QOL @ NetJets

[sluggo]

Thanks a million everyone! you've all been a huge help... Now its time to get otta here & do some Christmas eve partying!

 

[Crobar]

Dude Jetnets Sucks, wish I wasn't stuck at this job

 

[johnsonrod]

Dude Jetnets Sucks, wish I wasn't stuck at this job

Drinking and posting at the same time is never advisable...

 

[Heavy Set]

You can't beat the growth prospects at many of these fractionals. Wealthy people will do whatever they can to avoid the airlines and TSA hassles. Wealthy people will buy fractions in good times and bad. And buying a fraction of an aircraft makes a lot more sense than buying an entire aircraft to most people (there are always exceptions of course). Big corporations can supplement their own fleets and also require the flexibility that only corporate/fractional aircraft can provide (flying into small towns and at odd times). The "commodification" of airline service (gets worse and worse with no frills) only bolsters the need for fractional flying among corporate executives needing stress-free environments to be productive.

I think Netjets will continue to lead the industry because it has the largest and most comprehensive aircraft fleet (scale helps reduce costs), a global network (Netjets Europe, Middle East and possibly China subsidiaries) and a great reputation (being associated with Warren Buffet helps too).

And remember that you don't have to select the 7/7 over the long term if you don't want it - there are 3 types of schedules (7/7, 15-day and 18-day) to accomodate your interests.

 

[Dr Pepper]

I saw my first real-life transvestite in Key West last month. I think he was a full head taller than me!

I rode the elevator with 2 at the Sheraton next to APA a few days ago.

 

[atr42flyer]

hey guys just another question about netjets. how rare is it to get hired into the large cabin jets vs. base aircraft. i know its alot more money so i was thinking that it doesnt happen but i dont know ********************.

 

[imacdog]

New hires will not go into the 40K+ airplanes. All others are possibilities and they all pay the same.

 

[BengalsFan]

nice picture!

 

[skyaddict]

Great responses so far. Although the new NJA contract changes things a little (mostly for the better, though a few things do amount to small concessions of sorts, well outweighed by the improvements in my view), there are some excellent older threads on the pros/cons of 121 vs fracs in general and 121 vs NJA in particular which you should definitely read. I am too lazy to post a link though.

I am one of the 121 guys (regionals, but including ACA/Indepedence where our contract was rather good as regionals go) who was initially sceptical about fractionals but now that I am here (NJA) would be as hard pressed to go back to the airline lifestyle as I would be to go from broadband back to dial-up.

If one is young enough to still have 25+ years at the airlines, the prospect of eventually enjoying a senior schedule at the majors and enjoying it for a good chunk of time, may be worth sticking it out at the "musical chairs" airline industry, if (big if to my mind) one can stomach the high probability of some bad luck along the way. I find the whole "stepping stone"/"get this job to get that job" mentality of the 121 airlines disheartening, along with the cr*p shoot of bunkruptcies, mergers, etc. and frequently having to go backwards to go forwards and all that. It gets old after a while. It seems like many of those I know from ACA who have not come to NJA, even after landing on their feet, are all mostly looking to jump ship a couple times more on the way to their dream job, and unless they are at Fedex, UPS or SWA (i.e. even if they are now at another major), they are constantly re-considering jumping ship.

Granted, there are no guarantees that some industry shakeup won't eventually hurt NJA, but it is a place where one can not only get an immediate, sharp improvement in QOL over most airline jobs (for years 1-2 at least), but also get benefits of long term growth and stability without nearly as much anxiety during the ride, as in the 121 world. And, except for a select few (Fedex, UPS esp.), the cargo world, while the clientelle (boxes) are less fickle than the internet-fares pax world, seem to schedule crews like dogmeat even compared to the regionals.

7n7 certainly isn't for everyone. But personally I agree with the previous poster's reasons for a 7 day NJ schedule wearing me out less than a 4 or 5 day regional schedule, and the days off are infinitely more enjoyable than the days off of an airline commuter. And there are alternatives to the 7n7 which at least pay even more as compensation.

NJA life isn 't perfect, and I agree it's generally inferior to a good senior, living-in-base airline schedule. But it seems to me that there is so much insecurity and roll of the dice in ever getting, much less maintaining, a senior live-in-domicile 121 lifestyle, that the gamble is only worth it for those who can factor in the likelihood of 2 or 3 job changes (startung at seniority zero again) and the possibility of never getting that golden goose lifestyle at all.

Maybe I'm all wrong, and the combo of massive age 60-65 retirements plus international, mostly trans-pacific asian growth will bring on another "catch me if you can" era of majors lifestyles, but that seems extremely unlikely compared to the frittering away effect of ever more LCCs on the golden goose dreams of life at the majors.

 

[realityman]

One thing I'd like to emphasize, because it seems that it was only mentioned in passing, is that upgrades now look like it'll be AT LEAST 5 years for anyone hired on now.

Yeah, delivery schedules can change, and rapid growth may pick again, but it's important for anyone considering coming here now that realistically you're looking at a long time to upgrade.

Depending on what schedule you choose, you could still be making around $90K after 5 years as an F/O (base salary. You may make over six figures with a little O/T, holiday pay, extra days, etc...).

Just a little food for thought since like a lot of people on here, I too have boasted of some nice income numbers. But to be fair to newhires, it could be a while before you see those numbers here.

On the bright side though, when you do finally upgrade to captain, you'll be at captain's pay for the years of service you've had with the company, not in seat. So a 5th year F/O upgrading to captain will start at 5th year captain's pay, which is quite nice.

As for the QOL here at NJA, what everyone else said. It's not for everyone, but it's been an extremely good gig for me. A pretty decent balance of work and home life. 7 days on the road does get a little long, but it's manageable for all the reasons everyone else has posted here.