JetBlue or UAL

[TravisMcgee]

I've got an interview soon with JB and am still on furlough with United but should be getting a recall soon. If the JB interview goes well, which do I choose? Also, is there still a non-compete clause in the JB contract you sign that says you can't go back to your previous carrier for two years or you owe JB all the costs they've incurred on your behalf?

 

[Bavarian Chef]

United.

 

[RideandDrive]

The non-compete is still there, but I know two guys who returned to their legacy carriers after 6 months at Jetblue. We consulted lawyers who felt Jetblue violated their own agreement with the 190 situation.


Needless to say Jetblue so far has not filed a lawsuit.

 

[727C47]

United !!!

 

[L'il J.Seinfeld]

United!? You guys need to update your paradigm. Why go back to a carrier just coming out of bankruptcy over JB? To each his own.

 

[Longhorn]

Oh man...this should get interesting.

 

[Fins Up]

Oh man...this should get interesting.

I got a bowl of popcorn and a couple beers. This should get good quick.

 

[instructordude]

Go to United. Wide body flying all over the world. Beats picking up trash and flying an RJ around. Although I shouldn't talk, that's what I do.

 

[accinelli]

Choice is yours. I would only add that B6 is not looking to merge anytime soon. There are lot of ex-United people at B6 who haven't looked back since they came over.

 

[FlyUnited]

It's a matter of preference. United flys all over the world. JetBlue flys all over the east coast (with some west coast flying too). If you prefer shorter trips, then JB. If you prefer more exotic locations but more jetlag, then United.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Dan Roman]

You won't know if you made the right choice until you retire, but food for thought, UAL is looking to merge or possibly sell assets. Both can be very bad for junior folks.

 

[Sonny Crockett]

United....

 

[koko nw]

You won't know if you made the right choice until you retire, but food for thought, UAL is looking to merge or possibly sell assets. Both can be very bad for junior folks.

Sage advice no doubt. Have you thought about UPS/FDX or SWA's? If your gonna start from the bottom anyways I'd give serious considerations to those carriers before coming back to UAL.

UAL's CEO is treading a path which could be very detrimental to any one junior at UAL or it's merger partner. As far as asset sales, I personally believe that during BK when they were screaming for the sale of our crown jewels...It would have been sold at that time.
If your really into conspiracy theories you could call our sale of the JFK route authority as a way of clearing DOT's antitrust issues with a certain company that flies out of EWR being linked as a potential merger partner.
Who know's, interesting times indeed.

Good luck and if you decide to come back to momma, Welcome Back !

 

[oldxfr8dog]

Choice is yours. I would only add that B6 is not looking to merge anytime soon. There are lot of ex-United people at B6 who haven't looked back since they came over.

And there are plenty of ex-united people at B6 that are biding their time until they would be more senior after a recall.
Unless brain-injured, they're continuing to weigh their options. Including their mostly worthless B6 stock options...:crying:

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Don't forget that "Mrs Bobsled" wants to come back to UAL with her OLD seniority number!

AINT GONNA HAPPEN.............

 

[727C47]

""Mrs.Bobsled"?

 

[Sluggo_63]

Don't forget that "Mrs Bobsled" wants to come back to UAL with her OLD seniority number!

AINT GONNA HAPPEN.............

Does she really? I believe that bridge is way too burnt. I remember that was a long topic of discussion on Boyle's when it happened.

 

[Andy]

""Mrs.Bobsled"?

Google: luge United Airlines

She resigned her seniority to go to JetBlue back when United was on death's doorstep. She wasn't the only one to do so.

 

[Andy]

Back on topic. As a previous poster mentioned, you never know if you've made the right decision until the day that you retire. Even then, it's up for debate.
Get out a piece of paper and list the pluses and minuses. It's a very personal decision.

 

[Rebound]

If you returned to UAL and JetBlue made you pay for the non-compete claus, how much would the training costs be? It might be pro-rated for time served. Plus, doesn't UAL have a one time bypass option and the next bypass is considered your resignation. Something to consider as well.

 

[UAL-GSO]

Keep in mind that UAL will also allow you to accept a recall but take a leave of absence to fulfill a training/employment contract such as what you will have at Jet Blue. I don't know all the details, but that is an option to consider.

Cheers!

