Originally Posted by pjflyer1999

All this talk about people leaving JB and "the grass is greener" mentality brings up a good question. Do people that are leaving JB actually think they are going to be happier or have more pride in what they do by going to a company like UAL/CAL, USAirways, or AA? I can understand DAL, but the others offer nothing but a historically low moral work environment and a generally negative vibe. My friend who has worked at CAL/UAL for the last 6 years has continually complained about how terrible management treats the pilot group and how it is just a big regional with regards to work rules. I've talked with many extremely senior UAL guys (747 and 777 Captains) that talk about burning the place down and how they would rather destroy the company than work there for another day. I've heard the same complaints from guys and gals at AA and USAirways and been told my many that I should not even think about applying at these carriers unless I want to hate my job every day for the rest of my career.

I understand you'll move up way quicker at a legacy with the future retirements and your earning potential MAY be greater long-term, but no one ever seems to consider QOL or having pride in their position as considerations when choosing a career airline. Do people honestly not care that the general public associates an employee of many legacy airlines as representing a terrible organization that could care less about the passenger, and of course the employee group. Are there people our there that only care about the pay and moving up in seniority? Sounds like a friend of mine who works at the Post Office! Contracts will come and go, but management will not just change overnight. Many management teams at legacy carriers will continue to find ways to keep the pilot group negative regardless of contract negotiations or pay increases (scope, RSV rules, etc..).

I find it very confusing when my same friend who has spent years complaining about how horrible it is to work at UAL/CAL and how embarrassing it is to represent the airline to the public now is encouraging me to apply? I had a USAirways Captain practically beg me not to apply as he thought I would be happier working at Home Depot!

JB may have plenty of issues, but in my short time here I have found the pilot group to be generally much happier than some Legacy groups and cerainly the customers seem to love the product. I think there is something to be said about having pride in where you work, but maybe that's just me!