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JetBlue- To go or not?

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I've flown with at least two former NetJets pilots and neither one has any desire to return to any fractional. FWIW.
 
rjpilot7667 said:
Then do it chief, Enjoy your coast-to-coast commute. You did paint a false picture. you didn't intitially say you were in a smaller base. Chances are that a new hire will be based in JFK or BOS and won't be on reserve for 4 years like you did. Being based in LGB was YOUR CHOICE and you don't have anyone to blame but yourself for your dissatisfaction.

If you're not happy find a new job and quit complaining, see if the grass is greener.
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Thank You..."CHIEF" for your thoughts of wisdom! True,,, It is my choice to be LGB Based and yes I can very well bid back to the East Coast for a better quality of life. Just remember smart guy....WE ALL work under the same Flight Scheduling Manual and work rules. Life can get ugly just as quickly as it got good!!!

I voted for an elected and represented process... obviously more of my colleagues choose to keep the current process in tact! Good for them, I hope it all works out in the end!
 
I've talked to numerous Jetblue pilots and have friends that are Jetblue pilots. There are not many jobs out there right now that are better. Jetblue used to be a crappy company to work for compared to almost all the legacies. Now Jetblue is comparable to Delta, American, and United/Continental. It is better than US Airways. All of the airlines mentioned are coming up on the first post-bankruptcy section 6's. We'll see how it goes. It status quo is maintained, Jetblue might be a really good career airline.
 
Hockeypilot status quo is not acceptable.

except for the health care, retirment, LOL, LTD, SCOPE and work rules... yea, comparable to all those others. Get past the hourly rate and things slip fast around here.

Don't get me wrong, JB kills any regional out there and probably most fractionals but we have a long row to hoe to get to the SWA, DAL, ect. level. Frankly the JB is only 11 years old argument is old too. For our size, we should be doing better.

I like it here, but I hope to make it a better "destination airline" place to work... It's gonna take LOTS of work.
 
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hockeypilot44 said:
Jetblue used to be a crappy company to work for compared to almost all the legacies. Now Jetblue is comparable to Delta, American, and United/Continental.
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Let us not forget that the Legacies reduced thier pay and benefits down through BK to compete with JB and the likes.

I left a fractional for JB and it was a good move for me. The flying is boring compared to fractional but QOL is way better. However dont overlook how long you might be on RSV. As well crashpads and commuting blows!!!
 
I've looked at jetBlue and was lucky enough to interview and get the "yes-nod", However I decided for ME, leaving a good RJ-job mid-level Captain seniority, living in domicile, the huge cut in quality of life just wasn't worth it. Going from picking a schedule, to being bottom reserve in a base I would have to commute to, -and as many have said - a very young pilot group (most younger than myself) just didn't make sense to me.

Pay and all that other stuff didn't really factor into my decision, but it would have taken 5+ years to break even (figuring at least 2 years reserve). Only to leave at the first opportunity ie. Alaska, American, etc.

So for me, I had to ask...why? Just to fly a bigger acft?
 
BAe3100FO said:
I've looked at jetBlue and was lucky enough to interview and get the "yes-nod", However I decided for ME, leaving a good RJ-job mid-level Captain seniority, living in domicile, the huge cut in quality of life just wasn't worth it. Going from picking a schedule, to being bottom reserve in a base I would have to commute to, -and as many have said - a very young pilot group (most younger than myself) just didn't make sense to me.

Pay and all that other stuff didn't really factor into my decision, but it would have taken 5+ years to break even (figuring at least 2 years reserve). Only to leave at the first opportunity ie. Alaska, American, etc.

So for me, I had to ask...why? Just to fly a bigger acft?
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To each there own, but some things are a bit inaccurate. I too was at Awac, and lived in base. The difference in qol is astonding, reserve was 6 months, and 2nd year pay will equal out to be 90 to 100k.( I work alot) I could almost certainly not hit anywhere nears those numbers at awac. Reasons im happy im not at Awac.... No bob frisch, no broken aircraft being ferryed 1000 miles unpressurerized, no semi annual mechanical emergencies, no arguing with margo, no dealing with the gecko (eddie), no more 5 a/c swaps in 1 day, no more terminal f, no more motel 8 quality hotels (except buffalo), no more sweltering without an apu, no more grinding just to make 70k, no more 5 leg 14 hour scheduled days, no more scheduled reduced rest, No more threats and intimidation for calling out fatigued, no more doctors notes to call out sick, no more "asking permission" to swap, drop, move, or alter my trips, no more acceptance checklists( minor I know), no more "we cant find you a room during this irop, sleep in the crew room, no more 50% training center wash out, no more "battle of asap", no more MEC taking flight pay loss over holidays and not explaining what they were doing for the pilot group on Christmas,(i think we might need an mec though, no more CONSTANTANT fight with management, and no contract ending in 2015 with 5-15 lease returns in 2013.
Again, please dont take this thd wrong way. I can see why with a young group you would stay and wait for swa or Delta, but i would not compare our qol or pay with Awac.
 
