Jetblue: Lateral Move For Regional Captains

[Lake Alice]

The jury is still out on JetBlue. I, myself, aren't happy with the pay or benefits so I have to remind myself we are a work in progress. For all the negative people post about Jetblue I'll share with you this. Over the weekend the pres. of the company showed up unannounced at a BBQ some guys were having at one of the Blue Cities. This wasn't a company sponsored event but rather just a BBQ some guys put on for the guys and gals that live in the area. Each time I think of leaving or I have a problem with something we do someone in the company refreshes my memory why we are indeed a little different. When was the last time the pres of some legacy showed up at your house.
We aren't perfect at JetBlue but at least our people are trying to help the common folks and not just the shareholders.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

The jury is still out on JetBlue. I, myself, aren't happy with the pay or benefits so I have to remind myself we are a work in progress. For all the negative people post about Jetblue I'll share with you this. Over the weekend the pres. of the company showed up unannounced at a BBQ some guys were having at one of the Blue Cities. This wasn't a company sponsored event but rather just a BBQ some guys put on for the guys and gals that live in the area. Each time I think of leaving or I have a problem with something we do someone in the company refreshes my memory why we are indeed a little different. When was the last time the pres of some legacy showed up at your house.
We aren't perfect at JetBlue but at least our people are trying to help the common folks and not just the shareholders.

And how many airline CEOs would you actually let on your property?

 

[Lake Alice]

If a CEO from any former company I worked for showed up on my doorstep I would kick 'em in the nuts and call the cops.

These folks are welcome.

 

[AA717driver]

You picks your airline and you takes your chances.

Anyone who thinks they can have a golden career by picking an airline based on what it looks like today is a moron. (moron=fatal ignorance of history)

If it feels good, do it. TC

 

[g159av8tor]

If a CEO from any former company I worked for showed up on my doorstep I would kick 'em in the nuts and call the cops.

ROTFLMAO!!! Thanks for the laugh!!! I was thinking the same thing about Skeen and that other guy.

Tailwinds...

 

[Splinter]

Not bitter. Quite happy actually.
Just trying to raise the bar for everybody since you don't seem too interested in the endevour.

"My airline is better than your airline!", "My dad can beat up your dad!"

GET A LIFE!

Glad you quit as you are obviously a malcontent ****************************** bag. You should fit right in at your new job. Enjoy the Legacy Lifestyle...threaten a strike, get paid, lose it all in Force Majure, go into bankruptcy, get furloughed, then pull gear for $20/hour at Comair...AND...get recalled, bypass for 6 months, finally go back, sit reserve for 3 years, upgrade in 8. Peace.

 

[Splinter]

The jury is still out on JetBlue. I, myself, aren't happy with the pay or benefits so I have to remind myself we are a work in progress. For all the negative people post about Jetblue I'll share with you this. Over the weekend the pres. of the company showed up unannounced at a BBQ some guys were having at one of the Blue Cities. This wasn't a company sponsored event but rather just a BBQ some guys put on for the guys and gals that live in the area. Each time I think of leaving or I have a problem with something we do someone in the company refreshes my memory why we are indeed a little different. When was the last time the pres of some legacy showed up at your house.
We aren't perfect at JetBlue but at least our people are trying to help the common folks and not just the shareholders.

Spare me the "jury is still out" crap. If Air Tran can hang on by treating employees and customers like $hit, JetBlue will be here when we retire. Period.

 

[Splinter]

Not a hard one to answer if I were just getting out of AD. First, I would consider how the age 65 retirement rule will effect each airline. I don't think going to an airline hoping for retirement attrition is best for upgrade times now at DAL, NWA, UAUA, SWA, or LCC. I would rather look at the airline's growth potential. Next, I would consider where you live in relation to an airline's hub. It's much better to live at base and not commute. Finally, I would look at job security.

1. FedEx
2. UPS
3. SWA
4. Virgin America
5. JetBlue
6. Everyone else

Some 1988 Great Airline Jobs
Eastern
Pan Am
Western

If I could predict a good move, it would be QUIT FLYING FOR AN AIRLINE. Get a job, and make the most of it. Shut your cake hole and bitch about something worth getting mad about...like ALPA.

 

[linepilot]

Oh good. Someone with experience!
Can you give me some career advice oh wise one?

 

[linepilot]

Let me make a prediction about how I think things will progress:
1. Legacies will rapidly recover previous pay/benefits.
2. Jetblue will be rightly classified as LCC with low pay/benefits and serious vulnerabilities.
3. Jetblue will be set upon by legacies.
4. Non-union pilots will scramble for union protection at the very last minute.

 

[Dizel8]

You aren't geniuses--you are lucky.

Now that about sums it all up!

 

[Truckdriver]

Splinter,

Did you just finish one of those 5 day trips that had a 3-leg 14 hour duty day with the last leg being a red-eye? Those can make anyone feel as irritated as you sound. At least you don't have to deal with ALPA stopping the company from building such productive trips.

 

[LearLove]

You aren't geniuses--you are lucky.

yep, that about summs it up.

 

[JetFumes]

Let me make a prediction about how I think things will progress:
1. Legacies will rapidly recover previous pay/benefits.
2. Jetblue will be rightly classified as LCC with low pay/benefits and serious vulnerabilities.
3. Jetblue will be set upon by legacies.
4. Non-union pilots will scramble for union protection at the very last minute.

1. I seriously doubt.
2. Already there.
3. Already there, still making money, for now.
4. Looking into it already.

I like your numer 1, though. Just don't think it will play out that way.

 

[Lear70]

1. I seriously doubt.
2. Already there.
3. Already there, still making money, for now.
4. Looking into it already.

I like your numer 1, though. Just don't think it will play out that way.

