JetBlue Quality of life compared to regional?

[Checknsix]

I will second or third what Longhorn said.

- Six

 

[Headfake14]

I don't get fatigued here like I did at ASA. We do have some issues like the master Longhorn said...and we, like everyone else, will have to wait for a jetway driver, last minute bags, jerky pushbacks...yada yada...BUT...I'll take those same issues here than anywhere else and definately over my last seat at ASA. 5 legs at ASA was rough compared to here. The CRJ200 and ATR wouldn't cool off worth a damn, but you could hang meat in the 190.

The ONLY thing I have an issue with is our pay. Yes, I knew the deal coming here, but as the dust has settled over the last 12 months...it's been wicked hard...about a $25,000 pay cut from my 9yr capt pay at ASA. As Longhorn mentioned, all our seats NEED a pay bump...and I hope to god we get it.

If you do make the jump brother, definately trim off some financial fat. I did a bunch and am still so razor thin and sliding backwards slightly.

G'luck man.

 

[WateryGrave]

No comparison to my regional job. Even on reserve my QOL was much better here, and I spent more time on reserve than most. Same comments as everybody else that the health benefits could be better yadda yadda yadda. No regrets whatsoever. Good luck with the decision.

 

[J32driver]

I'll second everything that Longhorn said. I also was a LCA at one of the better regionals and I found that reserve on the bus in JFK was a better QOL than what I had at my regional. I do an offline commute too.

The one thing that I wasn't expecting and no one told me about JetBlue was the amount of night flying we do. As a junior dude on the bus, you might think the UPS/Fedex guys are getting more sleep than you are. Once you get off reserve, you can bid around the stuff with a fair amount of ease. On the other hand... it is VERY productive. I'm about 50% up FO list in JFK, I come to work 3 times a month, 15-16 days off, and about 90 hours of credit per month.

 

[clickclickboom]

I bid about 37% in jfk and i get 85-90 hrs with 17-19 days off. When i construct my bid i bid good 4 day trips to avoid the crash pad.

red eyes suck but after a few months you will be able to adjust your body to rest. I usually wake early and find an activity that lasts a few hrs ( golf, climb a mountain, work out ) gets 4-5 hrs sleep and fly the leg. Honestly if you can do it the wear and tear is not that bad. I usually limit my month to 2 red eyes.

Overall a great job, great people, pay needs to improve.

 

[StarChecker]

Great posts so far...definite improvement over Regional QOL...EXCEPT...


HEALTH CARE!

My healthcare costs have tripled since coming to JetBlue. And my prescription costs....through the roof. What used to cost me $10-$15 a month now costs $350 every three months. That's a TENFOLD increase in my prescription costs.....

I just find it incredibly sad that a thread even exists comparing a major airline's QOL to a regional's.

Shouldn't it be a given that your QOL should improve when changing from Regional to Major? It speaks volumes that it's even brought up....

 

[Raskal]

Wow, an entire thread and I'll be damned if I can find any sense of sarcasm, off-topic or idiotic bashing.

Oops.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Great posts so far...definite improvement over Regional QOL...EXCEPT...


HEALTH CARE!

My healthcare costs have tripled since coming to JetBlue. And my prescription costs....through the roof. What used to cost me $10-$15 a month now costs $350 every three months. That's a TENFOLD increase in my prescription costs.....

I just find it incredibly sad that a thread even exists comparing a major airline's QOL to a regional's.

Shouldn't it be a given that your QOL should improve when changing from Regional to Major? It speaks volumes that it's even brought up....

In my first two full years at JB, I spent enough on health care (with dental) for a family of four to actually claim a tax deduction based on the 7.5% AGI test. THAT's how bad our health care is.

$314 a month for family coverage (incl dental) and that's just for premiums. $800 deductible, $1800 out of pocket cap (I think -- correct me if I am wrong), plus the copays for prescriptions.

Not very pretty.

 

[Dave's kid]

My health care at JB is saving me over $1000 per year compared to my previous employer (a regional).

 

[GuppyPuppy]

My health care at JB is saving me over $1000 per year compared to my previous employer (a regional).

Dave's Kid, huh?

Is that D1 or D2?

GP