JetBlue Quality of life compared to regional?

[Caveman]

I am TELLING you reality.

My prescription costs have REALLY gone up TENFOLD since coming to JetBlue from a crappy regional.

My out of pocket expenses have REALLY tripled.

Our health insurance REALLY sucks...


DEAL WITH IT!

It sounds like you and your family may have some health issues that are different from mine. My wife and I are healthy and our health care expenses have not tripled since coming to JetBlue. The insurance premiums are slightly higher than where I came from and I attribute most of the increase to a nationwide increase in health care expenses and not to a conspiracy by JetBlue to screw me.

If my prescription costs were to increase tenfold I'd be paying a $70 copay per prescription. I don't pay anywhere near that much.

If my out of pocket expenses were to triple my monthly premium would be in excess of $500 and my annual deductable would be in excess of $1800. Neither one are anywhere near that much.

If you and your family have special needs you should consider a supplemental medical insurance to help defray the costs. Dspite your unique circumstances our health car plan does not suck. It's an average plan and is similar to the plans offered to millions of other employees at many, many companies.

 

[coogebeachhotel]

One thing to consider. A new hire now will never make 320 captain. FWIW.

If a captain on a RJ, pay will be almost the same as at B6. 190 rates not much higher than the quality regional outfits.

 

[StarChecker]

It sounds like you and your family may have some health issues that are different from mine. My wife and I are healthy and our health care expenses have not tripled since coming to JetBlue.

I had the same "health issues" at Chautauqua and I still incurred a TENFOLD increase in prescription costs when I came to JetBlue.

I paid $10-$15 a month at CHQ for my prescriptions...now I pay $350 every 3 months for the SAME DRUGS.

So spare me the "we're in a health care crisis in this country" speech, David Neeleman, because it didn't seem to affect the crappy regional I just came from.

 

[Lake Alice]

There is a serious health care issue in the country and the insurance at most regionals is better than at B6. This is an unfortunate fact that the PCRB should bring up this time around.

And back to the original topic your QOL will be better at Jetblue than at a regional.

 

[w17cfii]

QOL could be better, if you're not based at JFK or live in base. Let's face it, commuting to NY sucks. Reserve sucks. Having no contract to fall back on sucks. Crashpads and everything else in NY is expensive. You've already read about the crappy health insurance. Personally, I'm paying about 3 times what insurance cost at my regional job.

The crews here are great to work with, and some of the overnights are fun. I would take all the bluejuicers here with a grain of salt. You'll fly a lot of redeyes on the bus, and the other plane...those are rj schedules.

You'll be crammed through 5 weeks of training with only a 3 day break where you can come home. Reserve is running 4-6 months, once you get a line life improves. The PTO is great. Just come in here realistically knowing it will take you probably 3+ years to get to what you were earning as a regional captain. The stability here is questionable. Look at last year's annual report, we barely made a profit, we're selling airplanes, fuel costs are going up like everyone else's...

Good luck on your decision

 

[johnsonrod]

QOL could be better, if you're not based at JFK or live in base. Let's face it, commuting to NY sucks. Reserve sucks. Having no contract to fall back on sucks. Crashpads and everything else in NY is expensive. You've already read about the crappy health insurance. Personally, I'm paying about 3 times what insurance cost at my regional job.

The crews here are great to work with, and some of the overnights are fun. I would take all the bluejuicers here with a grain of salt. You'll fly a lot of redeyes on the bus, and the other plane...those are rj schedules.

You'll be crammed through 5 weeks of training with only a 3 day break where you can come home. Reserve is running 4-6 months, once you get a line life improves. The PTO is great. Just come in here realistically knowing it will take you probably 3+ years to get to what you were earning as a regional captain. The stability here is questionable. Look at last year's annual report, we barely made a profit, we're selling airplanes, fuel costs are going up like everyone else's...

Good luck on your decision

Finally a reality check - a rare thing on Flightinfo.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Be careful about going to B6 now. The best they can hope for is a White Knight to take them in a merger.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

I have flown maybe 5 redeyes since I got off of reserve back in April of 2006. You can avoid redeyes at JB -- if you have some decent seniority. And you are an FO.

