Jet Blue Pilot Contract

[jetblue320]

Re: contract

Any lawyer will tell you the same thing. I have no vested interest in this issue except that it affects the entire industry and is a real hose job for those uninformed or naive about the airline industry folks considering a job at JB. Ask yourself this: do I want to be looking for a new job after 5 or 10 years at this one? If you can't answer unequivocally yes then you will buckle when it comes time to make the hard choices.

And don't forget: since your only contract is an employment contract which most likely contains a clause stating striking is grounds for termination, don't count on any of those RLA protections.

Well, the simple truth is that if I have to contact a lawyer, the job is getting much to complicated for me. I am just a simple kinda guy who hopefully in 10 years, will be sitting on the back deck of my yacht, drinking a drink with a little blue umbrella in it.

As for the unemployed pilot out there considering a job with JB, that's a choice they have to make. But know this, we are having a blast and making pretty good bucks and are surrounded by a lot of people (bosses or otherwise) that all share the same common goals and attitudes. The choice is yours. I've made mine and have absolutely no regrets.

See ya.

 

[JayDub]

Re: contract

Any lawyer will tell you the same thing. I have no vested interest in this issue except that it affects the entire industry and is a real hose job for those uninformed or naive about the airline industry folks considering a job at JB. Ask yourself this: do I want to be looking for a new job after 5 or 10 years at this one? If you can't answer unequivocally yes then you will buckle when it comes time to make the hard choices.

And don't forget: since your only contract is an employment contract which most likely contains a clause stating striking is grounds for termination, don't count on any of those RLA protections.

It's funny, everybody thinks our stock options are "free". They aren't. They come with a little something called "risk". There was lots of risk when I joined "JetWho" prior to 9-11-01, I guess there is still some risk now hoping they'l keep me employed. There's just one difference; my stock options will be 50% vested after five years and 100% vested after seven. That makes me a lot richer cowboy than what I showed up as. Assuming these guys still keep doing their jobs. If they don't then I won't be any worse off than the guys hired in August 1988 and later at USAIR.

If they do can me, it's going to cost them at a minimum 6,000 shares to the guy (or gal) that takes my place. It just doesn't make too much sense to keep doing that, does it? It seems to me power of the purse is a heck of a lot more powerful than some contract. Call me crazy...

Respectfully,

JayDub

 

[justApilot]

So in theory the most senior guys(guys approaching the 5 year mark) would be the first ones out on the street if times got real tough at JetBlue. Or am I missing something?

 

[jetblue320]

So in theory the most senior guys(guys approaching the 5 year mark) would be the first ones out on the street if times got real tough at JetBlue. Or am I missing something?

Yes, if that's the way you want to look at it. Being one of the "senior guys" (29 out of 700) I'm not worried. Besides, if I wanted to leave right now, I am a free man. The only one holding me there is me. I was there before they had an airplane or an air carrier certificate and I haven't had a single moment of doubt. The past 3.5 years of history have proved what I have known all along, and then some! Besides, things aren't likely to get "tough" anytime soon. Have you seen the stock quote for JBLU this week? The only thing you are missing is an opportunity!!

Have Fun.

 

[JayDub]

So in theory the most senior guys(guys approaching the 5 year mark) would be the first ones out on the street if times got real tough at JetBlue. Or am I missing something?

Actually, I thought we were guaranteed a furlough in seniority order. Also, they have to pay us some amount of cash if they do that. I can't find my copy of the contract since I moved six months ago, but then again, I really haven't had to look too hard...


Respectfully,


JayDub

 

[AAflyer]

JayDub,

That is great. How many other companies could you say I am not sure where my contract is, I haven't really looked for it. I carry mine everywhere, I have to. I envy you!!

Like Skirt said, I would gladly take a hand shake from someone I trusted over a legal binding agreement that I now have to be a lawyer to read, and waste MY time making sure it is followed, and if not MY time grieving it, which costs MY company money to defend it, and MY union dues to fight it. WOW, talk about a vicious circle.

AA

 

[JayDub]

AAFlyer,

I am treated more like a person than when I was a member of a six man flight department! Yes, it'll change... one day. But, I'll always know I was a part of something special, no matter how long it lasts. That alone is worth it for me. It may not be for everyone, but that's ok too. I wish you well.


respectfully,


JayDub

 

[yaks]

jetblue contract

If their intentions are so good, why do they need their pilots to sign an employment contract?

