JB Questions

[furloughed dude]

I have a friend who is too cheap to buy his own computer so I decided to help him out!!

Anyway, he interviewed at JB a week or two ago and is moving ahead with the interview process. He said folks were saying that Fort Lauderdale's pilot base was growing considerably. Some said that he might be able to hold FLL out of training or soon afterwards...

Are the schedules similar at all three bases? Are they very commutable??

With that said, being a commuter, how is the crashpad situation in FLL? Or are commuters finding hotels instead? It seems to me that both would be very expensive there, but maybe some of you guys have found some decent deals. I know too way too much about NYC, so I was able to give him the scoop there.

 

[jetblue320]

I have a friend who is too cheap to buy his own computer so I decided to help him out!!

Anyway, he interviewed at JB a week or two ago and is moving ahead with the interview process. He said folks were saying that Fort Lauderdale's pilot base was growing considerably. Some said that he might be able to hold FLL out of training or soon afterwards...

Are the schedules similar at all three bases? Are they very commutable??

With that said, being a commuter, how is the crashpad situation in FLL? Or are commuters finding hotels instead? It seems to me that both would be very expensive there, but maybe some of you guys have found some decent deals. I know too way too much about NYC, so I was able to give him the scoop there.

Tell him that FLL is expanding to approx. 65-70 Crews by the end of Fall. We (I am based there) have 47 FO's there now, of which 6 are on Reserve and 3 are not flying because they work at the Training Center in MIA. Most of the expansion is due to the FLL-LGA flying coming up soon. I think the juniormost FO there is #771 and the current junior guy in the company on IOE is #871. He may not get FLL right out of training although it has happened in the past so anything is possible. I don't know much about crashpads in FLL because I am based there but I have used hotels in the airport area before and so have a few of the commuters. You can get a room (a good one, suite type) for about $50, which isn't bad. I do know of one or two guys that have found an apartment that they split and I think it runs them about $250 a month each and I think they said the rent was $750 a month? But then, you would need a car at the base. The public transportation in FLL (and all of Florida for that matter) sux and is basically non-existent. As far as commutable lines, we use the Preferential Bidding system and there are a few trips that are commutable and they are getting better. He could get 3-4 days trips and commute fairly easy, especially if he commutes on JB. Put it this way, it's only gonna get better as the base grows.

He'll have plenty of time to get more info if he gets hired and in class, not to worry. We do a pretty good job of taking care of our people and making life as easy as we can for our new hires.

Tell him good luck in the process.

C yaaaa

 

[jaxgus]

Fll Fo

I'm a FLL FO and a commuter. The people in FLL are awesome and a lot of fun to fly with. Currently, we don't have multi-day trips which are commutable on the front and back side, your choice of one or the other. I typically commute down the night before and stay in the Marriot Courtyard who give a rate a $65 and they have an airport shuttle. Not all the hotels in the area offer free shuttles and I paid $22 for a one-way cab to a hotel 3.5 miles away. I think jetBlue320 said well, FLL public transportation SUX!!!!! Personally, I feel if you live anywhere near FLL the lines are fabulous and productive -- 76 hours and 19 days off next month (exactly what I bid for). The productivity is nice as a commuter, but the variety of layover locations is limited.

jaxgus

 

[jetblue320]

I typically commute down the night before and stay in the Marriot Courtyard who give a rate a $65 and they have an airport shuttle. Not all the hotels in the area offer free shuttles and I paid $22 for a one-way cab to a hotel 3.5 miles away.

JG,

The Amerisuites in FLL (right behind the our Embassy Suites Crew Hotel) will give you a $51 (I think thats what is was last time I used it) a day and they have a shuttle from 8 am-10 pm. If you need a shuttle after those hours, you can walk next door to the Embassy Suites. Their number is (954) 763-7670.

Our senior FLL FO turned me on to them and he uses them exclusively. Nice folks, clean big suite rooms, you know, all the standard Amerisuites stuff. As far as I know, it's the best deal going for FLL commuters. I use it when I do back to back turns or am just too tired to make my 2 hour drive home.

C yaaaa

 

[011-34]

How about LGB. How senior it is? Are you expecting any EMB's down there? Is LGB growing or is most of the flying out JFK and FLL?

 

[jetblue320]

How about LGB. How senior it is? Are you expecting any EMB's down there? Is LGB growing or is most of the flying out JFK and FLL?

LGB is just slightly less senior than FLL. I'll yield specifics to someone else out there that is based there but the flying there is just about equally proportional to FLL, hour for hour. As far as the EMB190, my take is that it won't arrive there for at least 3-4 years, but that of course is always subject to change. The basic sentiment is that the 190 will be focused around JFK/BOS area for the first couple of years. As far as I know, there is no real big expansion planned for LGB in the near future, most likely due to slot constraints.

Any JB LGB guys out there want to help out on this one?

C yaaa

 

[jaxgus]

JG,

The Amerisuites in FLL (right behind the our Embassy Suites Crew Hotel) will give you a $51 (I think thats what is was last time I used it) a day and they have a shuttle from 8 am-10 pm. If you need a shuttle after those hours, you can walk next door to the Embassy Suites. Their number is (954) 763-7670.

Our senior FLL FO turned me on to them and he uses them exclusively. Nice folks, clean big suite rooms, you know, all the standard Amerisuites stuff. As far as I know, it's the best deal going for FLL commuters. I use it when I do back to back turns or am just too tired to make my 2 hour drive home.

C yaaaa

jetBlue320,
Thanks for the info, this definitely will save me some $$$$$$. See ya on the road soon.

 

[011-34]

jetBlue320, thanks.

Any seatlocks between the EMB's and A320?

 

[jetblue320]

jetBlue320, thanks.

Any seatlocks between the EMB's and A320?

Yes, I believe it is 2 years in aircraft, not seat (FO-CAPT).

 

[011-34]

Do you know the background of the new hires (flt experience)? Any of them coming from a regional?


Thanks for all the info.

 

[Skygod]

Plenty of dumb commuter guys and gals here. My class had folks directly from Continental Express, Skywest, Cheetaqua (sp), Skyway, two guys from Comair, and American Eagle.

 

[side stick-n]

How about LGB. How senior it is? Are you expecting any EMB's down there? Is LGB growing or is most of the flying out JFK and FLL?

To add to jetblue320's reply, LGB is almost even across the board for seniority. 1/3 senior, 1/3 middle, 1/3 junior. If the current slot constraints remain in place I doubt LGB will see a EMB190, with JetBlue paint, any time soon if ever. The EMB is too heavy to meet the RJ slot classification and I expect we will utilize the slots we have with the most seats available.