Problem - JetBlue VS. AirTran

[Networ-King]

I'm looking for a destination, so where I start, I plan to stay.

Careful....

Many a pilots have said this and they ended up on their 7th airline.....

Just kidding.... congrats and good luck.

 

[airbaker]

Congrats on such great choices...that speaks volumes of not only your flight background, but more importantly, your personality.

I'm biased of course, but I'll add that JetBlue uses a pref bidding program that I'm sure you'll love (AT might have it too, I just don't know). It really enhances your QOL by having the ability to pick and choose trips, and especially, specific days off. We also have a very liberal trip trade/drop system that allows for even more tailoring.

Good luck on your decision...and remember not to look back!

 

[furloughed dude]

Geez man, you're like a woman. Make a choice and move on. Quit giving us a play by play and make a decision by yourself!

 

[rice]

Geez man, you're like a woman. Make a choice and move on. Quit giving us a play by play and make a decision by yourself!

F Dude,

Get a Life!!!!!!!

'nuff said.

Fish,

CONGRATS and good luck with whichever way you go!

 

[CODs4ever]

Catfish,

Congrats. It sounds to me like you already made up your mind and you are just looking for some reassurance. You were set on AirTran, but seems you were so impressed with the atmosphere at JetBlue that you are willing to completely shift gears. Good thing you went to the interview, huh?

I'd go with your gut instinct, and sounds to me like you are leaning toward the Blue side. Have fun in that brand new paperless A320 cockpit.

Good luck!

 

[FLB717]

In the next year we will take nearly 31 aircraft, with 70+ to follow, we have 75 right now.

 

[V2+10]

What I was referring to is that JB requires a pilot to sign a 5 year employment contract. At the end of that 5 years the company is free to terminate you without cause.

Is that not how it's written? I'm not saying that JB would do that, but from what I've been told, it is in there.

Not true...in fact quite the opposite...here is what is said in the JetBlue 2003 annual stockholders report:

"We enter into an individual employment agreement with each of our FAA-licensed employees, which include pilots, dispatchers and technicians. Each employment agreement is for the term of five years and automatically renews for an additional five-year term unless either the employee or we elect to not renew it by giving notice at least 90 days before the end of the initial term. Pursuant to these agreements, these employees can only be terminated for cause. In the event of a downturn in our business, we are obligated to pay these employees a guaranteed level of income and to continue their benefits if they do not obtain other aviation employment. In addition, in the event we are sold to or consolidate with another company, we must request that the successor company place these employees on a preferential hiring list. If such employees are not hired by the successor company, in some cases they will be entitled to a severance payment of up to one year's salary."

V2

 

[Pura Vida]

Not true...in fact quite the opposite...here is what is said in the JetBlue 2003 annual stockholders report:

"Each employment agreement is for the term of five years and automatically renews for an additional five-year term unless either the employee or we elect to not renew it by giving notice at least 90 days before the end of the initial term. Pursuant to these agreements, these employees can only be terminated for cause. ."

V2

This clears it up a bit, but it still says that one or both parties can elect to "not renew it"...

The second part about being terminated for cause leads me to believe that they are talking about a person could only be dismissed during the 5 yr. period for cause. At the end of the 5 yr. period management could at that time elect not to renew the contract because you are not being terminated; you are simply not having your contract renewed.

So it seems that the quoted paragraph deals with two different scenerios.

Not taking sides. Just looking at it and asking, "hmmm...how would an attorney interpret this?"

 

[Newjetjockey]

Schedule observation:

One thing I have noticed about Jetblue is that they have some pretty relentless schedules. They get onto the 4AM van on the east coast, get into California early in the morning, "sleep" in the hotel for several hours, then fly the redeye back to New York.

I'm not saying there aren't a ton of great things about Jetblue but I wouldn't think that schedule is for me. However, there may be some good things about that schedule that I don't know about like tons of days off with high block hours.

This information is from the crewbus only. I don't know anything else about Jetblues schedules. Also, since Airtran is starting more left coast flying this could happen there also.

Comments?

 

[Dizel8]

The pilots actually work with scheduling, to produce the best pairings based on the flying. We ask for productivity, so the pairings normally run about 6 hours of credit a day.

