Frontier or JetBlue?

[jetalc]

Hey all,

Is there going to be one more interview session after December 1, before we ring in the New Year??? And, why the increase in hiring numbers? Thanks.

Wish I knew - F9Recruiter would be the one to field that one. Possibly increased new aircraft deliveries as well as more cities. Exact numbers (other than number of newhires) and cities continues to be a highly guarded secret. I'll let you know if I get any info. F9 has vowed that it will never see the 40%+ aggressive growth it saw a couple of years ago - it seems the faster they grow the harder they fall, so F9 is trying to stay on the path of slow and smart growth.

 

[crashpad]

it will never see the 40%+ aggressive growth it saw a couple of years ago .

Overall, maybe not. This wave will spike at our old 30-40% growth rate and that's just to compensate for the slow growth over the past 4 years. A lot of F/Os' are going to see the left seat over the next couple of years, and that's the best part of all!

 

[M3pilot]

crashpad, can you explain the "old 30-40% growth rate"?

As a new hire, I've heard 3-4 years to upgrade. Does that sound about right?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

M3

 

[crashpad]

I don't have statistics on hand, but it seems movement occurs in waves rather than constant rates. Either way growth is achieved, it is good.
If you were informed by someone in training that upgrade is 3-4 years, then feel confident in their estimates. They have a finger on the pulse of what the game plan entails and are open to inquiries when you like to be updated. If you value knowing what's going on with the company, I believe you'll appreciate this aspect as much as I do.
Congratulations, and we all look forward to flying with you.

 

[AA717driver]

Have we learned nothing?

I guess the past 5 years have taught us nothing about the industry.

Who should I choose? TWA or PanAm? (circa 1968) USAir or Piedmont? (circa 1985) Delta or United? (circa 1997)

Twenty years from now, both Frontier and JB could be out of business. If you are determined to live in DEN, take Frontier. If you like the "current" growth of JB, choose them.

It is a coin flip. Call me when you retire at 65 or 70 and let me know how it went. TC

 

[M3pilot]

Thanks crashpad,

I've watched the airline for many years now and that is something I have noticed - growth in waves. The company seems awesome; looking forward to flying with you all too.

M3

 

[USMC319]

Twenty years from now, both Frontier and JB could be out of business. If you are determined to live in DEN, take Frontier. If you like the "current" growth of JB, choose them. /quote]

Very good point AA717. Frontier and jetBlue provide an environment that allow those with good attitudes to flourish and really enjoy their careers. For people like ex-nutjetter, it doesn't matter who they work for because they will find a way to be unhappy. Sounds like some of the guys on this thread that have recently been hired by F9 have the proper attitude and will fit in with the corporate culture at Frontier just fine. Welcome on board gents.

 

[jetalc]

Overall, maybe not. This wave will spike at our old 30-40% growth rate and that's just to compensate for the slow growth over the past 4 years. A lot of F/Os' are going to see the left seat over the next couple of years, and that's the best part of all!

I believe the end of 2003 to the beginning of 2004 was the only 40%+ growth rate, and management seems VERY reluctant to repeat it. I would prefer their approach of slow and smart growth. It seems, as an example, the massive growth is what brought airlines like Braniff down...then again, it hasn't exactly stifled SWA, so we'll see.

 

[Kane]

Along those same lines, I just found out that instead of 52 remaining pilot hires, we are looking at 140 between December and September '06. Amen, brutha. Good time to get on at F9.

What kind of numbers are they looking at for the following year? Can't wait for the first, to bad you won't be in DEN that night!

 

[M3pilot]

USMC319, I've seen the same thing from friends who fly for both. You're right on - no amount of money can make someone happy; it starts with the attitude you choose when you get up in the morning. I'm glad to soon be a part of an organization whose values are just those...

M3

 

[F9Recruiter]

Wish I knew - F9Recruiter would be the one to field that one. Possibly increased new aircraft deliveries as well as more cities. Exact numbers (other than number of newhires) and cities continues to be a highly guarded secret. I'll let you know if I get any info. F9 has vowed that it will never see the 40%+ aggressive growth it saw a couple of years ago - it seems the faster they grow the harder they fall, so F9 is trying to stay on the path of slow and smart growth.

Being an employee of a public company, I can't go into specifics of growth. Jetalc is correct regarding the vow of not having 40% growth again. As far as interviews, I will say that 14 individuals have been invited for December 1, another 14 for December 6 and yet another 14 for the December 15 interviews. If you haven't received the infamous email invitation yet, hang in there as there will be more to come in the following months.

 

[Steve Di.]

Deaf Ears

I guess the past 5 years have taught us nothing about the industry.

Who should I choose? TWA or PanAm? (circa 1968) USAir or Piedmont? (circa 1985) Delta or United? (circa 1997)....TC

Hey Tim,

Sadly, I think your point was lost on all the young guys on this board.

Steve

 

[jetalc]

Hey Tim,

Sadly, I think your point was lost on all the young guys on this board.

Steve

I'm pretty sure most of us "young guys" got it - I understand a lot of people have been through the ringer with their careers, and you just never know what's going to happen. I truly feel for those who have had their lives totally turned upside down by mismanagement, poor economic times, 9/11, etc. It's just not worth commenting further on, since that would be overstating the obvious. While it's important for people to come into this industry with their eyes WIDE OPEN regarding the potential for even the most stable and successful companies to one day fall apart, it's a little tiresome to hear the same ol' battle cry that "this industry is dead." It's not - it's just evolving into yet a different monster, and the cycles that have ALWAYS been present have not simply gone away.

 

[B6Driver]

OK I'll buy that.

 

[kidflo]

Doesn't F9 "rent" their inflight TV's from B6??

 

[B6Driver]

I believe they are customers of ours.

 

[jetblue320]

Doesn't F9 "rent" their inflight TV's from B6??

No they do not. F9 had a contract with "Live TV" (the company that installed the tv's in JB aircraft) prior to JB buying "Live TV". The company is still called Live TV and JB chose to honor the existing contract that LiveTV had with F9 at the time of our purchase. What has happened with the two companies since then I don't have a clue. But, if F9 is still getting TV's installed in their Airbii's, chances are it is from LiveTV (owned by JB).

Do not confuse the satellite service "Direct TV" with Live TV, they are two separate companies. Direct TV "rents" it's services to JB as well. I know it sounds confusing but it's really quite simple.

C yaaaa

 

[Jetsi]

JB is installing the TV's for F9 at their facility in ORL. I also believe they do the XM radio for AirTran.

Jetsi

 

[KC-10 Driver]

Deleted.