JetBlue or Atlas?
 

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forums here. I'm an FO at a regional carrier and just received job offers for JetBlue and Atlas. At either airline, I'd be living in base. I have to make a decision for where I'd like to go.

Here are my considerations:

JetBlue Pros:
1) Excellent company culture and appear to be people-forward
2) Competitive pay
3) Positive company outlook for the next several years (Europe flying, A220 in lieu of E190, etc)

JetBlue Cons:
1) Similar to a regional flying footprint with slightly longer flights.
2) Driving length to the airport is considerably longer than what I have to do now.
3) Very similar scheduling structure as to what I do now. 4 on, 2 off, 4 on, 3 off, 4 on, maybe 5 off, etc. and so separation of work vs home life can be tough.


Atlas Pros:
1) Immense variety of flying
2) Highly respected fleet
3) High aggregation of days on vs days off and so quality of time off improves

Atlas Cons:
1) Comparatively inferior pay although contract negotiations are in progress
2) Work schedules are grueling
3) Pilots vs Management have a toxic relationship

The big factors here are quality of life, pilot pay, long term prognosis for my career, etc. What feedback do you guys have? What other things to consider am I missing? I appreciate your input, thank you very much.

The fact you are even asking shows you have put zero effort into anything that resembles research. With that in mind, go to Atlas you'll love it I'm sure

Which aircraft were you offered at Atlas? There's a world of difference between the 76 operations and the 74. And I have no idea what "Highly respected fleet" means. A 744 type is a dead end. I've also got a 727 type, it's probably more respected as an aircraft pilots actually flew.

When you're considering Jet Blue vs Atlas does it matter what equipment you're on? Jet Blue is 1.5 contracts ahead of Atlas at a minimum... I'd say go Jet Blue and there's no decision to make.

Type "Atlas" in to the search bar, read the first thread. If you have further questions, perhaps consider a career in waste engineering.

Really, dude? Out of ALL of the threads and posts about Atlas, you still wanna go there? The cons you listed are literally the main reasons why you should avoid the place https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...779fefc9d0.jpg


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I had the choice between K4 and B6. It was a tough decision and people seem very surprised when I tell them that I chose K4. With Atlas it would have been a nobrainer. B6.

Considering the fact that we have senior FOs at Atlas leaving here to go to JetBlue, I would think that the choice would be simple..

What are you missing? A: Pretty much everything.

Your knowledge of both airlines is incredibly lacking and your synopsis is way off.
What exactly about Atlas’s fleet of 74’s and old 76’s is “highly respected” versus a fleet of A320/321’s (many of which are brand new and will be NEOs)/E190s/soon to have A220s?? Those are respected enough airframes?
At JB you could easily bid Long Call or Short Call reserve and bid ALL your days in a row, and have 13-14 off in a row.
What exactly about JB Airbus flying is like a regional? All those Caribbean and transcon flights remind you of Mesa flying somehow? On the 190, yes, but the large majority of JB flying is Airbus, with an average stage length over three hours, with typically 1-2 flights a day.
Excellent company culture at JB? That’s laughable and something you’ll only hear from recruiters and management. The culture is forced and fake.
Competitive pay? Maybe against Frontier. JB is far lacking their peers (AA DL UA SW) in almost every metric.


As far as Atlas... god, do any research. It’s a building fire with not enough water in the world to put it out at the moment. If you want to go there for three years, sure, why not? (I have plenty of reasons not to, but to each their own) Career?? Good luck with that.
ACMI isn’t known for being career friendly.

JetBlue isn’t terrible by any means, but it is not close to a legacy. However, IMO, it will be bought/merged with one within five years, and in the meantime there is lots of growth. Upgrade is around three years at the moment. You’ll make significantly more money at JB than Atlas for the foreseeable future AND have a better career path, and IMO more job security.

My best wishes to the Atlas pilots, they deserve A LOT, but there is no way I’d encourage anyone to go there at the moment. JB, just know what you’re getting into.

JetBlue
JetBlue
JetBlue
For God's sake
JetBlue

IMHO

Highly respected fleet.

Ah yes.( the 747 ) After a 20 hour day, dragging your garbage down the stairs, to some hotel in ASIA for 12 hours, your last thought is how respected the fleet is. It’s why the hell am I doing this.

The (767) R3 in the hub from 3am to 9am 17 days a month. Yes, lots of respect there.

The only way you will ever make money at this place- work on all your X day’s. The only problem, you’re going to be so junior, there won’t be any flying for you to get.

But hey, if you don’t believe me, come see for yourself. BTW, I don’t want to hear you complaining in the HUB about your r3 shift.

The original posting has to be an Atlas management troll. No one in their right mind would go there right now if they have other options. If it wasn’t an atlas management type and this person is for real, then the lack of ability to make a common sense decision from all the information already on this forum shows a severe lack of situational awareness. It baffles the mind someone would actually ask that question. You can lead a horse to water.....

