Netjets vs. Alaska vs. NWA Recall?????

[Going2Baja]

Any comments requested.... Below is some info about my situation:

1) NWA furlough since 02/02

2) W. Coast family guy

3) Currently flying Pt 91 King Air w/ 4 hard days a month

4) Have 22 years till age 60

5) Won't move from So Cal.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Baja.

 

[On Your Six]

Netjets. Fly nice aircraft until you are 65 (if you are able). Take the LAX domicile and don't look back. I have heard there is little movement at Alaska and NWA could merge or never recover (especially if oil hits $100 per barrel). Plus, 7/7 can't be beat in my opinion.

 

[xpdriver]

Remember to put LAX as your first choice of domicles.. Good Luck. Get your app in soon.

 

[Ultra Grump]

Did you ask that question on the Majors board as well? Probably get a completely different answer than you get here.

BTW, my vote's NJA.

 

[niteflyr]

Sounds like you live at an Alaska base so if you are wanting and willing to work for an airline I would definitely go there. If I were being hired post ratification and had to pick one of the current NJA domiciles I would not be working here. Same thing applies though, turned down a SB at Alaska a few years back because I would not relocate or commute to work there either.

 

[RNObased]

Baja,
You aren't clear on your post. Did AK air offer you the gig or just an interview? Do you have job at NJA or interiview??

Need more info.

 

[Going2Baja]

Currently working for Pt 91 Co in a KA350. Have updated with NJA and Derinda should be letting me know shortly what's up. Alaska called yesterday asking for breakdown of PIC turbine. I think things are starting to happen but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot per-say. I want my next employeer to be the last. Thanks for all of your responces!

Baja.

 

[Archie Bunker]

Baja,

You probably already know what I'm going to say......but I'll go ahead and say it anyway.

Even if you put a gun to my head, I wouldn't fly for any Pt. 121 passenger carrier out there. I don't care who it is......SWA included. Absolutely no stability in the market. What happens when the price of oil jumps up to $100 a barrel? Hello employees, this is management.....we need some more paycuts so that we can compete, we need to change work rules, we need to increase productivity. Do they pass the cost of doing business on to the paying passenger? Goodness no! Why do that when they can pass that cost on to the employees?

Also, QOL at the Majors (Delta, in my personal experience) has gone from "outstanding" (prior to 9-11) to "miserable" (present day). I quit Delta to go to NetJets.....does that tell you anything about how much it sucks there? I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut that the NWA that you once knew and loved (prior to your furlough) is nothing like present day NWA in terms of pay/work rules/pension/morale. Look at the NWA FAs for a morale reference point. If you went back there, I am confident that you would hate it. As for Alaska.....nice folks, with great North/South routes for a West Coast guy, but nonetheless still subject to the same market forces as any other Pt. 121 pax carrier. Not exactly stable, IMHO.

If you're looking for a career with stability, I think that I would target UPS/FedEx first, NetJets second, and everything else a distant third. I know that there are many here that would give their left testicle to fly for SWA....and maybe that would be a great fit for you if you really wanted to fly for a Pt. 121 pax carrier. If that is the case, maybe you should put SWA up there after the Cargo carriers. They are doing quite well, and have prospered when everyone else has lost their collective asses for the last 5 years. It's just not my cup of tea.

Good luck buddy......it's nice to have options, isn't it?

 

[psysicx]

Now I don't want to stir the pot. But what happens if Buffet dies and sells off NJA to someone? I don't think that there is stability in this industry. Alaska has not filed bankrupcy and seems to be doing well. They have a good market. Schedules seem better at a 121 or I should say more flexible. Flip a coin a hope for the best.

 

[Freight Dog]

I hear reserve at Alaska is now running upwards of several years. Don't know if it's true...

Baja... if I were in your shoes, I'd go for NJA and call it a career - no age 60 to worry about, LAX domicile, great equipment, excellent company with great financial backing, variety of destinations... To me, it looks like a place to park it.

Just my .02 cents. Good luck!

