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Kalitta Air or Jet Blue

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No offense taken. JetBlue seems like the obvious choice but Kalitta is actually not the "old sh#tbag outfit" it was once considered. They are getting more planes with quick upgrades (2 years), home based, and I think the health insurance is fully paid by the company.
JetBlue is getting more planes too but very long upgrade times and I hear the insurance bites a chunk out of the paycheck as well as crash pad expenses.
Job stability would seem to be on JetBlue's side though but who knows in this industry with mergers, outsourcing, etc. Scheduling flexibility is definitely a JetBlue advantage.
 
You have no choice until you actually have both job offers in hand. "A good chance" is no chance.
 
Jet Jock said:
No offense taken. JetBlue seems like the obvious choice but Kalitta is actually not the "old sh#tbag outfit" it was once considered. They are getting more planes with quick upgrades (2 years), home based, and I think the health insurance is fully paid by the company.
JetBlue is getting more planes too but very long upgrade times and I hear the insurance bites a chunk out of the paycheck as well as crash pad expenses.
Job stability would seem to be on JetBlue's side though but who knows in this industry with mergers, outsourcing, etc. Scheduling flexibility is definitely a JetBlue advantage.
Click to expand...

These two airlines are polar opposites when is comes to the type of flying the do and the time away from your family. Kalitta has long trips that are almost all international/all over the world, where Jetblue is a more domesticated/regionally international airline with less time away for each trip. Imo, in order to be happy with your choice, you really have to know which type of flying you want to do.

S
 
plus assming that you dont have family or dont realize that 2-3 week trips will damage even the strongest family i recommend making a decsion looking ahead 5 to 10 years.

if no family but it's in the books ahead you need to seriously realize that only 3 out of 10 women will be capable of keeping the household together while you spend more than half the year gone. Especially if they are just being introduced to the world of aviation. If there is even a hint of dissent without kids realize that the relationship is doomed once kids arrive

My wife and i dated while i was paying my dues and she knew what she was getting herself into. Now we have a gaggle of kids and I am bypassing upgrade to keep a good schedule. Probably losing 50k a year but maintaining 16-18 days off a month with almost all commutable trips. i feel great, am healthy, hit the gym 5 days a week, spend lots of time with the family, love to fish, love to dive, Love the fact that I am gone only 4 days max at a time

Just to help with your comparison

year 6 FO going into yr 7 pay in 2 months 320 Fo

$124k this yr only flew 5 redeyes the entire year

I have a friend that lives in base and bids only the st lucia, st maarten, aruba, cancun 2 days trips.. They are only 10 hr and change two days but does 8 a month and basically has it made. Go home 2 days with the fam back to work 2 days with 24 hrs in paradise gets about 90hrs a month and made about 95k this year he is a 3 yr 320 fo..
 
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I would probably view JB as the better choice given the schedule (depending upon whether you have kids or not) and pay.

That said, I flew the Whale (not for Kalitta) for several years until 9/11 (thanks Osama!) and it was by far the best flying of my career. It was the older version of the Whale but I loved it and I flew it virtually everywhere - from Hong Kong to Dubai to the deepest, darkest Africa (i.e., Congo). Back then Kalitta had a less-then-stellar reputation. Nowadays, it has a better reputation and better equipment - getting more 747-400s. You still have the longish schedule away from home but you get fewer interruptions - 13-14 days off in a row vs. a broken-up schedule. Not sure what Kalitta pays FOs but it is probably less than JB.

Two considerations:

1. Do you have a family that can't have you away from home for 14-16 days in a row? If so, JB is the clear answer.

2. From a career perspective, do you want to fly heavy iron internationally? Most people couldn't care less about it while others have it as a career aspiration (that's why the legacies are a great choice because you can do both types of flying - shorthaul and longhaul). I did that type of flying and I thoroughly enjoyed it (I would do it again if I didn't currently have a great job that I enjoyed).


Good luck
 
Were you considering either airline for a career? I have to think that these days seniority is key.

Totally different flying - if you want to see the world and cross the pond, no brainer.
Don't have to worry about how many aisle chairs or bags of ice for pax etc etc

If you like flying good aircraft with a quality product, mostly domestic but some pretty cool destinations, then Jetblue.

