Originally Posted by
jtrain609
So, I want to point something out, especially at this airline.
There are a large number of people who won't EVER be senior at this airline. They're too old, or they got in too late, or they live in too senior of a base, or they upgraded.
I was told at XJT to shut up and color because "one day I'd be senior too." Guess what? 14 months later I got furloughed, and when I came back I never upgraded. If I had stuck around, it would have been a 10.5 year upgrade at a regional. This could happen here. What happens if upgrading means spending 15 years on reserve? I know someone is going to say, "DON'T UPGRADE!" but there comes a point where you have to start funding your retirement.
So there are a large number of people out there who have to consider that they won't get senior here, and their perspective isn't invalid because they weren't able to get hired in 2003.
You're right to an extent. This is a pretty young airline in general, but "senior" is relative, no? I sit as a senior 320 FO and do really well in terms of pay and QOL. And that can be true for many airlines. IF you get hired at 45-50 after a military career, you're seniority at Delta or United will be much different than a commuter getting on at 27.
Also, SWA seniority progression is arguably worse than even ours at this point post Airtran merger. Yet I'd venture to guess people would go there 9 times out of 10 over us (unless you live in/near Boston/FLL).
The point is that you many be on reserve today at JB, but you'll have a line soon. You may be flying nothing but redeyes and 10 hr 3-days, but you'll be able to hold them soon. You may only be a mid senior 320FO, but you could hold 190 CA soon. Etc. I hear too many people taking a snapshot of where they are right this second and making decisions based on that, and not picking their head up and looking at what's coming around the corner.