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young pilot group or not-Iam sure any 01'-03 mesaba hire would jump at the chance to work for a company like JetBlue. I would be nervous getting on and having to commute to reserve for a long period but I hope the aircraft keep coming. oh and I get a chance at an interview -but then again, I am sure with others starting to hire-a pilot might have opportunities at a number of places
 
Assuming one gets the E190 which base NYC or Boston has the best chance for holding a line the quickest. I know I know. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
Also wondering what the routes of the E190 are out of those two domiciles. Is it just Northeast flying or do you head down south or out west to mix it up a bit.
 
pilot22 said:
Assuming one gets the E190 which base NYC or Boston has the best chance for holding a line the quickest. I know I know. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
Also wondering what the routes of the E190 are out of those two domiciles. Is it just Northeast flying or do you head down south or out west to mix it up a bit.
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Boston by FAR. Im on the 320, but what ive seen the 190 does northeast, northsouth, and now some carribean flying.
 
BAe3100FO said:
Just to fly a bigger acft?
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I know of a friend that left a nice paying, great QOL job to fly bigger acft at JB. Well, he tells me it wasn't the best of choices...I believe his wife and kids say the same thing. To each his own, but make the best choice for yourself and family, not just yourself. :beer:
 
BAe3100FO said:
Can't say I call being a mule 'quality of life'...

But as you say, to each their own.
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I live in base and credit ~100 a month with 14 days off. Qol is all about perspective, my QOL at blue makes awac look like slave labor, but you might be a orf'r with a decent Qol, if so, then great. You though cannot compare the money, and the daily 4am junior man call. Restrospectively, i realized even more that AWAC treats its pilots very poorly. Im by no means a mule... Lol. 24 hour st lucia overnights are brutal. Im really not trying to be insulting. I loved the pilots at awac, just hated how they ran the place like a sweat shop. Good luck to you.
 
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I'm AWAC alumni currently at JetBlue. Left AirWis in 2007. I also didn't dream of flying for JetBlue as a kid, but sure as hell saw the writing on the wall at AWAC and don't regret leaving for a second.

I won't waste any time trying to convince you how leaving is a good move. If you can't see it, that's on you.

I will say I made just about as much as a second year 320 RESERVE FO as I did as a 5 year RJ CA. Different pay rules here.

Good luck,

S.
 
landlover said:
anyone know the average age of the pilot group at jetblue? how is the medical coverage?
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This company has far less retirements qued up then most major airlines, but FAR more aircraft on order, especially as a percentage of growth with respect to current fleet. At least, that is the "plan".
 
Beechnut said:
I'm AWAC alumni currently at JetBlue. Left AirWis in 2007. I also didn't dream of flying for JetBlue as a kid, but sure as hell saw the writing on the wall at AWAC and don't regret leaving for a second.

I won't waste any time trying to convince you how leaving is a good move. If you can't see it, that's on you.

I will say I made just about as much as a second year 320 RESERVE FO as I did as a 5 year RJ CA. Different pay rules here.

Good luck,

S.
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I hear ya dude, and I now agree with you about our "needs". I think we both agree even with the DR that you cannot in any way compare AWAC and Jblu.
 
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Smarta$$ said:
This company has far less retirements qued up then most major airlines, but FAR more aircraft on order, especially as a percentage of growth with respect to current fleet. At least, that is the "plan".
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We will have retirements, attrition, and orders. In the end i am guessing it's a wash with the majors as far as career advancement and money.
 
n757st said:
I hear ya dude, and I now agree with you about our "needs". I think we both agree even with the DR that you cannot in any way compare AWAC and Jblu.
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Yep. My comments were towards the current AWAC guy.

I'm glad things are working out for you. I started watching Sunny in Philadelphia because of your avatar. Good stuff!
 
whats the story with hotels during training, do you get your own room? pay & per diem during training?
 
Reserves work 18 days per bid period. This equates to 12 or 13 days off per bid period (some are 30, some are 31 day bid periods).

As for hotels during training, you share a hotel room with a complete stranger who is randomly picked from a pool of reality tv show flunkies. You and your roommate will be followed by film crews during training, and your "training life" will be aired on network TV at some point in the near future. You will not be compensated monetarily, but you may be able to accomplish "Snooki" celebrity status.
 
Beechnut said:
Yep. My comments were towards the current AWAC guy.

I'm glad things are working out for you. I started watching Sunny in Philadelphia because of your avatar. Good stuff!
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Can't wait for the new season. Fat Mack, comedy gold.
 
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Ski-N-Fly said:
Reserves work 18 days per bid period. This equates to 12 or 13 days off per bid period (some are 30, some are 31 day bid periods).

As for hotels during training, you share a hotel room with a complete stranger who is randomly picked from a pool of reality tv show flunkies. You and your roommate will be followed by film crews during training, and your "training life" will be aired on network TV at some point in the near future. You will not be compensated monetarily, but you may be able to accomplish "Snooki" celebrity status.
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! thnx coffee out the nose.:beer:
 
Ski-N-Fly said:
As for hotels during training, you share a hotel room with a complete stranger who is randomly picked from a pool of reality tv show flunkies. You and your roommate will be followed by film crews during training, and your "training life" will be aired on network TV at some point in the near future. You will not be compensated monetarily, but you may be able to accomplish "Snooki" celebrity status.
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looking forward to it.
 
My comments were never to be directed towards "My airline can kick your airlines butt"... Just my two cents and why I chose not to make the move. I'll let you know how it works out for me in 30/35 years +/-
 
yeah the way the guy was responding, it almost seems that one is not paid during training and has to share a room? I do not have an interview but am applying as soon as the window opens up and hope to get an interview-I am not sure if this issue will make it into my decision making process as MEsaba/Pinnacle is i am sure worse than AWAC.

I think bases=commute/QOL=days off/pay all are my factors when deciding to go
 

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