I have friends there still who are all trying to leave. I wish the pilot group the best luck in the future and hope they earn their true worth. It’s a hard hard life trying to live the “respectable” Atlas dream.

Signed
3 year Atlas parolee :D

Your troll game rates below that of a typical bi-pedal mammal.

I’ve seen several atlas 76 captains go to JetBlue. Far superior compensation package and QOL at JetBlue.

Are you 400 pounds? If so you’ll love Atlas.

This is a no-brainer. JB, every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

Are you happy w/ your decision to go with K4? I actually think that’s a great decision.


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K4 is great if you want a positive ticket to work and no crash pads.

My thoughts exactly!!

If not, you will be very shortly.

Well I’m a little too new to say for sure but I do still have my doubts. I had a rough decade at the regionals so I’m very NE-commute averse even for a year or two. K4 guys are generally a satisfied bunch but I still see some old school ACMI-ness going on particularly in training, procedures, and scheduling. It also remains to be seen what sort of culture has evolved and is maintained once the expansion ends. Pilots are usually happy when companies are growing. The litmus test will be at the plateau and after. Again I’m new so my opinion could be different in 6 months. Take for what it’s worth.

JetBlue hands down.

The bigger and shinier jet is more important than stupid little things like pay and QOL.

Very true! The biggest part for me is QOL. I actually just accepted a class date at K4 from a regional who had a guaranteed interview at DL. The thing is, they could pay me very well all day long but it doesn’t take the pain out of dealing with NYC and IROPS and making “podium announcements” along with “Galley Announcements”. I started in the freight biz working as an intern for ABX going thru college. So I know the nature of the beast. I live in-base for K4 so for me, it was kind of a no brainer (driving to work). DL is a great company and I hope they strive. I enjoyed the regionals but my fear was to settle there. Something I did not want to do. So, cheers to being onboard with K4 and I hope that it’s a smooth ride for new hires in this era.


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Bigger yes. shinier? well it sounds like you haven’t been in a dump truck. We all especially love the lav Sunday night at 3 am after it’s been on the ramp all weekend in July. Absolutely takes your breath away. New planes? well we even had an Ocho sporting a yellow tail with the Dhl rubbed off. 3 white engine cowlings and one blue thanks to a pod strike. some speed tape from a belt loader accident and they rolled the livery off the empennage with what I would guess was 10$ a gal Home Depot flat white bc it was still bleeding through. Yeah come to atlas and fly some dirty girls.

Welcome to K4. However, there is no such thing as living in base here.....except maybe once a year for CQ. Don’t count on driving to work.

One significant exception at K4 would be CVG for the 767 guys, at least for the immediate future.

As far as the OP, assuming this is an actual misinformed professional and not a bored keyboard jockey on a long overnight:

http://www.atlasfacts.org/the-frank-odonnell-incident-2/

We were actually just discussing this story a few days ago, and it serves as an example of the difference between a company defined by frustrating but fixable issues, and one by honest-to-God managerial malice.

Of the listed options, JetBlue eight days a week.

Hmm? I know a couple people on the 767 in CVG and I’ve been told you’re home a fairly good bit if you live here.


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So definitely pick Atlas over JetBlue, if you’re even following this thread anymore.🤣

I was speaking about K4 if you read above.


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I see. While it’s not a base....the 76 guys are there alot. Not as much on the 74.

Yeah I do see what you’re saying. I guess I should’ve said I live in an area where a lot of trips start/end. Still, no nonrevving regardless is a nice thing.


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Before you post something like this, you would of been much better served by researching even just a bit on this forum. It’s not rocket science!! The answer is crystal clear, even if you only consider one simple aspect: Atlas ownership/management absolutely hates the pilot group’s guts!! Plain and simple!! Not saying JB loves their pilots (I think they don’t), but not nearly as hate filled as Atlas.

Unfortunately there is not much “slack” here as MUCH info is readily available on this board.

Yeah man, that’ll be good livin’!

Think of it like a logbook. If it was blank you wouldn't qualify to do anything... ;)

I’ve learned to embrace the east coast and Irops since I know how much it can boost my credit. At least at Jetblue, a couple bad weather events each month can sometimes almost double your credit. Full disclosure....living in base makes those bad days much more tolerable.

Living in base makes a regional tolerable too. If you can't live at base, nothing beats true home basing, unless you have something like Fed Ex where you can ride company metal to work on a guaranteed seat.

Much prefer a commute with a 4 on/3 off lifestyle with 15-17 days off than some of the 17 day excursions I know the ACMI’s do even with home basing. To each their own.

Can someone work the math on this?


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What math? It’s personal preference. If I wasn’t married with kids, then I can see the ACMI lifestyle working.