Airtran or Jet Blue?

[Ty Webb]

Ty,

I have ridden the Air Tran jumpseat on many occasions and the pilots told me that they couldn't wait to get hired by a major. I

That was before the new contract, the new equipment, and a sea change in the industry. Sounds to me like you need to stop living in the 90's, dude.

 

[FL717]

Furloughed dude:

If you "rode the cockpit jumpseat", then it must have been pre 9/11. Since 9/11 not only has the industry changed, but this litle ole' company has grown and matured significantly. I do believe your perceptions are based on dated time and information .. just my opinion only.

As far as us being an "interim" ... why? What is so significantly bad or different between AirTran and any other carrier out there right now? This line of thinking by you ....today... February ... 2003, just mystifies me (and many others) and leads me to believe that your thinking is out of date and out of touch.

I do hope you don't have an app in with us... right. You wouldn't do that would you? There are people (like me) who are doing our best to make a difference here, and make this more than a "interim" place, and want to reap the rewards that we sow, and I do not want to see people here that don't have the same vision.

Defensive... maybe. Proud.. you bet!

 

[flx757]

I think the "furloughed dude" is just baiting to see who bites. Either that, or he's so bitter at his own turn of fortunes, that he can't stand to see pilots happy to be working at a prosperous company during these difficult times.

I'm truly sorry the "fuloughed dude" finds himself in the situation he does, just as I am for all the pilots that have been negatively affected by the current state of the industry. I'm also very glad we don't have people with attitudes like his at AirTran. I have been in this industry for 25 years, through up and down cycles, with profitable, prosperous companies, and those operating under bankruptcy protection. Through it all, I have never been part of a pilot group that is happier overall than the one at AirTran. At most companies, it is constant b!tching about the company, how mgt is trying to screw us, how this job sucks..etc. It's not much fun to go to work in that environment. Fortunately, there is virtually none of that here. Everyone is upbeat, and the conversation in the cockpit is enjoyable.

I'll take no further bait from the "furloughed dude", and I hope the rest of you will do the same. I couldl really care less what he thinks of AirTran. Leave him to his "depression".

 

[Bally]

I was Maury Gallaher's personal pilot on the Astra Jet he used for himself. Could not have worked for a nicer guy. When it comes to business, he is brutal. Takes no prisoners, and could care less about the human factor. I watched him sell the now defunct Westair, then Valuejet, and ownes leases on many large aircraft to the majors. I am not sure his involvemen in AT at this point.

Maury keeps a very low profile. It use to crack me up to see this guy, worth millions, working out of a low rent office in Las Vegas and Westlake Village.

He sure does have an ugly mug. Use to be painful to look at him in the rear view mear of his jet.

While Maury would sell his Mother if the price were right, he does no how to run a business.

 

[DA50pilot]

"It isn't a bad company, I wouldn't want to work there for a career, but it is decent interim work."


If all you want is an interim work; then go apply somwhere else, and let people like myself who would love to work at AirTran a chance for an interview.

 

[atldc9]

Back to the original question. I have some good friends at JB, and am a Captain on the 717 at FL. I love it here. It works for me. The contract is pretty good, not a spectacular industry-leading contract, but one at which you can make a good living. Also, the company can afford our contract. I think the pay at JB is better, but our retirement is better. They get a lot more stock options then we do, and obviously they are the darlings of wall street, so if you went to JB, the options would probably make up for the retirement at FL, and then some. They have a great culture, and no bad history. We have lived thru the hard times, and are profitable. We are quite a bit larger, and still growing pretty rapidly. The majority of our new hires over the past few years have been younger commuter types, so the attitude on the majority of the seniority list is excellent. This is the best job most of us have ever had, so we really bend over backward to keep the ball going forward.

As for specifics, I think you can find the pay rates for both companies on the site somewhere or other, as well as most of the comparable compensation extras. The intangibles are apersonal thing. AirTran has one base- ATL. There have been rumors of this city or that being a base for 4 years, but I wouldn't hold your breath. We are going to end up with another type by the end of the year, but it is only speculation as to whther it will be the 319 or 737-700. Either way, the oldest plane in our fleet will be 3 in october. All the -9's will be gone, and we are still going. Top pay is 153.00 an hour, with a 10.5% B-Fund.

I like it, but what I think doesn't matter.

It is your career, you choose.

 

[flx757]

I was Maury Gallaher's personal pilot..... I am not sure his involvemen in AT at this point.

While Maury would sell his Mother if the price were right, he does no how to run a business.

As I mentioned on an earlier post, he is not involved with the current AirTran. He is the Chairman of Allegiant Air based out of Fresno, with some corporate offices in Las Vegas. (One of which is presumably his. I believe that's his home, so that's why they keep an office there.) Those interested on how he does at running a business can keep an eye on Allegiant. There is some information on the company posted here.

 

[ultrarunner]

Just on the surface, I would say that DAL could put the BIG HURT on AirTran when ever they want. Now, I suppose the govt. might step in, but you never know.

All things being equal, which they never are, I would have to say someone would need to carefully consider the business plan of each carrier. IIRC, the senior Mgt. at JetBlue has history on their side.

Good luck.

 

[gump88]

FWIW,

I would chose AirTran, hands down! All my Midway buddies that are there now have nothing but good things to say. Plus, who the hell wants to be based out of JFK??? hehe

gump

 

[Ty Webb]

Actually, AirTran has put the hurt on DAL.

DAL has been trying to hurt AirTran for years . . . the only problem is that AirTran is making money, and DAL is losing money, so who is putting the hurt to who?

Funny thing is, if DAL stopped worrying about AirTran and just started selling their seats at a price that would make money for them, AirTran would probably raise their prices somewhat, and they would both make money . . . what a concept!

 

[jimcav]

For what its worth DAL has been trying to put us under as long as we have been around. Guess what guys, AirTran is here to stay. JB seems like a great place, but most of us Citrus types would not leave what we have. This is a great place to work and if people like furloughed guy look down on us thats their problem. Best of luck to all.

 

[jimcav]

Ty we must have seen that last post at the same time. You beat me to the punch bro.

 

[FL717]

The next 24 months are going to be real interesting for several of us "smaller" carriers ; Airtran, jetBlue, Frontier, and Midwest Airlines (formerly Midwest Express). There is going to be some more shakeups in my opinion and feel fortunate to be here and hope to hang on during this period. Seniority is king as everyone knows and right now I wouldn't trade AirTran or any current job to be at the bottom of anyones seniority list, unless I was prepared financially and mentally to deal with worst case scenario.

Just an observation.

 

[717pilot]

FL717...good to see you again. I am with you..this is a great place to be!! After spending 12 years as a Dash-8 Captain for USSCAREWAYS ..its exciting to be at a airline thats growing..and making money also!! Ive been here almost 2 years and when I left Piedmont many Piedmont pilots said I was crazy for leaving to go to AIRTRAN and they went to USSCAREWAYS. Guess who laughing now!! Just to give everybody some current info..we have classes scheduled every month. A class of 22 will start the 20th of February. At the end of April we will have just over 800 pilots. If you want to be a pilot for AIRTRAN about the only way to get an interview is to know somebody here. Recommendations are taken very seriously. Good luck to all..........

 

[LASvegas777]

I would pick the one that will still be around 10 years from now. But to do that you need a magic crystal ball. I hope that both are still flying but with all this competition I would be surprised if both are still around in 10 years. Look at the history of LLC start ups Vanguard, Midway, OLD Midway, WestPAC, National, all of which had bright futures at one time.