Falconjet
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2002
- Posts
- 1,586
Purple or Blue
Although biased in the purple pursuasion, the primary consideration for me would be location, location, location. Do you currently commute and would changing companies and domiciles change your ability to get to work and still enjoy enough off time? FedEx is a very commuter friendly company, and many lines have deadheads at both ends that you can turn into flights from where you live to start and end the trip. Getting a paid seat to get to work is a pretty decent perk. You are also discipline (and pay, I think, with substitution) protected if you are jumpseating on FedEx aircraft if the flight is late or canceled.
Of course, it would be hard to give up the seniority you enjoy (and if deliveries keep coming) and will continue to enjoy at jB. Growth on the pax side is promising for jB and hopefully will continue for some time, ensuring quick upgrade and a very nice 3 digit seniority number out of possibly several thousand some day. Possible down side is a decline in demand due to economic and/or geopolitical realities and the ever present (however remote) chance of the company failing or being bought out. The latter could be a blessing or a curse I guess. Labor concerns at each carrier should be considered as has already been mentioned.
If you can get your ego to accept the fact that you have to sit sideways in the back for several years you will likely (depending on your age) make much more money over the long haul at FedEx. Life, of course, isn't just about the money (although money is why most of us work). You won't be in the back forever, although it sure feels like it sometimes, and eventually you will have the opportunity to chase the big money with international, widebody flights. The retirement plans make a big difference in terms of the overall compensation over your career, and although a 401K is a good vehicle and its your money, it is YOUR money that is paid in and some of the company's money to match. The A and B funds are company paid and you can still participate in a 401K plan if you like (not much matching of course).
Its a very complicated decision and much more involved than a simple boxes at night vs people by day or established major vs up and coming startup soon to be major argument. FedEx is a highly regarded company on Wall St and has consistently been rated as one of the best companies to work for by Forbes Inc over the years. jB is led by people with vision and has so far managed to emulate the very successful SWA model and shows no sign of slowing down.
I know its tough to leave a company that you really like and enjoy working at who was kind enough to offer you a job during tough times, particularly with the seniority that you have acquired at jB. That shouldn't prevent you, however, from evaluating every opportunity you have to see if there isn't something better for you out there.
(Quick analogy: ARod was getting paid 25.2 M per year to play baseball for the Texas Rangers. Most guys would give their left kidney to get paid that much per year to do anything, let alone play baseball. A better offer (to HIM) came along and he jumped on it. He had a 10 year contract. So in business, any business, its just business. Every pilot should always feel free to evaluate new opportunites to improve their lives and/or make more money. End of analogy)
I'm sure you will do what you think is best for you and your family and then you should rest easy that you made the best choice you could at the time. As many have said, you won't know if you made the correct choice until you retire.
Best of luck to you, can't wait to hear what you decide.
FJ
Although biased in the purple pursuasion, the primary consideration for me would be location, location, location. Do you currently commute and would changing companies and domiciles change your ability to get to work and still enjoy enough off time? FedEx is a very commuter friendly company, and many lines have deadheads at both ends that you can turn into flights from where you live to start and end the trip. Getting a paid seat to get to work is a pretty decent perk. You are also discipline (and pay, I think, with substitution) protected if you are jumpseating on FedEx aircraft if the flight is late or canceled.
Of course, it would be hard to give up the seniority you enjoy (and if deliveries keep coming) and will continue to enjoy at jB. Growth on the pax side is promising for jB and hopefully will continue for some time, ensuring quick upgrade and a very nice 3 digit seniority number out of possibly several thousand some day. Possible down side is a decline in demand due to economic and/or geopolitical realities and the ever present (however remote) chance of the company failing or being bought out. The latter could be a blessing or a curse I guess. Labor concerns at each carrier should be considered as has already been mentioned.
If you can get your ego to accept the fact that you have to sit sideways in the back for several years you will likely (depending on your age) make much more money over the long haul at FedEx. Life, of course, isn't just about the money (although money is why most of us work). You won't be in the back forever, although it sure feels like it sometimes, and eventually you will have the opportunity to chase the big money with international, widebody flights. The retirement plans make a big difference in terms of the overall compensation over your career, and although a 401K is a good vehicle and its your money, it is YOUR money that is paid in and some of the company's money to match. The A and B funds are company paid and you can still participate in a 401K plan if you like (not much matching of course).
Its a very complicated decision and much more involved than a simple boxes at night vs people by day or established major vs up and coming startup soon to be major argument. FedEx is a highly regarded company on Wall St and has consistently been rated as one of the best companies to work for by Forbes Inc over the years. jB is led by people with vision and has so far managed to emulate the very successful SWA model and shows no sign of slowing down.
I know its tough to leave a company that you really like and enjoy working at who was kind enough to offer you a job during tough times, particularly with the seniority that you have acquired at jB. That shouldn't prevent you, however, from evaluating every opportunity you have to see if there isn't something better for you out there.
(Quick analogy: ARod was getting paid 25.2 M per year to play baseball for the Texas Rangers. Most guys would give their left kidney to get paid that much per year to do anything, let alone play baseball. A better offer (to HIM) came along and he jumped on it. He had a 10 year contract. So in business, any business, its just business. Every pilot should always feel free to evaluate new opportunites to improve their lives and/or make more money. End of analogy)
I'm sure you will do what you think is best for you and your family and then you should rest easy that you made the best choice you could at the time. As many have said, you won't know if you made the correct choice until you retire.
Best of luck to you, can't wait to hear what you decide.
FJ