 

[Skank]

Yak,
beacuse it's fun, and now we all have a genuine piece of David Neeleman memorabilia (his signature).


I can't go into any more detail because it's part of the free everything agreement we have with Airbus.

 

[wil]

The following is not intended to flame any airline or car owner!!

If JetBlue is such a flash in the pan then why is Delta investing God knows how much into Song? Do you think F/A unforms designed by Kate Spade, video screens and "Songtini's" would be at Song if the competition was SWA. He!! no! They would just operate a cattle car out of NY to be on par with SWA. JB has tapped a market that has been going unnoticed by the Airlines for a long time. Why do you think the Porsche Boxster is such a hit? It carries the Porsche brand but priced to be affordable to a large segment of people who want more than a Nissan "Z" (and don't want to part with 80k for a 911). JB has a bright future ahead. Neeleman is a visionary who leads. He doesn't react to the market, the market reacts to him. That's the rant- Wil

 

[Snoopy58]

why is Delta investing God knows how much into Song?

Because they recognize a threat when they see one... and the fact that they're LATE getting started. I think it's interesting contrasting the fate of Legend Airlines with Jet Blue. Legend had a good product that competed with American. American stomped them into the ground, and fast, by outfitting F-100's with a comparable interior & seats & service and operating them (like Legend) out of Love Field, serving the same destinations at fares that ran Legend out of money while they were still in their infancy. Of course, when Legend died, so did the AA service. (Still can't figure how they never got slammed on anti-trust grounds for that, but oh well.)

In contrast, Jet Blue arrived on the scene at a time that about everyone else was ducking for cover in the aftermath of 9/11. Nobody was able to to mount an immediate response, which gave Jet Blue time to get beyond the initial vulnerability of the start-up period. Now, Delta is mounting a response with Song, and we'll see how JB handles their first determined challenge. Not that I'm betting against JB; they have a good product, good attitudes, and lower costs than Delta.

But they also got a head start on the process that others like Legend, didn't get.

Snoopy

 

[colorado418]

The following is not intended to flame any airline or car owner!!

If JetBlue is such a flash in the pan then why is Delta investing God knows how much into Song? Do you think F/A unforms designed by Kate Spade, video screens and "Songtini's" would be at Song if the competition was SWA. He!! no! They would just operate a cattle car out of NY to be on par with SWA. JB has tapped a market that has been going unnoticed by the Airlines for a long time. Why do you think the Porsche Boxster is such a hit? It carries the Porsche brand but priced to be affordable to a large segment of people who want more than a Nissan "Z" (and don't want to part with 80k for a 911). JB has a bright future ahead. Neeleman is a visionary who leads. He doesn't react to the market, the market reacts to him. That's the rant- Wil

Keep up the ranting Wil. Sounds good to me!!!

This is a GREAT place to work. It really is fun to go to work again...

 

[jetblue320]

In contrast, Jet Blue arrived on the scene at a time that about everyone else was ducking for cover in the aftermath of 9/11. Nobody was able to to mount an immediate response, which gave Jet Blue time to get beyond the initial vulnerability of the start-up period. Now, Delta is mounting a response with Song, and we'll see how JB handles their first determined challenge. Not that I'm betting against JB; they have a good product, good attitudes, and lower costs than Delta.

But they also got a head start on the process that others like Legend, didn't get.

Snoopy

Just for the record (and NO, I'm not getting defensive!) JB started operations in February of 2000, some 20 months before 9/11. But to say that 9/11 bought us some time and certain advantages is a true statement. It also proved that we were a formitable (sp) airline and were not as vulnerable as others thought. We connected with a lot of people during that period and gained a lot of respect from our customers. Luckily, we weren't the target either like our fallen comrades at AA and UAL. Who knows (or wants to think about) what would have happened then. It still gives me goose bumps thinking about it. It's a sad state of affairs and believe me, getting success by having misfortune fall on your fellow airlines is not what JB (or anyone other airline) is all about.

But yes, it is fair to say that we got a head start. Like in a lot of things in life, it's all timing.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Why do you think the Porsche Boxster is such a hit?

The Boxer is a piece of chit

 

[wil]

Hose- it's Boxster and it has been credited for turning Porsche around financially.