smackahoCEO

Flash in the pan = Skybus.

VX is a niche market, offering a unique product. I've ridden VX. It is an awesome experience. VX/B6 offer amenities that DAL/UAL/US do not. Delta has a nice product, a nice route structure. Same for UAL. US is bare bones.

VX/B6 are both non-union (which is what'd hold me back from working at either carrier). They do however offer a product that people love. I think if VX can get their route structure together, fill in some gaps, they will end up being a great airline/product. The other nice thing about SWA/VX/B6 is that they "fly their own flag." There's a sense of pride. You're part of a group working together to make a great product. At the legacy carriers...people board a crappy crj200 (what I fly....so I can say it) with _____ Express/Connection written on the side, and as far as they know.... They are on the mother ship. So if they have a bad experience on a Delta/US/UAL "express" plane, they have in turn had a bad experience on the airline.

As a regional pilot, I care about safety and getting people where they want to be. Getting paid. Etc. I do not care about people complaining that the plane I fly was the most uncomfortable plane they've ever ridden. I do not care that they were hot because our AC system is a joke. I can only do what I can to get them from a to b as quickly and safely as possible, collect my paycheck, and look forward to a brighter future at the carrier I want to work for. What my mothership decides to do as far as putting my plane on a 3 hour flight that it shouldn't be on is above my pay grade, and a lot of times I can empathize with the customers having a crappy experience on one of our too small, cramped planes for 2-3 hours. At the end of the day, if they have a bad experience, the bad taste in their mouth isn't with said regional airline. It is with the legacy painted on the side. That is something that VX/SWA/B6/Allegiant don't have to worry about. That is kind of cool in its own unique way.

That said fellas..... One mans trash is another mans treasure. If you're a Delta pilot... You look down on the entire industry. If you're a VX pilot, you're part of a David vs Goliath battle. If you're a regional pilot, you're holding on hoping your company stays in business long enough for you to leave. At the end of the day we are all doing a job, collecting a pay check. This industry has been a mess, the "big 3" are all gonna run the show. However, for a rich New Yorker who wants to go to Aruba for the weekend, JetBlue might be where he has his loyalty. For a loaded techie traveling SFO-NY, they might enjoy the non-stop nightclub experience that VX offers.

Do your job, collect your pay check, make choices that work for you and your family, and let the rest of the pieces fall where they may. This whole "you suck because you fly for ____ and I hate what your airline represents" game is really pretty lame. There are millions of people traveling every day, there's enough to go around.

Read the reviews:

VX Virgin America - San Francisco, CA

Vs

DAL Delta Air Lines - Atlanta, GA

Vs

US US Airways - Phoenix, AZ

Vs

B6 JetBlue - Long Beach, CA

You guys seem to get caught up in the riff raff. At the end of the day.... People buy tickets, share experiences, and get from A to B. We get paid to take them from A to B. do your job, better your product, make experiences as good as you can for customers, and the rest will fall into place. Like I said before---there's enough to go around.

Sorry for the rant. Just offering up a little perspective from one of the "little guys."

Tee1Up

^^^^^^^bravo!

MusicPilot

Word is that EWR/JFK staffing will come from new hires and upgrades. It really depends on how the pairings are built. Most guys wait to see what happens then make a move. LAX is a good example. Easy to get to, no GDPs to deal with, yet the can't fill it because the trips still suck. If they build JFK the same way (which looks like the case since the 555 says how they'll have to staff it) look for it to mirror LAX. Just my perspective.

atr42flyer

You are completely wrong. LAX is filled it is now staffed appropriately. And regarding the trips, well thats in the eye of the beholder. I know lots of people are are perfectly happy with the trips, others not so much. will everyone always be happy no. it is what you make of it and your seniority position.

As far as JFK/EWR it will be a co terminal base. Language will need to be drafted regarding that and how it will all play out. Email your WRC and make suggestions if you are so inclined. The trips per S.F. email last night will inevitably have early shows on the front end because of the nature of the flying we do and the buffers needed to protect the operation.

Will all the trips be like that NO, but expect to see a large number of highly productive 4 day trips with a back end early release.

Staffing JFK/EWR will go super senior I promise you that. You have no idea how many east coast commuters we have here.

ShyGuy

Last I recall, you voluntarily voted in a 32.5% paycut outside of bankruptcy and the courts. Coulda voted no and just went with it. But go ahead, blame a new entrant in 2007 for your woes.

ShyGuy

You might be surprised. The biggest unknown problem with getting people down to LAX from SFO was that they would lose their vacation! What a huge surprise for a lot of people, and then you'd have to bid from LAX vacation open time for your new slots. They learned from this, and are now doing the NYC base ahead of the vacation bidding for 2014. This is a smart move.

All trips out of JFK will be early morning departures, and I doubt you'll see any trips with the current late departure times that allow same day for commuets. For that reason, pairing construction, I don't think the NYC base will go as senior as planned. If you are a newhire, if you can't get it right away, with the hiring planned you can probably hold at least bottom barrel reserve NYC within a year (just an educated guess). Once this bid closes and the award is out, I'll post how senior or junior it really went.

I know FOs who do want NYC will use the 80% category language meaning they only want to be awarded a NYC base if they can be in the top 80% (ensuring no reserve), otherwise they'd stick in LAX/SFO as lineholders. Many guys commute from the middle of the USA (ORD/MKE/DFW types) who have a serious decision to make. Plus, ORD/DFW going west has VX flights, not to the east, which means commuting gets tougher with no guaranteed jumpseat as one gets on their own airline.

But the biggest factor is virtually no trip will be commutable on the front end. Being forced to come in the day before for every trip may not be popular with a lot of guys. Time will tell.

TANSTAAFL

Just rumor, but there were unconfirmed whisperings as part of the DAL 49% stake in VA, DAL would also buy or take a stake in VX. Since DOJ and EU approved the purchase today, are you guys hearing anything?

MusicPilot

Yes, I know how many guys commute from the east coast. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. LAX became a base in April. When did they finally fill it? That's my point. Guys waited to see what was going to happen before they pulled the trigger. Their main reason for waiting? Pairing productivity. As far as the the info regarding how they think they'll fill it? That came right from planning. I have no gain making stuff up. People ask what's the word and I'm just passing it along. It helps to decide whether or not to make a move or not.

ShyGuy

No. DAL bought the 49% stake of VS that Singapore Airlines held. There is no Delta buying a stake in VX. IMO, no one will buy any part/stake in VX until after IPO. Once VX IPOs, then it is open to merger/acquisation, or partial buy (like Lufthansa's small stake in Jetblue).

Fred Flintstone

Shy Guy is right, all the pairings out of JFK/EWR will be dawn patrol and mid afternoon release 4 day types. Hotels in NY/NJ are not cheap, and commuting to the big apple is tough when our own company only does NYC from the west coast and we have to wonder if we can get on other folks flights.

I am super senior, live on the east side and won't touch the JFK/EWR base. I am actually excited to see the SFO pairings without having to fly to JFK/EWR. I am a bit worried about the mid day releases getting scarce in SFO because of this, so it will effect all of us one way or another.