Leave Jetblue for Southwest

[JetFumes]

I'm a 5 plus years FO at JB. Can hold reserve CA on the 320 in JFK and BOS. I wont bid it right now because I live on the west coast. Just wondering how many of you out there would leave to go to SWA if they called (a big if, I know) ? I'm 41 and the clock is ticking. JetBlue is a good place overall, they just aren't SWA. Thoughts?

 

[bizicmo]

Just wait for the american airlines merger, you will be sitting pretty then with all the retirements.

 

[fracpt]

hey all is great at SWA! come on over- But I have to agree with the other guy- with the young AT group upgrade will shoot up to over 15yrs. that is a WAG but it is more fun and a 5 yr fo. picking up a little bit with still having 14-15 days off you can make 150k or more.. (food for thought)

 

[fracpt]

another thought is if still on property if you merge with AA then you come on the SLI before the young furogh folks.. I say you have it good either way.. good luck and I personally would stick it out at JB. FWIW

 

[Floatplane]

I'm a 5 plus years FO at JB. Can hold reserve CA on the 320 in JFK and BOS. I wont bid it right now because I live on the west coast. Just wondering how many of you out there would leave to go to SWA if they called (a big if, I know) ? I'm 41 and the clock is ticking. JetBlue is a good place overall, they just aren't SWA. Thoughts?

You might be able to hold LGB in the June bid that came out today. Give it a shot you never know. I would be prepared to be on reserve for a very long time, but if it's home then you will be very happy over a trans continental commute. Good luck.

 

[johnsonrod]

JB schedules out of LGB blow. I have a friend based out of LGB and he is constantly flying red-eyes to the East Coast with day sleeps. Back and forth across the country with a few flights to LAS, SAC and SEA thrown in the mix. He seems always exhausted. Who knows if schedules will get better out of LGB given that it is slot constrained. That said, I am not sure I would want to be on the very bottom of the SWA seniority list before (or after) the AirTran merger. I think upgrade time before the merger was projected at something like 12-14 years. Now who knows how long it might take. At SWA you could be a professional FO for the rest of your career (with frequent layovers in LBB and ELP to boot).

Another downside about leaving JB for SWA: you'd have to give up your sidestick and learn to fly again... :laugh:

 

[MD80DRVR]

I'm a 5 plus years FO at JB. Can hold reserve CA on the 320 in JFK and BOS. I wont bid it right now because I live on the west coast. Just wondering how many of you out there would leave to go to SWA if they called (a big if, I know) ? I'm 41 and the clock is ticking. JetBlue is a good place overall, they just aren't SWA. Thoughts?

If you've been at B6 longer than 5.5 yrs, I think you should definitely go to SWA.

 

[GuppyWN]

The upgrade at Southwest is WELL over 15 years for our bottom guy. He's already been here over 2 and he's 2900 numbers away from Captain. We will retire only about 1500 in the ten years after the retirements resume - 2 years away. That means, with no growth, he will be barely over half way up the FO list after 19 years on property.

I still love my company, have very little negative to say about it and think we are the best airline in the country but the 5 year upgrade is over.

Gup

 

[johnsonrod]

The upgrade at Southwest is WELL over 15 years for our bottom guy. He's already been here over 2 and he's 2900 numbers away from Captain. We will retire only about 1500 in the ten years after the retirements resume - 2 years away. That means, with no growth, he will be barely over half way up the FO list after 19 years on property.

I still love my company, have very little negative to say about it and think we are the best airline in the country but the 5 year upgrade is over.

Gup

Another positive about SWA: you won't be forced to pick up the passenger trash between flights... Probably because you won't have the time with the tight turns.

 

[Jet41]

Make you decision based only on what the situation is now. You're nuts if you based your decision on what might happen with AA and JB.

 

[waterski]

If you've been at B6 longer than 5.5 yrs, I think you should definitely go to SWA.

This.

 

[BeachBummer]

If you've been at B6 longer than 5.5 yrs, I think you should definitely go to SWA.

I'll second this... you'll like swa much better!

 

[airmack]

Yes..I agree! I think you going to SWA will be much better for me..I mean you!

 

[Fins Up]

If you've been at B6 longer than 5.5 yrs, I think you should definitely go to SWA.

I agree. I got places to go - like three feet to the left.

 

[clickclickboom]

Another positive about SWA: you won't be forced to pick up the passenger trash between flights... Probably because you won't have the time with the tight turns.

Comical especially coming from a rj pilot.

 

[Headfake14]

I've debated bidding Capt as well...only hang up I have is a looooong resv sit. I'll be starting yr 5 in March. I probably can't hold Capt. anyway...but you never know.

I am going to FO 320 school in Jan.

 

[johnsonrod]

Comical especially coming from a rj pilot.

Comical? Coming from a one-time Beechjunk driver. Hey, you once looked up to your "big time" Legacy drivers at FLOPS didn't ya? Did you look down at King Air or Caravan drivers when taxiing around in your junky, dilapidated Beechjet? Wow, sounds like you hit the jackpot at JB and you should really feel extra good about yourself. You are now the best pilot in the world, Mr. Yeager. You obviously hit the big time with the best pay, best schedules, best healthcare, best routes and most advanced aircraft in the entire world at JB. You've made it! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[oldxfr8dog]

Another positive about SWA: you won't be forced to pick up the passenger trash between flights... Probably because you won't have the time with the tight turns.

Pilots are not forced to clean at JB. Some elect to help their co-workers, that's all.

 

[ATLplt]

I'd stay where you are. Five years seniority at a fairly good company is priceless. The bottom of the list at SWA is going to be junior for what will seem like an eternity. Career FO at a lot of folk's number one choice, or Bus Capt at one of the top 3 or 4 airlines to work for? I know what I'd choose. Good luck.

 

[Caveman]

I'd stay where you are. Five years seniority at a fairly good company is priceless. The bottom of the list at SWA is going to be junior for what will seem like an eternity. Career FO at a lot of folk's number one choice, or Bus Capt at one of the top 3 or 4 airlines to work for? I know what I'd choose. Good luck.

I agree. I'm close to the same seniority as the OP and I wouldn't leave to go to SWA for the exact reason you said. If I was out of work and both SWA and JetBlue offered me a job at the same time I would obviously take SWA over JetBlue in a second. No contest. But I wouldn't walk away from 5 years seniority at JetBlue and a third of the seniority list below me to be the junior guy at SWA even though I'm leaving money on the table by making that choice. YMMV.