Future Jetblue Bases?

[bolterbolter]

I am interviewing for JBLU on Oct. 14th. I am curious to hear from the JBLU guys, what future bases might be on the horizon?

Also, would it be easy to live in Burlington VT or San Diego (yeah, I know, two extremes) if you were working at JBLU?

Also, does any Jetblue guy live in DC right now, and how is the commute?

Thanks

 

[jetblue320]

I am interviewing for JBLU on Oct. 14th. I am curious to hear from the JBLU guys, what future bases might be on the horizon?

Also, would it be easy to live in Burlington VT or San Diego (yeah, I know, two extremes) if you were working at JBLU?

Also, does any Jetblue guy live in DC right now, and how is the commute?

Thanks

As far as the near future LGB is about the only thing happening. The LGB base bid was posted recently and goes into effect November 1st I believe. There have been rumors of BOS and MCO but not in the near future, meaning 2 years or more. The EMB190 will have an impact as well and will open up more opportunities.

Burlington and San Diego are both very commutable online. We have a few folks that live in both. I suspect that most of the SAN folks bid LGB base. As far as DC, I do know we have probably a dozen or two folks living there. The only way to commute from DC online is through FLL, LGB, or OAK. FLL is pretty senior so I wouldn't bank on getting there initially. As far as offline J/S to NY, maybe some of the DC guys can answer up.

Hope this helps and don't forget to get ALL of your questions answered at the interview. I am sure you will get loads of info.

Good Luck!!

 

[jointops]

Bolter squared,

Use US Air's shuttle from DCA to LGA. They've got a liberal jumpseat policy (as many as there are open seats in the back). And they're flying the bus too (more seats available).

The transpo from LGA to JFK is about $15 by cab and a 25 min ride. You can take public transpo at probably $5 but the time is probably an hour (I'm guessing) for the bus transfers, etc.

You can use Delta as back up from DCA to LGA. American uses regional jets I believe and that can be costly for the jumpseat availability, especially during the holidays.

Or UAL out of IAD also using mostly regional jets I think.

Hope that helps. Happy landings,

 

[bolterbolter]

Thanks for the reply.

What's the policy of jumpseating on JBLU? ie. IAD-JFK? Do you have to pay?

And is LGB going super senior?

One last question since you mentioned EMB-190, any hint of the pay rate yet?

 

[dlredline]

American uses regional jets I believe and that can be costly for the jumpseat availability, especially during the holidays.
Or UAL out of IAD also using mostly regional jets I think.

American Eagle uses regional jet service DCA-JFK, but are usually full, so getting the JS (for a cabin seat only) is an iffy proposition at times. ACA (UAL Exp) flies IAD-JFK, but only in J31's, and usually can't take a JS-er due to weight restrictions. Best bet is DCA-LGA on USAirways Shuttle with it's liberal JS policy and utilization of A319/320s, then $15 transport to JFK (many 'Blue commuters from the DC area).

One last question since you mentioned EMB-190, any hint of the pay rate yet?

We addressed that very question in Indoc recently. We were told there's been NO decision made (they are aware of the "rumors" out there), but whatever is decided will be fair and representative of the capacity for the E190.

Hope this helps.

DL

 

[jointops]

Bolter,

Well I don't want to confuse your question, so I'm assuming you're asking about off line jumpseating. There is almost never a cost associated with jumpseating with another carrier in the domestic arena. I consider Puerto Rico domestic in this case. This is a benefit and a privilege in the industry.

In certain cases, some airlines like AirTran will take another airline employee (but I think they still have the 1 jumpseat per flight rule) not as a jumpseater but with a nominal cost $15 or so. Don't quote me on their policy since I haven't been on them for a while.

If you're jumpseating on line out of IAD, JB 320 was saying the only way to get to JFK from IAD is via FLL or LGB or OAK. We have no direct flights from IAD to JFK. Hence the reason I put all the other carrier info on my original response. You'll want to use someone else our of IAD instead of flying to FLL to get to JFK.

LGB is middle of the road. Super senior at the top end and very junior at the bottom end. Productivity isn't as high, so many folks want to see how things are going to progress first before the move. Plus, we're not certain exactly how many reserve pilots we'll have out there. As it stands now, definitely 5 reserves but rumor has it to almost 10 (out of 30 for each seat).

Pay rates have been addressed on other threads, but the general consensus is that they'll be in the neighborhood of 2/3 the A/B pay. Those pay rates have also been addressed on other threads in case you want those as well.

Hope this helps,
Happy landings

 

[bolterbolter]

Speaking of the EMB-190, when I do my little spreadsheet, if I am lucky enough to got hired through the Oct 14th class, by my rough calculation, if growth rates stay the way they are, I could still be an A/B Capt, but it would take till Sept 2005. Would you Jetblue guys concur?

When do people start training for the EMB-190? Its on the property summer '05, right?