It won't be "rapid", but the Legacies WILL recapture a large portion of their pay and at least some of the work rules and will continue to be hard to compare jetBlue in terms of career earnings and opportunities.

JB is a great place, I just don't think it will ever be a CAL, much less a FDX or UPS.

 

[JetFumes]

It won't be "rapid", but the Legacies WILL recapture a large portion of their pay and at least some of the work rules and will continue to be hard to compare jetBlue in terms of career earnings and opportunities.

JB is a great place, I just don't think it will ever be a CAL, much less a FDX or UPS.

I hope your right, it would be a refreshing change.

 

[Truckdriver]

JB is a great place, I just don't think it will ever be a CAL, much less a FDX or UPS.

It won't because it's an LCC. CAL will also never be a FDX or UPS. Neither will DAL or any of the other legacies. That is the reason why people are leaving JetBlue. They want to work for something other than an LCC. I didn't leave because it was a bad place to work, I left because I wanted to work for a legacy and not commute.

On a side not, if DAL makes an operating margin of 9% in 2007 and 2008 (they are forecast to make more than that), the hourly rates will go up a total of 12% by Jan 1 2009. By Dec 31 2009 they will be up by 13%. That would make 2nd yr 737 pay about $85/hr and 737 CA pay would top out at about $172/hr. I know two years doesn't seem rapid to some, but that isn't bad money in about two years. That's closing back in on SWA rates.

 

[Lear70]

It won't because it's an LCC. CAL will also never be a FDX or UPS. Neither will DAL or any of the other legacies. That is the reason why people are leaving JetBlue. They want to work for something other than an LCC. I didn't leave because it was a bad place to work, I left because I wanted to work for a legacy and not commute.

I could care less about whether my airline is classified as a LCC or Legacy, I care about stability, long-term survival, pay, time off, and benefits.

Everyone has different objectives, but I doubt the senior CA's at JB will make a jump anywhere,,, even to a CAL or FDX. They're too established and happy with what they have. Which may be one of the reasons why applications at the Legacies aren't reaching the huge numbers we saw in the last late 90's hiring curve...

On a side not, if DAL makes an operating margin of 9% in 2007 and 2008 (they are forecast to make more than that), the hourly rates will go up a total of 12% by Jan 1 2009. By Dec 31 2009 they will be up by 13%. That would make 2nd yr 737 pay about $85/hr and 737 CA pay would top out at about $172/hr. I know two years doesn't seem rapid to some, but that isn't bad money in about two years. That's closing back in on SWA rates.

DAL would make a great career, as would CAL.

AMR will be hiring next year and would probably be a decent move as well. Still not sure about NWA or UAL, and I'd write UAir off completely unless you wanted to be an F/O for about 15 years.

 

[Truckdriver]

Lear 70,

I'm with you 100%. I think those who are leaving Jetblue are doing so because it means not commuting into JFK for most of them. I also think UAL would be a good place to work if you live in one of the hubs. If you live in BOS or within an hour of JFK, JetBlue is a great place to go work.

 

[feitinger]

Lear 70,

I'm with you 100%. I think those who are leaving Jetblue are doing so because it means not commuting into JFK for most of them. I also think UAL would be a good place to work if you live in one of the hubs. If you live in BOS or within an hour of JFK, JetBlue is a great place to go work.

They're not gonna treat you as good as JetBlue though. Something to think about. But if JetBlue's longetivity scares you then not a good place for you.

 

[Truckdriver]

They're not gonna treat you as good as JetBlue though. Something to think about. But if JetBlue's longetivity scares you then not a good place for you.

I don't know about that. I felt I was treated just as good at the regional that I came from as I was at JetBlue. I don't need to be cuddled by the chief pilots and have the CEO show up at my house for a BBQ to feel like I'm being treated good. JetBlue was a great place to work, but there are other airlines out there that can be just as great if not better places to work depending on your situation. Not commuting for me will just about make up for anything that my new employer can throw my way, so I think I'll feel like I'm treated better just because my life will be easier. The one thing I will miss is the PTO/PTS policy. JetBlue has that one figured out. Also carrying around all my manuals again is going to suck. Those electronic manuals were nice!

 

[hindsight2020]

If it was me I'd keep the regional CA slot. No commute, senior schedule, alright money, known product. Income potential is such an opiate, it's total hogwash. People slave over for decades under the premise of income potential; I can't take that to the bank next month, when I need it....Increased QOL under a known proven schedule, 80K/year (for sake argument) and no commute trumps the "potential" of an extra 30-40K (not even actual money mind you) attained by volunteering myself off the seniority list and going back twofold in QOL, not to mention the competitive and saturated nature of the game..... to each their own,... but one in the hand brother....

 

[Lear70]

I just couldn't see it. I was working for a regional that was only giving us 12 days off, barely commutable, sometimes 14 off but they WEREN'T commutable, wasn't going to move to domicile, and made $78k including per diem my last year there whoring myself out at 90+ hours a month.

Made the jump to AAI based on quick upgrade potential and not too bad of a 1st year pay cut. My 1st year W2 was $47,5k including per diem. Yeah, that hurt.

2nd year will be near $60k. 3rd year will be $68k, not including the likelihood of a new T.A. with a 15% raise in those figures. 4th year I'd break even, 7th year be total even money for the move, NOT INCLUDING upgrade (which I should do in Year 4 by current projections).

At the same time, I'm flying 75-80 hours a month, getting 17-18 days off a month, ALL commutable, and have it MUCH better than where I was.

It was worth it, even if I don't upgrade as soon as planned, based solely on the days off and commutability.

To each their own...

 

[MalmsteenFan]

End Of Message

Linepilot, awesome thread/drama starter! Keep them coming!