Most people get about 15-16 days off a month for 82 hours of credit, senior people can easily get that with 17-19 days off.

As far as whether AAI or JBLU, that is a hard choice, but certainly a great position to be in.

 

[kwijybo]

JB Skeds

You say relentless, we say productive.

Now hopefully, JetBlue can get those transcon turns and we won't have that problem of day sleeping.
(kidding-that horse is way dead)

 

[FLB717]

CatfishVT9

Let me see if I understand this. You have a family friend do a favor by asking the CEO of a company to look at you. basaed on thier pull as a company officer to help get your interview based on thier friendship with a family member, and then you may trun down the job offer? Please make what you feel is the right choice for you, but if you do not show up kiss your family friends a$$, because they went out on a limb for you with Joe.

 

[zonker]

From this morning's wire:

8:14AM Jetblue Airways: Airbus in talks to sell 30 A320s to JetBlue - Reuters

http://finance.yahoo.com/mp#jblu

 

[Music]

CatfishVT9,


I'm going to weigh in on this subject because it seems that there are more people from JetBlue posting replies then AirTran. When I came to AirTran in '01 I had the same offers that you had. I had to make a choice. The difference was that the class dates were about a month apart rather then a day. There is no question that JetBlue and AirTran are both good places to be right now, and for the foreseeable future. The bottomline is that you have to go with your "Gut" on this one. I'm not going to sit back and tell you that AirTran is better than JetBlue or vice versa because there are many pros and cons to both. I will say that I agree with FLB717 that if you used a friend with contacts to Joe Leonard to get an interview (and ultimately an offer) and then choose JetBlue; well lets say that's not a good way to maintain a "Bridge" . In the long run it won't matter, because it's only when we fly our last Part 121 flight when we turn 60 that we'll know if we made the right decision.

What ever decision you make, best wishes.

Music

 

[Pura Vida]

Now if they would just take AirTran and JetBlue and merge them into one while keeping the best of both companies, THAT would surely solve Catfish's dilema. SWA would be sweating this one for sure.

 

[IAHERJ]

You've got to sit down for several hours by yourself with a pad of paper and make a pros and cons list for both companies. Then you have to add up the two lists and make a decision for yourself(not anyone else). You alone will be the one who endures the career at either company. If you go with AirTran and 5 years from now we end up being bought or disappear for some reason, your family friend and or Joe Leonard is not going to come to you with an apology and a special severance. This is business and you have to go with the carrier you feel will be around for a long time to come and be the best fit for you. You have to be selfish because you are really the only one looking out for you. I think Airtran is a great airline and I have enjoyed my 1+ year here. I think our job security is pretty stable but so is JetBlue's. The crews I've met at JetBlue have all been very outgoing and they sure seem to have a great time working and on layovers. AirTran treats first year FA's pretty lousy and we end up having some of the good ones quit. Maybe I've got a case of "the grass is greener" but our mix of crews here at AirTran can be hit or miss sometimes. I think a new base for us will definately help in the FA hiring arena at AirTran. Not that this issue should even be close to your top 8-9 reasons for selecting an airline but I thought I should point out an area I think we could improve on here. If that is my largest gripe, then things can't be too bad here huh?

Good luck with your decision. Don't look back after you make a selection because it doesn't do any good.

IAHERJ

 

[CatfishVT9]

FLB717,

You're not saying anything I haven't already thought about. I held off using that bullet until it seemed that JB wasn't going to call.

I know lots of folks say "it's just business" to walk away, but I didn't get this far by being a one-way and not taking other people into consideration. If I do go to JB, I'll first make a phone call to my contact so he hears it from me first.

Catfish

 

[waazzuuuup!!]

Catfish

Choose the Job that does not require you
to commute.

I have been a commuter for 10 years now and it sucks big time.

Trust me when i tell you COMMUTING SUCKS!!!!

You will be away from home a **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** load more.

Good luck

 

[-9Capt]

I've been with AT 6 years this month and couldn't be happier. Things have never been as good as they are now, and with contract negotiations begining in a few months, thing should only get better. Senority advancement will be quick.

Compare things like commuting, pay, retirement and work rules. You can't go wrong no matter which you choose.

Good Luck.

 

[Spud]

If you come to Airtran you'll have at least one other Meridian T-2 bubba to drink with.