I ain't got no crashpad -- probably paid for 13-15 hotel rooms last year at $83-115 a pop, far cheaper than a pad. But then I do miss out on some more productive trips. Oh, and some of those hotel rooms were because I came up the day before a trip and went to a Mets or Yankees game.

 

[aerobato]

Be careful about going to B6 now. The best they can hope for is a White Knight to take them in a merger.

When did you get the rejection letter from JetBlue?

 

[Caveman]

Just come in here realistically knowing it will take you probably 3+ years to get to what you were earning as a regional captain.

I disagree. On 2nd year pay I was making the same as what I made at Comair as a 6 year CA. I lived in domicile at CMR. I commuted to reserve in JFK with JetBlue. My QOL at B6 was infinitely better than it ever was at CMR and I generally liked working for CMR.

I don't gulp the Blue Kool-Aid any more (I just sip it it nowadays). I am a realist. JetBlue is not perfect. There are several areas we need to improve including (Gasp!) health care. Overall though it's a very good flying job. I like it here and it's a huge improvement over any regional.

 

[aewanabe]

Caveman: Gotta go with w17cfii on this one. Your second-year earnings may be on par with regional CA wages but your second year rate is about 58/hr. With our a/c delivery and retention rates the vast majority of new-hires will be seeing 50/hr second year pay barring a miracle from the PCRB (which I am not expecting).

 

[Bavarian Chef]

I made 49k on year 2/3 pay with 675 block. In 2006 on yr 1/2 pay I made 42K and 550 block. According to my W-2s. The Navy pays better, that's why the low block.

Don't worry -- I haven't let all those riches get to me. I'm still Jenny from the Block.

 

[zkmayo]

Caveman: Gotta go with w17cfii on this one. Your second-year earnings may be on par with regional CA wages but your second year rate is about 58/hr. With our a/c delivery and retention rates the vast majority of new-hires will be seeing 50/hr second year pay barring a miracle from the PCRB (which I am not expecting).

Just remember its the Executive Leadership that will provide any "miracle", not the PCRB. There just providing analysis to them. IOW, dont shoot the messenger.

 

[Caveman]

Caveman: Gotta go with w17cfii on this one. Your second-year earnings may be on par with regional CA wages but your second year rate is about 58/hr. With our a/c delivery and retention rates the vast majority of new-hires will be seeing 50/hr second year pay barring a miracle from the PCRB (which I am not expecting).

That's a good point. With the slowdown of 320 deliveries most newhires for the rest of this year will be on 190 pay for two years.

 

[82spukram]

I know a lot of people like to talk about things like the culture, QOL and what not but try to remember no matter how good it once was here it is an airline. No two ways about it the bigger we get the more we are going to run like a traditional airline. When ever some of my friends from my last airline ask about it and weather or not they should come over I always lead with its still an airline and its not CAL or DAL so if you want to go international then its not for you. That said I am very happy here and would come again knowing what I know after 9mo. I believe that a "small" pay raise will come around at the end of the 1st quarter so that they can sell the caring value and that they still give us money even when the doom and gloom in the industry is upon us, it will also buy them another year with out a union because guys will latch onto the fact that the "company did the right thing" even though upper management took a 100% + pay raise. If you do come here expect to be on the 190 for at least two years and depending on what we do with aircraft sells probably longer because your QOL will be better on the 190 then a jr 320 FO. But that is my 2cents......which is not worth much anymore

 

[rayford steele]

Be careful about going to B6 now. The best they can hope for is a White Knight to take them in a merger.

Yo Fubi....they let you use the computer in rehab? GET OVER YOURSELF......WN,VA, and B6 are going to eat your lunch. Go away.....hockey season must be over, huh?

 

[CaptainSpaz]

But that is my 2cents......which is not worth much anymore

It's still worth 2 cents to me, Bro!

 

[vindiesel]

I need change

It's still worth 2 cents to me, Bro!

You got 2 cent? hook a brotha up!!!

 

[Twasilew]

Does JetBlue have a military conversion factor like some other airlines? Have they hired anybody without an ATP?

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Does JetBlue have a military conversion factor like some other airlines? Have they hired anybody without an ATP?

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