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NetJets vs. Airlines

Old 07-06-2007, 07:27 PM
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Default NetJets vs. Airlines

Just a quick question for the guys who fly at NetJets and have had also flown with any of the Major Airlines. Specifically QOL comparisons, the 7 day on/off schedules, and the management/employee relationship. I work for a regional out of Denver, and have connections to both NetJets and Frontier. Just would like some incite to who has done both types of flying.

Thanks again!
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Old 07-12-2007, 07:41 AM
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I left NJ to go to F9 no comparison in QOL. Schedules are better and very flexible, I average 18 days a month off. Very commutable. Deal with very little BS. Half dozen other guys I know from that left NJ to go to F9 and they feel the same.

Health benefits are better at NJ as is long term security.
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Old 07-12-2007, 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Larcifer View Post
I left NJ to go to F9 no comparison in QOL. Schedules are better and very flexible, I average 18 days a month off. Very commutable. Deal with very little BS. Half dozen other guys I know from that left NJ to go to F9 and they feel the same.

Health benefits are better at NJ as is long term security.
Don't know all the details in each contract but it would seem, based on the info at APC, that for $ Net Jets is a better deal. Obviously, some people prefer quality of life but you must at least factor in $ when making this kind of decision.
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Old 07-12-2007, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Larcifer View Post
I left NJ to go to F9 no comparison in QOL. Schedules are better and very flexible, I average 18 days a month off. Very commutable. Deal with very little BS. Half dozen other guys I know from that left NJ to go to F9 and they feel the same.

Health benefits are better at NJ as is long term security.
From what I have heard, the flying is very, very different from airline flying. You need to know that up front. However, you can consider Netjets a "corporate airline" when you think of a few factors:

- You can have a fixed schedule (7 on 7 off)
- It is unionized - so, you have objective work rules and policies (it is not like a typical 135 operator). If you are fatigued, you can call in and stop flying with no penalty to you.
- You have a new contract that provides better pay than many airlines and much better health benefits - better than what you will find at many majors
- You have a fleet that includes hundreds of airplanes - something like 400 airplanes in the North American operation alone and it is growing due to strong customer demand (plenty of rich people out there)

Aspects that are different:

- Are you bored with airline flying? You get unlimited variety in terms of routes and overnights - one night you overnight in Cabo, the next night in Martha's Vineyard. No more boring trunk routes over and over and over again. How many routes does F9 fly to out of Denver? Could you memorize all of those frequencies? Probably.
- You get to fly interesting people - celebrities and sports stars and other successful people (for the most part) vs. people from Hazzard County (Uncle Jessie and the Duke Boys)
- You get pretty good job security because Netjets is the biggest and most successful fractional operator by far. Most of the low-cost airlines are beating each other to death with low-fare wars and some may disappear as a result of upcoming mergers.
- You have to clean up the airplane and load some luggage - some pilots would rather not interface with passengers (in this case, airline flying might be better for you)

Check out www.netjets.com and look at the size and variety of the aircraft fleet. This is not a small operation. It shoud also be emphasized that this is not the same operation that so many people fled from prior to the new contract. Things have improved in terms of compensation, schedules and morale according to people I know why fly for Netjets now.

Personally, I'd go to Netjets vs. Frontier. Both are good choices but I would rather have some variety and fly for a true market leader. Evidently, 7/7 takes some time to get used to, but I wouldn't mind 7 days off in a row twice a month. Some people would not like that. Sure, Netjets ain't perfect from what I hear (domicile situation could improve - I hear more domiciles could be added in the future), but it would be a great alternative to the airlines and many people agree and are applying to Netjets. Good luck.

Last edited by Bill Lumberg; 07-12-2007 at 06:56 PM.
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Old 07-18-2007, 07:40 AM
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To tell you the truth I'm already pretty bored flying in/out of Denver. The idea of flying to the same places on the same airplane for the next 30+ years isn't too appealing to me.

Thanks for all the input. Definitely gave me some things to consider
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Old 07-18-2007, 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 248ToTheMarker View Post
To tell you the truth I'm already pretty bored flying in/out of Denver. The idea of flying to the same places on the same airplane for the next 30+ years isn't too appealing to me.

Thanks for all the input. Definitely gave me some things to consider
Keep one thing in mind, when guys tell you that they left NJ to go to a National airline, chances are they left NJ before the new contract took effect. Since the contract passed I haven't met anybody willing to leave NJ for Airtran, Frontier, Spirit, or Jetblue, maybe only Southwest. I would never leave NJ for a National now. I was hired at Airtran two years ago, I went with NJ. It was pre contract, so it was a big gumble for me, but as soon as the contract passed I realised it was the best profesional decision I'v ever made.

QOL on the road- at the airlines is better, you have a schedule
QOL at home- there is no comparison, the fractionals win. Sometimes I get home before noon on my last day. That's almost 8 days...
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Old 07-25-2007, 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by UCLAbruins View Post
Keep one thing in mind, when guys tell you that they left NJ to go to a National airline, chances are they left NJ before the new contract took effect. Since the contract passed I haven't met anybody willing to leave NJ for Airtran, Frontier, Spirit, or Jetblue, maybe only Southwest. I would never leave NJ for a National now. I was hired at Airtran two years ago, I went with NJ. It was pre contract, so it was a big gumble for me, but as soon as the contract passed I realised it was the best profesional decision I'v ever made.

QOL on the road- at the airlines is better, you have a schedule
QOL at home- there is no comparison, the fractionals win. Sometimes I get home before noon on my last day. That's almost 8 days...
How does it go, on your first day are you flown via airline to wherever you want to be, and then flown home on your last? Do you have to live in domicile? Are you ever "extended" into an 8th day and do you get a comp day off in return?
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Old 07-26-2007, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by PinnacleFO View Post
How does it go, on your first day are you flown via airline to wherever you want to be, and then flown home on your last? Do you have to live in domicile? Are you ever "extended" into an 8th day and do you get a comp day off in return?
Yeap. airline to work on day 1, airline home on the 7th. Sometimes you work on those days, sometimes you don't. Many times, you get up on your last day, take the van to the airport and airline home. If you are near your home state, you can be home before 11:00 am. to me that's a day off.
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Old 07-26-2007, 05:36 PM
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I guess the issue I have with Net Jets right now is how do you expect some one to live on $40K a year in PBI, TEB, DAL...can't be done and have a decent lifestyle
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Old 07-26-2007, 06:31 PM
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So on the 7 days that you are working do you ever come home or are you gone for seven days in a row. I guess I'm thinking you might have some out and backs where you get to go home for the night.
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