Thanks for the help

 

[side stick-n]

bolterbolter,

To start with the commuting. My recent experience has been that ACA from IAD to JFK is almost impossible. IAD - LGA is almost the same. There are seven J41 flights to JFK but are almost always over sold or have seats with a lot of standbys. (many ACA and United employees commute to NY) If there are seats, the ACA guys are great and will try their best to get you on. Also, ACA along with US Airways offer unlimited JS's based on the number of seats available in the cabin. On a good note, I saw that the CRJ is going to replace the morning J41 to JFK. There are a number of IAD-LGA flights with at least one being operated by UAL which will limit the number of JS's. The others are either the J41 or CRJ. The best and easiest bet is US Airways from DCA. Great policy, great guys and usually a few seats left for us freeloaders. However, use caution on Saturday as the hourly service goes to every other hour on this day. The flights are usually full with standbys. Hope this helps!

I don't know that I am at liberty to discuss what I've been told the plan is for the 190. Not that I'm in the know but I have discussed it with some that are. I can say that the "plans" are encouraging as far as commuting/not commuting goes.

Your calculations are probably very close but that would be based on your starting in October. I just flew with a one year FO that said he has another 4-6 months yet. So I would expect the upgrade to stretch out a little more until the 190's start coming. We are still planning an August 2005 deliver of our first 190 so you would expect the training to begin by June '05.

I hope some of this helps. Good luck with the interview!

 

[FeelingBlue]

Hey guys/gals. What base(s) are new hires being assigned to these days. I heard, a while back, that FLL was jr for FO's. Has this changed? Is it possible to get FLL right out of ground school? Thanks and good luck to all on Oct. 14th.

 

[jetblue320]

FLL Base

Hey guys/gals. What base(s) are new hires being assigned to these days. I heard, a while back, that FLL was jr for FO's. Has this changed? Is it possible to get FLL right out of ground school? Thanks and good luck to all on Oct. 14th.

The junior most F/O in FLL is #584 according to my info. Assuming you get hired (wishing you luck BTW) you would be about #750 =/- so there are roughly 170 F/O's ahead of you inline for FLL potentially. So, my guess would be that you could more than likely not be assigned FLL right away. Anything is possible but the FLL base flying would have to increase quite a bit before any slots would open up. A lot of "if's" if you know what I mean.

Didn't mean to dash your hopes on the rocks but I hope it answered your question.

Looks like it is JFK for you in all likelihood. Better than a sharp stick in the eye for sure.

See ya and Good Luck on 10/14.

JB320

 

[FeelingBlue]

Thanks for the info. No hopes dashed here at all. I'm not sure that jetBlue could come up with a base that I would not commute to or possibly move to. JFK would be like a homecoming anyway as I am a born and raised New Yorker. I'm just hoping to have the opportunity to work for jetBlue, the details of where are unimportant. I was just curious. Thanks again.

 

[viking737]

bolterbolter.
Are you getting furloughed from AA?
Or are you actually leaving a major to go to JBLU?

 

[banger]

BolterBolter
I was a Navy guy and find the commute from San Diego very comfortable. Still being relatively junior (mar-03) I am able to bid skeds that have 3 trips per month at 5 days each. In Nov I will give the LGB base a try and see how that works knowing I will be on reserve for quite a while.
-Best of luck!

 

[skirt]

bolterbolter.

Or are you actually leaving a major to go to JBLU?

What is wrong with that, given the current state of the industry?
;-)

Skirt

 

[jetblue320]

bolterbolter.
Are you getting furloughed from AA?
Or are you actually leaving a major to go to JBLU?

I know you may find this apalling but we actually have quite a few (if not alot) of pilots here now from "the majors". Not only furloughed folks, but many with quite a bit of seniority that were not even close to being furloughed. I personally know of three recent new hires that had over 15 years each with their respective previous airlines. After talking to them I was given various reasons for their departure from their careers. Like "handwriting was on the wall", "ready for a change", "you guys rock", and a few complimentary others.

And, not that it matters, jetBlue will be a "major" by definition in 2004, for what it's worth.

See ya

 

[zonker]

You can add me to the list of major airline guys who are coming to jetBlue, and I for one can't wait to start! My old employer is one of the "healthier" companies in the industry, FWIW.

Pass the ragweed please.

 

[jetblue320]

LOL

You can add me to the list of major airline guys who is coming to jetBlue, and I for one can't wait to start! My old employer is one of the "healthier" companies in the industry, FWIW.

Pass the ragweed please.

Zonker,

Thanks for the chuckle Pal, welcome aboard!!

Let me guess. CAL?

I know I know, what gave it away, right?

See ya online.

 

[viking737]

I am sure JetBlue "rocks", but I find it hard to understand why
you would give up 15 or more years of seniority at one company
to join an upstart.
I think I will stick it out and hope for the best.
Good luck to bolterbolter and zonker!

 

[B6Busdriver]

You can add me to the list of major airline guys who are coming to jetBlue, and I for one can't wait to start! My old employer is one of the "healthier" companies in the industry, FWIW.

Pass the ragweed please.

That's right, we are ALL smoking ragweed over here. LOL!

 

[dlredline]

I know you may find this apalling but we actually have quite a few (if not alot) of pilots here now from "the majors".

So very true!!!

I am sure JetBlue "rocks", but I find it hard to understand why
you would give up 15 or more years of seniority at one company
to join an upstart.
I think I will stick it out and hope for the best.
Good luck to bolterbolter and zonker!

Some things are just more important to others. For me it was an easy decision to go to a company with a proven business plan and a value system I happen to share. It's simply a personal choice.

All the best,

DL