen list and I would not want to go back unless i had to.

Dont get me wrong the flying was a blast, destinations were fun but keep in mind for every night you spend in cabo, st kitts, grand cayman you will spend 5 in laredo after that cabo with repo flight or in teterboro where the stench from jfk and ewr can clearly be enjoyed while you sit in line for 2 hrs during wx.

Also contrary to what is stated here on flight info at JB you may optionally choose to cross a few seat belts or help a fa with her bags in the overhead. At a frac you will essentially be the cleaning crew on quickturns to include ( seat belts, vacum, tables, garbage, lav, standard stock, bags etc) The frac guys that come on this thread and dispute that are lying.

Not that it bothered me.


At JB the flying is scheduled but in a way i prefer that now knowing both lifestyles. The best part is that i go in fly my 4 day trip and GO HOME.. No 7 days, No sitting in the FBO's waiting for my blackberry to give me a flight or hotel, No more rental car with 40 min drive north because all the hotels in pbi are sold out.

Plus best of all I control my schedule.. Nothing like being able to drop trips, pickup open time, pick days of the week or weekends, control start and end times etc etc...

Even as a top senior bidder at a fractional your schedule is very similiar to the most junior bidder.

 

[clickclickboom]

Plus I know this is a moot point but coming from a fast citation cockpit there is nothing like the comfort of that bus on a 6hr bos-sea transcon. Pull out that table, recline the seat and pop on my xl size blu blockers and I am set

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I've been with Netjets for many years now and I can tell you this, the absolute worst part of my job is getting on an airline to go to and from work which is about 90% of the time. The best part of my job aside from the pay, benefits, qaulity of life, time off, the places we fly to and the equipment we fly is that I airline on company time and the companys dime (no jump seating). In my opinion, this is the best gig in town when it comes to flying for a living. On a side note, I personally enjoy shooting the breeze with some of the biggest headliners of the world. You'll learn that most of them are just ordinary people living extrordinary lives.

Good luck with whatever path you choose.

As bad as the airline experience is..... could you do your job without it? Would you have 100 choices to live without it?

Airlining to work stinks.... but not really....

 

[johnsonrod]

I spent 4 years doing corporate and fractional flying before I left for JetBlue. I wouldn't go back. If you want to do it, it sounds like NetJets is the best deal going, but it's certainly a different lifestyle, and not one I could see myself doing for the next 30 years.

Good Luck

If you work for a crap fractional you are likely to have a bad experience. You can't compare Netjets to FLOPS. The work rules and the respect levels are completely different. That's like comparing Delta to Skybus.

A guy I know who left JB called it the "Wal-Mart" of the airline industry - no attempt to offer industry-best in any category (wages, benefits, QOL, etc.). In his opinion JB always took the "cheap" route.

So, if you like industry-average wages and benefits, slow growth, spending a lot of time in JFK, frequent red-eyes and day-rests (on the Bus) and few domicile choices (forcing you to commute if you want to live outside of those few domiciles), then stay at JB.

But hey, you get to enjoy those frequent red-eyes in a wide Airbus cockpit - yipppeeeeee!!!!!!!