Pilatus801

Hey friends, I have phone interviews with both companies. As an outsider, tell me about the good, the bad and the in between. Tell me what you wish you knew before starting to work at either. Are they very similar in how they operate, or is one significantly better than the other? (I have heard more positive about FJ than NJ) The home basing seems nice and the 7/7 schedule seems pretty good. I imagine they will work you hard while you´re on rotation though. The benefits seems pretty decent as well.

Thanks in advance for any info and advice you're willing to share.

TexasLonghorn

You're not likely to get a balanced answer to your question here, although there is plenty of legit information in the fractional threads of APC if you spend the time to look.

I've been happy at Flexjet. I interviewed with both in '21 and don't think I made a poor choice in coming here. That being said both companies are facing significant hurdles regarding retention, recruitment and pilot satisfaction. QS is obviously in the middle of contentious union vs management battles, while FX is dealing with the fallout of a new bid system affecting SICs company wide and PICs in the Phenom. Life can be good here (and probably QS) but it's not without it's major issues. Neither outfit will be able to match pace with the airlines on compensation going forward.

Brooklyn99

Flex here. A friend in my class went to Netjets and regretted it, although he's going to a legacy now and won't matter. I have no bone to pick since I am also leaving to play the airline game, but I'm glad of the 2 I went to Flex. I'd rather take my chances with our botched bidding system than be stuck on 7 days forever; I've had no problem talking to anyone in HQ for anything I needed, big or small; crew support or VP of whatever, didn't matter; I like my colleagues in the fleet I'm on right now, like our customers, and our credit card/meal plan, and although its lagging the airlines, I like our compensation system better than what I hear from NJA.

SandMan2

I did my phone interview with Flex and I have my in person coming up next month. I keep hearing a lot of grumbling about the PBS system. What's so problematic exactly? Are most people stuck on an 8-6 even using PBS? Can you tell the system how many days a month you want to fly and then it comes up with a rotation?

v1rotatay

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Delta your end goal? ​​​​​​I left Skywest to come to NJA, as an FO pre pay raise. Spent under a year there and got hired at Daddy D.

Here's a brief overview:

NJA seemed like a major.

FJ seemed like a ULCC/Regional.

Neither are close to a major, but on appearances only, during hiring it seemed as such. Not sure if you ever made it to the 121 world but I'm ok with throwing bags in my 20s-30s.. When I'm 50+ I wanna hit the beach with my new balances and spend 30hrs in XYZ Caribbean destination of your choice and not huck bags to end up flying back to PBI to spend 12 hours in the Marriott..

Blueridger

If you’d rather have a Union to back you up and provide representation and a firm contract, then NJA is a wiser choice. If you’d rather toe the line and kiss butt to advance your career and have absolute faith that Management will take care of you, well Flex it is!

That said, go to DL, UA, or AA for the best gig.

followingdreams

Way to dispell the NJ pilot arrogance stereotype. In what ways is Flex like a regional compared to NJ?

Pay? Base pay at Flex higher than NJ
Planes? We both fly pretty much the same airplanes
Schedule? Flex PBS needs work but at least there is a sort of PBS option along with 8/6 if you dont like the PBS
Union/Contract? How has that worked out?
I know, you have blazers to wear and Flex doesnt. +1 to NJ

Curious as to what you see as the advantage of NJ over Flex.?

v1rotatay

Don't get me wrong, I'd have worked for either. But after going to FJ interview after Netjets, I was underwhelmed. Just on appearances. Felt like I was interviewing for a Regional not at Delta (where I am now). It's got a feel, and if you have never done it you'll never know. Just gotta take my word for it. There are many things I liked about FJ but when compared directly to NJA and with the CJOs for both, it made the choice a lot easier.

NJA: Well for one they gave us a tour of the entire complex. OCC, MX shop. Was pretty interesting to say the least. Put on a hiring expo, put us up in a decent Hilton where the hiring event was. Expensed our meals while we were there.

FJ: put me up in some dumpy Dallas airport hotel, interviewed us in a CAE classroom and gave a power point presentation. Then we were released to catch our flights home.
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TCASfail

I personally loved the flexjet interview experience. Quick turn and burn and you’re out of there. I don’t need a tour to see all the fake smiles of the folks in the upper echelon. NetJets dog and pony show took 4 days for me. Day 1 fly in. Day 2 sim, Day 3 interview and my interview was so late I had to fly home day 4. Total waste of time if you ask me. The union doesn’t show up to the dog and pony shows anymore, from what I’ve been told, due to contract negotiations, or lack thereof.

Can’t paint lipstick on a pig. Flexjet is the same as NetJets, except we have a company credit card for all meals sans a union. Either way you look at, people come here (or NJA) for the quick turbine time and NO training contract. The 7/7 is far superior to the Flexjet “bidding” system however. It’s just that the pay is lacking especially if you’re on a broken jet (no FDP).

v1rotatay

I was being judged on first impressions.. as were they.

To me just felt, second rate, again, I know 0 people who work there so can't really say how life on the road is but if that's how they presented themselves, which is the same way Skywest presented themselves (a regional airline...) and now having seen how Delta treated pilot applicants, NJA felt MORE like a major in that regard, than flexjet.

Disclaimer: This is one lucky, sub 2000hr, 0 TPIC pilots view on the interview process alone.

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