 

[RNObased]

Currently working for Pt 91 Co in a KA350. Have updated with NJA and Derinda should be letting me know shortly what's up. Alaska called yesterday asking for breakdown of PIC turbine. I think things are starting to happen but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot per-say. I want my next employeer to be the last. Thanks for all of your responces!

Baja.

I would look long and hard at Alaska. They are one of the few airlines that I would consider flying for. NWA is a crap shoot. I would say either NJA or AK would be a good call if you are a west coast boy.

 

[cush]

bird in the hand my friend.

I have a dozen good friends at Alaska. Since that contract was imposed, morale is not good. If NJA hires you first, I think you will quickly learn it's a great place to work. Otherwise, make the best of it at Alaska.

 

[gutshotdraw]

I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut that the NWA that you once knew and loved (prior to your furlough) is nothing like present day NWA in terms of pay/work rules/pension/morale. Look at the NWA FAs for a morale reference point. If you went back there, I am confident that you would hate it.

Baja,

Archie is absolutely correct. An Airbus Captain now makes what an Airbus F/O made 2 years ago (I can show you the 1040), cap can be as much as 92 hours (which means 4 commutes to make min line), F/A's on the warpath (and rightly so), Building 5 is full of dirtbags, pension is frozen and will probably go anyway, possible merger/buyout/screw-job seniority integration, etc etc. The brave woman I married can't wait to punch out of the mess that is NWA.

Can't speak for Alaska but I'd go with Netjets or a corporate jet gig if you can find one at CRQ. Remember, Northwest begins with NO.

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

Hey Baja what kinda cash you makin' on that BE-350 job? That's a good lookin' airplane. Sounds like a cakewalk.

 

[Going2Baja]

Ed - Equal to third year Alaska F/O or 3rd yr NJA Capt. It’s great $$, but I have no life. I get four hard days off within reason (if nothing major on the books.) And other than those we fly 50-75 hours a month and do maybe 2-4 overnights. However, most days I'm up at 4am, get to work at 6am, back to the airport at 5-6pm and home by 7 and miss dinner w/ the Fam. Company does pay full bennies + 401K etc.

Cush - Actually moral is on an upswing - CEO just made a DVD smiling all the way to the bank about how much $$ they are making. Most pilots believe they will get back some of the pay cut they took. The pension is still intact and retirements are through the roof. Also LAX is the junior base so I'm thinking I'd be off reserve soon.

Gutshot/Archie - NWA is the old "Ace in the hole" if there is such a thing. If all else fails horribly then there is NWA to go back to.

Who knows - Murphy's Law will probably take place and I won't have either to choose from. First things first I guess - get the interviews - Pass the interviews - and make a choice of one and or either job offered!

Thanks again for all the input you all have given.... Anything to keep the brain a thinkin' is good in my book....

Baja.

 

[Crow]

Go with the type of flying and lifestyle you like cause all that crystal ball stuff is a WAG and there are no guarantees. Who knows what will happen with age 60 rules, fractional stability, airline stability...

 

[TurboJetCpt]

Netjets. Fly nice aircraft until you are 65 (if you are able).

There is no age 65 year rule for 91/135.

If that's what you meant...

 

[FLYLOW22]

I want my next employeer to be the last. Baja.

Ahhhh. What every young strapping 30-50 year old pilot dreams of but rarely gets.

 

[Going2Baja]

It looks like the decision is Final...ALASKA on the 23rd of Oct! Thanks to all who have helped with info during my job search. No regrets leaving NWA. Actually the recall notice came two days before my final interview at AS. Those of you on the W. Coast enjoy the last few weeks of our ongoing Summer - and those in the mid and East coasts...Enjoy the Fall because Winter is around the corner. Time to close up a few loose ends and off to SEA in two weeks! Thanks again FI....Baja

For those of you seaking NJA, I can say from what I saw it is a great company and I would have taken the offer had it come. After I was asked to update in 6 mos I did and was then emailed asking me to update again in another 6 mos. Derinda said this was the first time she had ever been asked to do this. I am at a loss to understand what they were looking for. But the decision is made and I am very stoked about it! Good luck to all on the search!!

 

[tk855]

Congrats and best of luck at AS! :beer: