Leaving Jetblue for anywhere

[captain caveman]

Tailhookah,

Don't you think that international exposure can also be a benefit, like portfolio diversification? What if something were to happen domestically? We'd all be hosed.

I left JetBlue in 07 to go to Delta. Had I stayed, I'd be Captain at JetBlue but when I look at where I should retire near the top at Delta, I might be alright.

That furlough left a bad taste in your mouth that might be affecting your decision. The same thing could happen anywhere including jetBlue. I wouldn't let the past affect your decision, but make the best choice with respect to what you think will happen in the future.

I'm not sayin' go back to Delta. Barger cuts costs just like Andersen, though.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[CAMELBUB]

Left blueJet back in 07 ( Sen about 1200ish) ...for a REAL Airline...have not regretted it once. Bluejet WILL implode..get off the Titanic while you can and leave those non-union Lemmings behind!

 

[Deli Guy]

I am very disappointed with JB. Middle of the pack, and its just business. I am working on the logbook.

 

[Wingman10]

By no means am I trying to start anything at all, but I am curious as to why some would leave Jet Blue. From an outside perspective it seems that you are expanding or at the very least nuetral. Everytime that I have had the pleasure of jumpseating it seems that you guys run a nice ship.

Again, not asking for dirty laundry but I am just curious.

 

[Flyby1206]

By no means am I trying to start anything at all, but I am curious as to why some would leave Jet Blue. From an outside perspective it seems that you are expanding or at the very least nuetral. Everytime that I have had the pleasure of jumpseating it seems that you guys run a nice ship.

Again, not asking for dirty laundry but I am just curious.

I'm glad we could be of service on your commute, and thanks for the kind words.

We have an unusually young group of pilots, average age being somewhere in the mid 40s. When looking at ourselves vs the rest of the industry we are lacking in terms of pay/benefits and dont have the projected movement that legacies do with retirements (we have about 100 retirements over the next 10 years).

For me the biggest thing is job security. We are a tiny carrier without a CBA/union in a market where 4 carriers control 85+% of the US market. When one of those carriers comes knocking at our door we have zero protection.

 

[Ty Webb]

Jetblue isn't exposed to that international risk like other majors. Either is WN. We were the only two majors who have expanded during the post 911 aftermath and during the great recession.

Good post, and an interesting take. AirTran, btw, tripled in size from 2001-2010, so you might add us to that list, too.

 

[FlyinGuy]

Who is Air Tran and what type of equipment do they fly?

 

[DUBLINFLYER]

Dont take the flame bait

Who is Air Tran and what type of equipment do they fly?

This will suddenly turn into AT / SWA bash don't do it!!!!!!

 

[redflyer65]

This will suddenly turn into AT / SWA bash don't do it!!!!!!

Count me in!

 

[Hpilot]

In our latest class of 20 that started the 15th, there was a JetBlue pilot. Evidently US Airways/American is one place they're going to. I think our next class is the 29th with 22 new hires. Lots of hiring to follow.

 

[MCDU]

In our latest class of 20 that started the 15th, there was a JetBlue pilot. Evidently US Airways/American is one place they're going to. I think our next class is the 29th with 22 new hires. Lots of hiring to follow.

Since when is the America West side hiring. The division in Phx is stagnant. Bottom First officer hired in 2005. Could you please leave out the our.


M

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

Who is Air Tran and what type of equipment do they fly?

Well you've still got about two years to come across one of our 717's or 737's with a little "a" on the tail and, depending on your age, about 30 years to fly with our pilots.

 

[Hpilot]

Since when is the America West side hiring. The division in Phx is stagnant. Bottom First officer hired in 2005. Could you please leave out the our.


M

Oh relax MCDU, it will be over soon. We are both US Airways pilots. You should be happy, your raise is going to be bigger than mine. I plan on not being angry one way or the other.

 

[Ty Webb]

Who is Air Tran and what type of equipment do they fly?

Remember the Road Warriors in the original "Mad Max"?

 

[tailhookah]

Captain caveman wrote:

Don't you think that international exposure can also be a benefit, like portfolio diversification? What if something were to happen domestically? We'd all be hosed.

Let's look at some factual history regarding our industry in the past decade:

1) 911-All legacies furloughed. WN, AT, Alliegent, ATA, Frontier and Jetblue all expanded greatly... Frontier did furlough initially but then recalled all pretty quickly and expanded until high gas and credit dried up. These are all domestic carriers... they all expanded big time while worldwide footprint carriers furluoghed.

2) High gas-look to #1 above.

3) Credit market evaporates- look to #1 above.

4) SARS- hit all carriers that had exposure in Asia very badly, overnight.

5) Great Recession- DAL still hasn't hired (or recalled in years). UAL is just begining and so is Airways. AA still not hiring or recalling. Jetblue, WN and until they went away Airtran expanded.

Do I need to go on? I'm not saying that when things are stroking throughout the world that the legacies are unstoppable and finally a huge money making operation. But shut down part of the planet and they hurt. I pointed out 4 huge issues that were hugely impactful for the domestic airline and US economy that caused huge shrinkage to the legacies, but yet we saw a huge growth period for the domestics... so I disagree that we'd all be hosed.

I will restate my original thread... the legacies have a huge international risk that the LCC's don't have, as much... history proves that the legacies will shell out a minimum of 10% of thier list if things go bad... when your lists are 10,000+, it's a big furlough number...

At least at WN and B6, it's been proven that the rednecks still will fly to Disney, Bike week and the Daytona if the economy sucks... FACT!

Tail

PS- did you see the latest on the bird flu jumping countries???? Remember SARS???? or the previous Bird Flu????

http://www.france24.com/en/20130424-taiwan-confirms-first-h7n9-bird-flu-case-outside-china