NJ Bound??

[Guitar Guy]

...being a "servant" to Mr. Money Bags.

Like in other areas of life, there are people that we fly who are truly wonderful and those that are what you might call "high maintenance". However, the vast majority of the folks I've met have been terrific and usually enjoy chatting before the flight. I've even had a so-called "Mr. Moneybags" offer to let us stay with them if the company couldn't find us hotel rooms. That's pretty darn thoughtful.

How easy is it to commute?(since there isnt any CASS or ETc. etc.)

The commute is what you make it: you are on the hook to be at the assigned show location at the assigned show time on day one of your tour so you can live as close or as far from your domicile/crew base as you choose. If IBB goes through (I think it will), a new-hire would have 100 airports in the lower 48 to pick from as his/her crew base instead of being stuck at one of the current five dumb-a-ciles.

Bases? (junior and senior)

Partially answered above. Currently the company allows you to select the dumb-a-cile that you want prior to interview and you'll get that city as your base. Moving around currently in the 5 dumb-a-cile system is difficult. However, if IBB goes through, you'll pick ANY of the 100 cities you want and you can move between them with a 30-day notice to the company - no bidding, no junior/senior airline silliness.

Happy???

Any complaints?

I'm quite happy at NJA. When I started flying professionally, a major/legacy 121 carrier was my goal. However, now that I'm at NJA, I hope that this is my career. I like the flying and variety so much more than what I did at a regional. And I like interacting with our passengers - nothing like chatting with interesting people before or after a flight. We keep our hotel points and airline miles, so that's a big plus.

Complaints? Maybe the crew food system, but even so, it's much better than what most airline crews face. About the only other common complaint I hear from my co-workers is that airlining stinks: it's probably the worst part of the job. Other than that, it's really a very good job.

 

[CA1900]

Like in other areas of life, there are people that we fly who are truly wonderful and those that are what you might call "high maintenance". However, the vast majority of the folks I've met have been terrific...

That's been my experience as well. Just yesterday, as one of our passengers came up to get a cup of coffee, she asked if he could get me anything. Nice.


Oh, and for those who are concerned about servicing lavatories, here's a picture I took of one of best tools to do the job right:

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9669/50578801mb0.jpg

Complaints? Maybe the crew food system, but even so, it's much better than what most airline crews face.

Yep. It was good weeks and bad weeks, but overall, I'm pretty happy with the crew food system now that we've added the regional menus. Scallops in MDW, crabcakes in PHL, a Cuban sandwich for lunch yesterday... it's pretty good. It sure beats anything from The Great *$@(ing Bagel in CLE all the time. uke:

About the only other common complaint I hear from my co-workers is that airlining stinks: it's probably the worst part of the job. Other than that, it's really a very good job.

Yep.

I hear you on the airlining... I acutally do fine with it most days, but I damn near reached my breaking point recently on a JetBlue flight. It started with using the e-ticket machine to check my bag, and then getting ignored for 10 minutes. When I finally caught one of the clerks, she said, "You have to wait in the big line, there's only two of us." (Uhhh, no, I already waited in this one; where's my bag tag?) Then a lovely hour standing in a boarding area with 35 seats for a plane that holds 150. I should have ordered a wheelchair.

 

[Outta Here]

2 and a half years to make the required mins here. How much time do you have. I know when I was at a regional I was getting 800+ without picking up extra trips. Thats the scarry thing about the regionals these days guys with 300 hours getting hired and I have to be in the back going to work.

 

[lookin4better]

Seriously......that is a truly scarey thought!!!

 

[CRJFlyer]

I hear ya.... Rode on GOJETS and MESA through Dulles this week.... the thought did cross my mind that I probablly had more RJ experience than the combined crew..And thats not sayin a whole heckuva lot.....But to their credit the ride/landing /service was on par with every other airline I've ridden on... And we were early to boot...

 

[gunfyter]

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

"There are two kinds of people in the World. Those with guns... and those who dig."

-Clint Eastwood-​

 

[Outta Here]

You may have had nice service a nice landing and maybe 10 min early but that is not where it counts. It is when the sh%t hits the fan and when experience comes out to aid in your decision process. When there is not much experience to pull from what kind of decsions could you make?

 

[acaTerry]

What?

You don't wanna be a BellBoy with Wings?

AND a blackberry?!

 

[NJApilot]

why would it be very hard?... i have about 3 more years until i head to NJ. gotta build the time along with the 1000hours PIC tubine. I know that its not required. but its something i want...

FYI...Not to burst your bubble, but it appears that the application window at NJA has officially closed due to the "overwhelming interest" in pilot positions (ie, 500+ resumes received over the past 3 weeks).

Expected hiring next year currently set at 300 pilots.

 

[NJApilot]

Concerning Servants

But the only thing worrying me about them is a commute and being a "servant" to Mr. Money Bags.

Soon enough, my brother, you will come to learn that there isn't a flying job in existence today where you aren't a servant - in some way or another - to Mr. Money Bags. A quick glance at your most recent W2 will aid you in coming to this realization.

My masters (if you will) sit in the back of my plane where I have direct control of the service they receive as customers - and 98% of the time they walk away nothing less than 100% satisfied, always willing (and able) to pay more to keep the service they receive.

On the other hand, your master (the ever so popular JO) sits in a top, corner office suite of an Arizona business park devising new ways to squeeze that extra dollar of productivity out of his beaten-down workforce....all in an effort to make himself richer at the cost of his employees.

Big difference.

In any case, I would be willing to match Buffett again Ornstein any day of the week.

 

[pdub20s]

Im very interested in NJA and getting out of this crap hole...

 

[rumrnr78]

As oppossed to some low life scumbag paying a $50 fare and giving you grief?
Go fractional and never look back. The highs will outweigh the lows, I promise!!!
And, you will make contacts for future jobs like no other!
I am going to sound cocky but I think Airlne flying is for suckers! The best flying is found at the FBO not the line snaking around the terminal!
Cheers-rum

 

[fischman]

Oh, and for those who are concerned about servicing lavatories, here's a picture I took of one of best tools to do the job right:

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9669/50578801mb0.jpg

Wow. A whole $5? :erm:

If you tip the line guys $20 for doing your lav, they usually don't roll their eyes at you. Food for thought.

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

And if the NJ guys would let a FJ guy talk, I actually like the airlining. It allows me to be the customer at the beginning of my rotation, to set the stage for the 5 days ahead (and I always wear civvies, just to enjoy being the customer). It's a great way to end the rotation, also.

There's nothing better than crashing out in an MD-80 -- even in the back -- with a shuffle play of mp3's in my ear, on company time. So for those who complain about airlining, it's a matter of perspective. Being Platinum is part of the Fractional industry that I like.

 

[fischman]

And if the NJ guys would let a FJ guy talk, .

Lighten up Francis...