JetBlue to start hiring later this year...

[aewanabe]

That's pretty harsh. Given the choice now, would you have left your regional?

It came off more harshly than I intended.

I absolutely would have left, and would again. My former regional is the same as yours, and frankly it's better being bottom 15 percent here than top 20 percent there (which I was when I left). That's despite me defending the RAH pilots from mindless bashing! We have cancellation pay, rigs, better hotels, and the training here is far better than the checking department that existed there.

Once we finally got the company off it's arse regarding pay (thanks solely to the JBPA drive IMO), my 3rd year FO pay on the 190 here equals or exceeds anywhere from 5-8 yr CA scales on both 50 and 70 seat equipment, and nearly equals Airways' CA pay on the same jet. This is before premium pay is considered. FLICA rocks, and I don't have to wait for J.C's minions to arbitrarily approve or deny my needs... if the grid is green, it goes. (The above points aside, I still believe we need ALPA. Not because I think it's a panacea, but because I want career insurance if we bend metal, get acquired, etc...).

OTOH, the 2-year upgrades and 3-year Bus CA seats are long gone. We're taking 4 190s this year with no 320s, and about 7 of each next year if we don't defer any more Busses. So I'm looking at 4-5 years in the Embraer right seat before I can grab right seat in the Bus, let alone an upgrade. That's with me being about 35 percent in the 190 FO seat. Doing the math a new-hire is looking at 5-7 years minimum as a 190 FO. That's not a bad thing: the flying's pretty varied, the pay is tolerable now, and you can hang out with the stews if that's your thing, but no LGB or FLL for you if that's what you're looking for.

The company still sings a lot of kum-ba-yah but is coasting on it's reputation from 2005, IMHO. Lots of companies have TVs and our JFK agents range from good to truly crummy. In short, I'm a fan of working here, but cautiously so. I'd want anyone coming over to do their due diligence before making the leap.

 

[aewanabe]

Not quite that bad

So that is why JetBlue has a flow though with CapeAir. C421CA to E190FO not so bad a deal v CRJ700CA to E190FO for life.

I thought most pilots thought Jetblue management did not know what they were doing.

Maybe its the pilot group that doesn't!

Nah, CRJCA to E190 FO is still going to be a better deal for most guys, unlesss they're sitting on top of Comair's or Eagle's list. Those guys probably aren't applying anyway.

5-8 year 70-seat drivers for just about anywhere else will take a hit first year, be nearly even the second, and start getting ahead the third. Whether one can deal with only 3 stripes is a personal choice, but even in the EJet we hit 97/hr at year 12; which beats Comair, ASA, Eagle, Skywest, and RAH corresponding CA pay before we even start talking premium, rigs, 100 percent DH, etc.

Other factors include commuting to reserve for 2-3 years as a newhire, and dealing with Flight Ops, Scheduling, and Dispatch management that is still maturing. It's definitely a nice feeling flying my own tail, vs worrying over the results of every RFP and CH11 by a major. Conversely, until we have a real scope clause I could get an email tomorrow saying my Ejet job is being operated by Republic. (And yes, we're working on that).

 

[Splert]

If a new hire was going to be a life long reserve RJ CA then you maybe right.

IMO JetBlue will not grow more than 3% ASM over the next 3-5 years. So a new hire will be on reserve for at least 4 years. We will grow ASMs without new A/C btw.

Again that is my opinion from listening to executive crew and what CSS is meant to do for us which is grow though code sharing utilizing our existing fleet to fly more ASMs.

I don't see a net increase in A320s for a long time.

Better plan on being exactly where you are hired and make sure that will work for the long run.

 

[aewanabe]

I'm afraid you're right about the A320 net; the 4th quarter 10Q shows 8 2011 Bus deliveries, but how many will we be selling back? Trust me, I'm looking up from a looong way down the list and it's still a more secure feeling than being in the regional RFP madhouse. Just my 2 cents.

 

[TNPILOT]

What's reserve life like at JetBlue? Assuming you can drive to work. What are min days off?

 

[shadesofBS]

Please investigate the LIES

before you hitch your wagon

to an airline in the dark ages of airline history.

This BOD and this CEO would love nothing more than to take us (and by us, I mean pilots) all back 20 years.

End of story.

 

[AlbieF15]

One thing that MIGHT make a difference is if legacies/majors pick up hiring how much attrition might take place at JetBlue. I saw some turnover in 2005-2007 when several companies (DAL, CAL, SWA, and FDX) were hiring. Depending on the economy and consolidation trends, it is possible that a new hire at JB might see some upward movement due to some JB pilots going to greener pastures. I don't think the top 500 will be all that anxious to bail, but perhaps some guys feeling "stuck" in the mid or lower numbers might make the move.

Hiring anywhere in the majors typically creates SOME hiring around the industry. Guess we'll see what will happen.