Looking for some insight...

[bosdrx]

Hey all,

I'm an RJ Captain for a regional airline. Lately I've been thinking about getting out of the airlines. I've got a good friend over at NetJets that has offered to help me get a resume in if i was interested in going that way.... So far, from what he's told me, I'm interested, but i need more information before I send in a resume. I'm wondering if anyone has gone this way. Maybe some pros and cons? I'm in the beginning of my research, and any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[D_G]

http://forums.flightinfo.com/search.php?searchid=1262566

 

[bosdrx]

Huge help... Thanks!

 

[Ultra Grump]

If you live in/very near one of our 5 domiciles, go for it. Otherwise do yourself a favor and don't bother.

 

[skiandsurf]

Pros....great variety and time off.

cons...no travel benefits.

The only thing i miss from the airline is the travel benefits. I used to take the family to Hawaii once or twice a year. Not anymore. Other than that, this place is great.

oh yeah, I hope you live in one of the five domiciles, otherwise, you wont like it so much.

 

[niteflyr]

Although not always Hawaii I have been able to take the wife and/or kids on one big vacation and a couple smaller ones each year since I started with netjets. I get enough airline miles and plenty of hotel points to cover it all, and positive space I might add. Standby travel bites. I've sat with the huge list of standby travelers in the PHNL airport trying to get out of town, no thanks.

 

[skiandsurf]

Just something else for those of you thinking of coming here from a regional. Some of the regional guys complain about...

1. Not knowing where that next beer will be at. Airline guys have regular overnights with their favoite bar. At the frax, you rarely stay in the same place twice, or know in advance as to where you will be.

2. Lack of commoradity (i am sure butchered that one). No crewroom socialization. Its you and a partner for a week, without going into the MSP or DFW or ORD crewroom after every roundtrip to check on the latest crewroom gossip.

3. again the domicile. we do have a hand full of newhires quiting, I am sure that the domicile is a big issue for some.

Good things...

1. You are really on your own. You check in via the bb. Get all of your info over the bb. Its you and a partner out on a 7 day trip to ????? with ?????.

2. This company and chief pilot have NO idea who I am. I have no idea who my direct boss is. I have heard of his name, but have no clue who he really is.

3. 7/7. Packing and going out for 7 days sucks. But coming home for 7 days is great. The reserve schedule offers more variety (5/2, 4,3, etc). Havent done it though.

4. The company treats us pretty good (my opinion).

5. Not dependent on UAL, AA, DAL, NWA.....remember your job at UEX, AE, DConn, COEX, is only their until the next scumbag under bids you.

Hope this helps.

 

[jtf]

The domicile issue is pretty big. There have already been at least 12 domicile based pilots who have left so far in 2007 and at least another 30 who left last year. You commute on your dime and that is causing a lot of problems for many pilots here. That said, it is well worth it for me. I moved to a domicile and I don't really like any of the choices. I will move away from my current domicile as soon as there is homebasing or more domiciles to choose from. I fully understand this probably won't be until a new contract is reached, but the current domicile system does suck. Make sure you really are willing to live in one of those places (or near by) if you want to make a go of it. It's still a great job that I highly recommend. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[idoitupsidedown]

There have already been at least 12 domicile based pilots who have left so far in 2007 and at least another 30 who left last year. You commute on your dime and that is causing a lot of problems for many pilots here.

How far are most of these guys commuting? I live a three hour drive from cmh. I don't and never have commuted, but I don't think a 3 hour drive once a week would be too bad. But, I don't know if there is more to it than that...

 

[Twotter76]

There are guys commuting from all over. Some are buying tickets, some drive. A good friend of mine drives 5+ hours to CMH. I presume that you are in CVG, I know of several guys doing that drive, doesn't seem like it would be that bad.

 

[jtf]

3 hours once a week sounds reasonable to me. The guys having the hardest time are those who are paying for airline tickets and hotels to commute and those who are driving farther than you would be driving. There are a lot of ex-Indy guys who are driving to TEB from the IAD area and many others driving further. That is what the job takes now if you don't want to move. That is just too much grief for many, so many are leaving. You are in a good position to take the job if offered and I would highly suggest it. Others who won't move and live much farther away I would have to suggest not to come under this contract unless something changes (unlikely). I think this is the best fractional out there, but not if you are tied to somewhere that is not a descent commute.

 

[bosdrx]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I appreciate it. I live in boston, and really cant move so I'll be looking at a 3.5 hour drive to TEB once a week, but compared to what I've been doing, it doesnt seem so bad. I actually sent my resume in last night, so the waiting game begins. I'm pretty excited to see where this goes. Obviously, no company/airline is perfect and they all have problems, but the more i think about not lookin at an airline schedule/lifestyle for the next 30+ years, the better i feel about sending in my res. Thanks again for the info. Fly safe.

 

[CA1900]

How far are most of these guys commuting? I live a three hour drive from cmh. I don't and never have commuted, but I don't think a 3 hour drive once a week would be too bad. But, I don't know if there is more to it than that...

When you have a 3 hour drive for an 10am show, it isn't bad.

When you have a 3 hour drive for a 6am show (which I had last week), it makes for either a very long day, or a hotel the night before. (Eventually you'll earn enough hotel points that those will be free, but I'd much rather use those for vacation, and would prefer another night at home.)

I'll be moving to about a 1:15 drive from my domicile in a couple of weeks; that's going to make life a lot easier.

 

[captain dad]

If you have commuted before it is not a big deal at all. If you are flying you need to find really cheap tickets or it won't work. If you are driving no problem. I commute. With travel, hotel, etc... I spend about $300 a month. It seems like a lot but if you figure that I don't put any miles or gas in my car don't need a car in my base, don't have to deal with room-mates, would be commuting at my old job for about the same price, and don't have to spend $8,000 in moving expenses for me and my family, it is a no brainer. At least for me it is. $8000 buys a lot of $56 airline tickets.

Hopefully, in the next contract we can at least increase the number of cities to be used as bases. The jusry is still out as for if the base thing is really saving any money. Personally I don't think it is saving anyone anything.

 

[HAZ-MAT]

Met a guy from Lynchburg Va that drives 14 hours to and from PBI. Unable to switch domiciles because there has not been a bid for CMH or TEB in his aircraft type. Other people i've met drive from MHT area to TEB and do it day of, so you can tell that they're tired if they're getting a 5 or 6am show. One more case, a person from RDU area gets plane tickets down to PBI and it normally doesn't cost him more than $75 for the ticket, he also has friends to crash with the night before.
You really need to think about these above scenarios if you are looking at NJA and will be traveling a distance to get to work. Will you be able to do this drive/commute for the next 4 years?

 

[fischman]

Met a guy from Lynchburg Va that drives 14 hours to and from PBI. Unable to switch domiciles because there has not been a bid for CMH or TEB in his aircraft type. Other people i've met drive from MHT area to TEB and do it day of, so you can tell that they're tired if they're getting a 5 or 6am show. One more case, a person from RDU area gets plane tickets down to PBI and it normally doesn't cost him more than $75 for the ticket, he also has friends to crash with the night before.
You really need to think about these above scenarios if you are looking at NJA and will be traveling a distance to get to work. Will you be able to do this drive/commute for the next 4 years?

3 years. Having flown for the regionals, I will tell you that I wil NEVER do it again now that I have had a taste of the fractionals.

 

[Ultra Grump]

Actually, more like 7 years. We'll be working under this contract for at least a couple of years of negotiations.