Invite is required. Have to have had an app on in the last window and indicated vet status to get said invite. Also, if you want to work at JB I suggest applying to as many windows as possible, as that’s one thing that is looked at. Copy the availability date and all, just a heads up on the process.

 

Gents - I have an invite for Dec 6 VIB. I’m kind of conflicted actually. I’m a pretty senior captain at a regional - get what I want on my scheduled etc. Pretty far down the age chain too and I’m actually not sure about starting over at the bottom again at this age when I only have a few years left in me. I always wanted to fly JB or another carrier above my level, but I’m afraid that I’ll get the 190 and end up flying the same Buffalo turns I do now. There isn’t really much of a pay raise for me and any extra I’d get would be eaten up by finding a place to hang my hat in JFK area. So - please all thoughts about this for me. I do not have another 121 option that I see as possible other than staying where I am until I decide to pack it in. Thanks gents.

 

How many years do you have left?

 

Go to Atlas or something like that if you're looking to do more. Because in the next ~2 yrs most if not all newbs will go to the 190.

 

Truth.....

 

How many years left? Do retirement flight benefits matter and can you get them at either place? Movement on the 190 should be good. I got senior enough fairly quickly to do mostly Caribbean and Florida stuff and not be stuck in the northeast if I didn’t want to be if that’s a concern, though pairings will continue to change. Then the 220/320 pay and trip variation will kick in after a year or two and I doubt you’ll make less than at your regional. But it depends on how many years you got left and what you want, I suppose.

 

Do the math... as long as you’ve for 3 or more years left in the industry the move to JetBlue likely makes sense between the pay bump and 401k DC alone, especially once the A220 and 320 pay scales enter the mix.

Although flying would reach far beyond BUF but Atlas would be a terrible leap backwards in terms of pay and QOL for most regional Captains. Most regional FOs are making as much as Atlas FOs flying the 74 for the first several years and junior RJ CAs are well ahead thanks to the low MMG and low block at Atlas.

Although flying would reach well beyond BUF but Atlas would be a terrible leap backwards in terms of pay and QOL for most regional Captains. Most regional FOs are making as much as Atlas FOs flying the 74 for the first several years and junior RJ CAs are well ahead thanks to the low MMG and low block at Atlas.

Captains at Atlas are jumping ship to JetBlue, not the other way around.

 

Thanks for the replies gents. I’ve got 5 years left but won’t stay that long. Probably 2 at most at this point unlesss I really like what I am doing. I have read a bunch here where people are complaining about JB. I guess every one complains everywhere. I can/t imagine the QOL at JB is anywhere near as bad as it is where I am. I’ve decided to go tot he VIB and hope to see how things go.

 

It's not as bad as a bottom feeding regional or 135 outfit. If that is your yardstick by all means come here. But please, please, please don't settle for this place. They can afford to treat you like UAL treats their guys. They just don't want to.

 

If you can handle the first year pay cut and you think you can handle to commute to JFK or BOS I think you should take the job if offered. Having been at a few regionals before JB I would want to finish my career at a major, even if it is one of the lower tier majors.

The e190 was a fun aircraft to fly and you could fly the Airbus after a 1-2 years, but that would be a VERY junior post for a while, so make sure you could handle being very junior on the Airbus. Guys above you will continue to bail the e190 when their seat lock expires.

The above should mean very rapid seniority movement on the e190 which should give you a good quality of life and a 15% retirement from the company.

Good luck