 

[MRYFLYER]

Do what will make you happy. It is anybodys guess as to what the industry will look like in 10 years or more. If you have friends that were recalled chat with them about what the company is like since BK. If you have friends at JB talk to them and see what that flying is like. Weigh your choices and whatever you do don't rely on this site for the answer

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Keep in mind that UAL will also allow you to accept a recall but take a leave of absence to fulfill a training/employment contract such as what you will have at Jet Blue. I don't know all the details, but that is an option to consider.

Cheers!

While this is true, you need to have been hired and signed that contract with JB PRIOR to your initial recall.

When I was hired at JB I figured about a 10% chance that I'd return to UAL. Now, it has completely changed. Unless things start changing at JB I'll probably return to UAL sometime next year.

I think JB has about 1700 pilots now. If you decide to stay at JB with a 1700+ seniority number it will be many, many years until you have the chance to upgrade to A320 captain, which is the only seat at JB where one can make decent money. And, unless you have 25+ years until retirement you will stay junior on the Airbus for most of your career as there are many young A320 captains at JB.

One of the biggest reasons I am seriously considering going back to UAL is because of ALPA. I know that their reputation hasn't been stellar in the past five years, but when UAL's contract is up in '09 I believe that the pilot group will be demanding increases in pay and benefits. At JB we have no representation and just have to take whatever management tells us they can afford.

There are way too many factors involved for any of us here on FI to give you sound advice. In the end it will be a personal choice based on the facts you have at the time. Unfortunately, none of us has a crystal ball.

Good luck with your decision.

GP

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Jetblue seems like the better move to me.

 

[JBLU]

Amish RakeFlight,

Are you kidding me, or are you in denile?

 

[oldxfr8dog]

Jetblue seems like the better move to me.

I mostly disagree with you, but I must respectfully ask why you think JB is a better move.

 

[AlbieF15]

Ms Luge, as you call her, is not looking for her old job or seniority. She's trying to be part of the solution at Jetblue. Whether or not they make it or you approve of her "act", she knew the consequences when she bailed. She was not furloughed--she resigned--and that's a horse of a different color.

My own take? JB has communicated with its crew force, kept everyone in the loop, and generally tried to be a good place to work. If you think they have a chance at continuing to grow, or if you think the 190 rates will be adjusted this Jan (common speculation--I have no clue...), you may end up with a good place to work the next 20 years. Or--you might not. Its still a new company (geez...its only 6-7 years old..) and has a lot of challenges ahead.

United, on the other hand, is what is left of what was a glorious place. However--don't compare the company you are returning to with the one you left. QC the work rules, benefits, etc very closely. Also--United has proven when things get tough you are expendable. They are aggressively flirting with merging with someone or selling off some assets for cash flow. If you are just now getting recalled, you can pretty much bet you'll be at the bottom of whatever United morphs into if they merge. While work rules may be better now on the junior bus or guppy, who knows where they will go if United can't make money--and they have a history of being terrible at that.

So--its a tough call. I have no dog in this fight, and wish you the best. I've got 3 furloughed United pilots in my squadron, and all are bypassing for now. Their biggest fear is a merger while they are out. If you bypass another year you can at least sit and watch and get a better guess as to where each company is really headed.

Good luck...

 

[laterallymobile]

The fact that these two companies are close to an even match speaks volumes as to where JB is headed. I don't see them going away but in the long term I would bet that United is a better call. I don't like JB selling airplanes out the back door and it also makes me uncomfortable that they are nearly the only ones still paying their bills at this point. Most others have renegoitiated everything in BR or the threat of it. Also worrysome is the regional operators flying emb products that are getting bigger by the year. Pretty good rah rah culture but it really is just another airline with some good possibilities of creating a "brand" if things go their way.

Also, I think Delta, UsAir, and United demonstrated that they can't really go away, short of a merger of some type. JB on the other hand could be gone with a few lean years and nobody would blink. Is it fair, no but probably very true.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Risk vs. Reward.

Good luck, we're all counting on you.

 

[AlbieF15]

Also, I think Delta, UsAir, and United demonstrated that they can't really go away, short of a merger of some type. JB on the other hand could be gone with a few lean years and nobody would blink. Is it fair, no but probably very true.[/quote]


I imagine Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton, and Charles Schumer (sp?) would argue with that. JB's upstate service for the last 7 years has created a lot of good will...