Originally Posted by
ShyGuy
In a few short years you say? The latest hiring cycle for y’all started 2014. So anyone in 2014-2016 is gonna do way better than someone starting now.
The problem with Delta is ya hired 4,000+ plus since 2014, and the avg age of a new hire is 37. So the math says more than 2,000 pilots today at Delta are below 37. A JetBlue guy starting at 40 is not going to crack to top 3,000. Highly unlikely to hold A350 CA.
Someone else posted a retirement chart that said Delta has 14,400 pilots right now and to be #7,000 based on retirements, that would be year 2031. Half way up the list takes 12 years. That’s a lot to consider. Not sure how 6 yrs at JetBlue looks but a guess is around 50-65% overall? Where would that JetBlue guy be in 12 years? Top 25%?
Being 40 with a wife and 2 kids giving up $260k to go down to $90/hr on probation would have to be a big risk consideration.
Jetblue career potential... A321 Captain... maybe widebody captain, but they’ve been saying they’re getting WB’s for 15 years.
Delta career potential... Ultra Widebody Captain.
Delta has better pay, benefits, work rules, retirement, union, contract, profit sharing. The profit sharing alone will make the difference between small widebody FO and an A320 CA at B6.
Delta is not going away. Will Jetblue be around in 5, 10 or 15 years? Will Jetblue become Frontier? Will Jetblue be able to weather the next downturn?
Jetblue is a AAA ball team. You can make good money and work a career there. You will work harder and get less for your effort than you will at Delta. You will have better career opportunities at Delta. You can chase Captain and make that fairly quickly (especially going into the future w/ the retirements) or get senior on a middle or large WB and travel the world in comfort and class.
I was one of the B6 guys who was furloughed Delta-North and came back after being a Captain at Jetblue for many years. I liked Jetblue. It was a good company. I don’t know if things have gotten better or worse since I left but I was top 20% CA at B6 and came back to narrow body FO. I almost made as much my first year back. When I went to the 76ER I made more. Now on the A350, especially w/ profit sharing I make more, working far, far less.
I have friends at B6 who are happy. I have friends there that are unhappy. I don’t know anyone at Delta who wishes they were at B6... no one.
Delta is by far superior in everything. That’s no surprise. I’m not trying to bash B6... but do you want to stay on a AAA professional ball club for a career or play for the NY Yankees?
For me it’s a no brainer. Ive seen both sides. I know guys who got hired here a few years ago that are line holding NB Captains. Upward movement will not subside at Delta for a long time.
To get the really good routes at B6 you’ll have to be very senior... not at Delta. There’s something for everyone.
Delta is the only choice. Or United or AA.