If neither of these are career destinations, then I would think you would be more marketable with heavy time and maybe even 747 command time.

What's your overall goal? Fedex etc or Legacy Carrier?

You have to decide what success is to you.
You and only you should define your definition of success.
 
Here's what messed up about this industry. When I was young, single, and still in love with aviation, Kalitta would have been perfect. Great experience, fly all over the world etc...and I wouldn't have minded being away from home because home was a crappy apartment. BUT, I didn't have the qualifications. I spent years and years getting the qualifications but my life changed so that being away from home that much became an impossibility.
 
DIAMONDDD said:
Here's what messed up about this industry. When I was young, single, and still in love with aviation, Kalitta would have been perfect. Great experience, fly all over the world etc...and I wouldn't have minded being away from home because home was a crappy apartment. BUT, I didn't have the qualifications. I spent years and years getting the qualifications but my life changed so that being away from home that much became an impossibility.
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+1

I was in the same boat, and even applied to Kalitta several times when I was younger. I had about 1000hrs right seat RJ time.
 
Had a captain at Kallita walk my stuff in with a good word on top of it, went to see the Kallita guys in MIA at a job fair. Was told so sorry we need guys with jet time. Southwest hired me instead, oh darn! Take Jetblue
 
skypine69 said:
Lets see....JetBlue....lame a$$ blue uniforms or K4....10k feet, change into your sweats.
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Dude... you hit the nail on the head:erm:.... this whole career choice is all about wearing sweat pants on a plane....

I wish someone told me in flight school the key to this career... FREAKING SWEAT PANTS...

If i had the knowledge about the sweat pants earlier I might have gone to work for Kalitta earlier... DAMIT.... :rolleyes:

In all seriousness... Go to jetblue you will be much much much happier!
 
av8tor4239 said:
Dude... you hit the nail on the head:erm:.... this whole career choice is all about wearing sweat pants on a plane....

I wish someone told me in flight school the key to this career... FREAKING SWEAT PANTS...

If i had the knowledge about the sweat pants earlier I might have gone to work for Kalitta earlier... DAMIT.... :rolleyes:

In all seriousness... Go to jetblue you will be much much much happier!
Click to expand...

says who? You?
ps, I don't wear the sweat pants....lol
 
JT8D said:
Weird. Sweat pants and "nice sims". Never considered those as selling points when going after a flying gig.

I've done both long haul Int. and domestic pax. In my book if you take the long view, definitely Jet Blue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Hbu4Z4pGI
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yea, hilarious.....!
Yea many seem to mention, "the best sim" etc, "Nice sim", so what, weird.
new planes, ok, good point, but nice sim????
I have flown at both companies, good luck with the decision, whoever it is.
 
6 years ago I asked the FI community if I should work at CHQ/RAH or Comair. Over whelming response of Comair. I got the Comair interview first and took the job. So Comair had me on furlough 6 months later. CHQ had 2 year upgrades.

Don't pay attention to FI opinions.
 
I have done both as well and I would say 100% Jet blue. I did about 8 years of 121 supplemental freight and about 5 of easy domestic pax. I say hands down Jet Blue. Take a good look at most the guys doing the long haul supplemental freight and they look 20 years older then they are. It is a tough life.
 
27 driver said:
I have done both as well and I would say 100% Jet blue. I did about 8 years of 121 supplemental freight and about 5 of easy domestic pax. I say hands down Jet Blue. Take a good look at most the guys doing the long haul supplemental freight and they look 20 years older then they are. It is a tough life.
Click to expand...

That is your opinion and below is my opinion. My point was that the two posters I quoted acted as if what they see what is best is a no-brainer. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is one thing if they presented their point of view, as you or I did....that is fine. It is another thing that they presented it in the way that they did...as if it were gospel. To each their own.

I too have done both and to me, domestic pax wore on me as it was boring compared to flying around the world. Sure, the time zones are tough. However, I get more days off in a row as well as eat better and get more exercise doing ACMI.
 
I make a lot more money swinging gear at JB than I would for Kalitta. Much more time at home too.......but the type of flying doesnt compair .......my 3 year old doesn't care that I'm flying the "Whale" around the world and gone for 2 weeks.
After 3 days on the road, i'm done.......then, after 3 days at home, I'm also done :)
 

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