JetBlue job and lifestyle questions
 

I'm former military pilot (F/A-18 and C-12) currently doing jet contract work with the DoD. I've got my ATP, Class 1, 5000+ hours, current and qualified, etc... I've got about 10 years left for commercial flying and would like to do it at a passenger airline.

If anyone can pass any info my way about JetBlue, the hiring, the job, the lifestyle, etc.., I'd really appreciate anything you can pass my way.

Thanks
PR86

Almost 1200 days into negotiations.... company management sucks.... pay sucks.... need I go on

Well it COULD get a lot better with a CBA and a known direction of the airline (I’m still optimistic I know)

Or

It WILL stay as it is and if that’s the case almost any other major is better for spending the last ten years.

As of right now.

No crew meals, bad hotels, low per diem, low pay, bad health insurance, poor retirement. But hey, we do it for the culture.

If you want to work at an airline with the worst future seniority progression in the industry, the worst pay, debatably the worst management, the worst wasters of shareholder money (potato farms and electric paper planes, oh and worthless buybacks that have done nothing for our books), the most expensive domiciles, the worst domestic and international route structure of any major airline, then JetBlue is for you! Take your resume to an airline that will value you and your experience accordingly.

Man, do a little research. It's all over these boards.

I'll bite your troll sandwich...Delta, United, American, SWA, FedEx, UPS would be much better choices with 10 yrs remaining.

Apply at all of them ... Including JB, Spirit, etc.

See what happens ... Even less than 10 years can be a good way to finish a career.

The airlines are a roller coaster and right now JB is not at their high point ... Who knows what is next for any of the airlines.

Good luck.

Sucks right now and getting worse without a CBA.
If you can only get here- take it, get typed, and leave asap.:)

Agree with Powder above. Re your specific questions:

The hiring: My info might be dated but as far as I know there’s usually two hiring windows a year. The windows last a few weeks or so and you submit an application through the company website. You need to reapply each window (unlike Airline Apps, etc) in order to keep an app on file. It seems your best bet to get a call is to visit a recruiter at a job fair. Or, for you being prior military, go to a company “Vets in Blue” recruiting event. I believe they do the interviews in Orlando now and it’s a one day thing…it was fairly low stress when I went 3 years ago - basically just a face to face interview. But, unfortunately, as I understand now they’ve added in some sort of aptitude test. Once you get the job offer there can be a few months (or longer) wait for a class start date.

The job: Obviously varies quite a bit based on seniority, your airframe, base, etc. but you’ll initially be based in JFK or Boston. I’d say you’d have a good shot at whichever airframe you’d want because of your age (like I did :))…the oldest in the class gets first pick of the drop.

Whichever plane you take, plan on being on reserve for a year…maybe more / maybe less (it’s always a moving target). Reserve, in general, is not good if you commute but not too bad if you live in the local area.

The 190 is basically East coast regional style flying, mostly in the daytime, with two, three or four legs a day being the norm. Trips range from 1 to 5 days (one and five day trips generally go senior). The airbus does more “Major” airline style flying with fewer legs per day, transcons, etc. But as I understand it (I’m a 190 person) you’ll likely get stuck with a lot of redeyes your first couple years.

The big negatives with this place, in my view, and as has been mentioned, are the lack of a contract and few upcoming retirements. Being in a labor dispute (as we are right now) is not the best and nobody knows when we’ll get a contract (could be soon or could be years) or what exactly it’ll look like. Good luck!

Lowest retirement percentage of any major. With 10 years left there are better choices with solid contracts, better pay, work rules, retirement, healthcare, opportunity for advancement, etc...

The only reason that I can see to come here is if you live near Boston. The only other airline with a BOS domicile is AA, and it is rather senior. That is what this company has to offer....BOS.

If you commute or are interested in our other domiciles there are much better choices.

Good luck to you.

Gup