jetBlue or Frontier
03-29-2019, 04:36 AM
#11
What’s it doing now?
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: 190CA
Posts: 726
I’ll paint a picture for jetblue. You have less than 20 years left. You love Florida and we’re all over Florida. You get hired, you’ll get to be the plug on either 190 MCO or 320 FLL sometime between day one and 2 years. Likely on the shorter end based on the last few bids. The first half of your career here your seniority won’t move much but you’ll carve out something somewhat comfortable making mid 100ks as an FO. Orlando growth, the A220 coming/190 retirement, and “Europe” MIGHT move things around and present some other opportunities for you to improve your situation in that time.
After 10 years in, retirements will actually start moving and you’ll have an opportunity to upgrade and spend the last half of your career here as a junior captain in Florida making 200k+. At 46 and number 4000 I just don’t see you making it to senior Florida 320 captain before retirement.
Personally I think jetblue will align with your goals for the long term and you’d have a good career here. There’s a chance f9 might work out better, timing is everything in this industry.
Good luck on your interview. Hope you get it. As others have said, prep like that’s the only thing you want and make the decision if you get an offer.
Personally if I had an offer that I thought would meet my needs, I wouldn’t turn it down for a chance at something else that might be better.
After 10 years in, retirements will actually start moving and you’ll have an opportunity to upgrade and spend the last half of your career here as a junior captain in Florida making 200k+. At 46 and number 4000 I just don’t see you making it to senior Florida 320 captain before retirement.
Personally I think jetblue will align with your goals for the long term and you’d have a good career here. There’s a chance f9 might work out better, timing is everything in this industry.
Good luck on your interview. Hope you get it. As others have said, prep like that’s the only thing you want and make the decision if you get an offer.
Personally if I had an offer that I thought would meet my needs, I wouldn’t turn it down for a chance at something else that might be better.
03-29-2019, 06:24 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2015
Posts: 917
Originally Posted by Flyby1206
MCO E90 might be worth considering if you get the 190 on Day 1 of training. What’s junior MCO E90 FO now? About 1-1.5yrs too?
2016 hires are getting MCO Bus
03-29-2019, 07:28 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 664
To the OP,
F9 pilot here...The fact that you posted this in the B6 forum and not the F9 forum leads me to believe that your gut says B6 is the best move. And if that’s the case you should dedicate yourself to getting the job (congrats on the interview btw). Either job is an unknown and with almost 20 years left neither airline is likely to look anything like it does today by the time you retire.
With that being said, if it doesn’t work out at B6, it’s my opinion that F9 isn’t a bad place to land. As long as you don’t get a sense of self-worth from having a premium product the job is good. Even as a no-voter on the contract I’m surprised how happy I am overall. You’ll probably be in MCO before completing IOE, upgrade there in 4 years and 4 years later be near 50% seniority for MCO Captains. That’s 10 years as an MCO CA with pretty good QOL ie no PHL/SJU redeyes.
Good luck
F9 pilot here...The fact that you posted this in the B6 forum and not the F9 forum leads me to believe that your gut says B6 is the best move. And if that’s the case you should dedicate yourself to getting the job (congrats on the interview btw). Either job is an unknown and with almost 20 years left neither airline is likely to look anything like it does today by the time you retire.
With that being said, if it doesn’t work out at B6, it’s my opinion that F9 isn’t a bad place to land. As long as you don’t get a sense of self-worth from having a premium product the job is good. Even as a no-voter on the contract I’m surprised how happy I am overall. You’ll probably be in MCO before completing IOE, upgrade there in 4 years and 4 years later be near 50% seniority for MCO Captains. That’s 10 years as an MCO CA with pretty good QOL ie no PHL/SJU redeyes.
Good luck
03-29-2019, 07:37 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,423
Originally Posted by Pilotguy1973
I know this is a trend lately here on APC and I hate to ask a similar question but I would really appreciate some honest input. I have a face to face interview scheduled with B6 next month and I also have a Pathway Program through my current employer to Frontier. I'm really having a hard time deciding which route would be the best fit for me and my family.
A little of my background info:
I worked for regional "A" for 11 years, 10 of those as Captain on the CRJ. I commuted the entire time from FL to various bases. I patiently waited for a call from a carrier with FL bases but never had any luck and eventually made the decision to leave there and work at regional "B" which has several bases in FL. Although I took a pay cut I am much happier as is my family now that I'm home most nights and no longer have to suffer the torture that is involved in commuting. I'm 46 years old and at this point in my life don't think I'll be a good fit for a legacy (will hit 65 before I hold any seniority) nor am I competitive as I haven't finished my BS degree. Also, all legacies aside from AA would require me to commute again. Moving out of the state is not an option for me as most of my family is here in FL and I have established a life here for myself and my children. I don't think AA will be calling me any time soon for a MIA position.
Having said that, my current employer has a Pathway Program to Frontier that I will most likely be eligible to use before the end of the year. I'm having a hard time going back and forth between the opportunities between F9 and B6. Granted, I have not been hired by B6 yet but if it comes down to a choice it will be very difficult for me to make.
The positives of B6 are that I feel it is a more established company and I think the work rules are probably much better there. They do have FLL and MCO domiciles. And, the pay scales on the AirBus are higher at B6 as well.
The drawbacks are that I will most likely be assigned the 190 in BOS or JFK. Now I'm back to commuting. It seems to me from what I gather on these forums that for me to be able to hold a Florida base it could take some time. Then, there is the issue of being able to move up to the AirBus. That again would most likely require me to again commute to the NE. Lastly, it seems that upgrade time on either airframe could take a significant amount of time, especially in a FL base. So, it seems to me that I could potentially be commuting for years to be able to progress up the pay scale.
The benefits to Frontier are that I would be able to hold MCO relatively quickly and upgrades are currently running around 3 years. I have done the math calculations and it seems that my income earning potential and QOL would be much greater at F9. Although things have been rocky there recently and there are question marks as to the future of the company, it seems as though with their projected growth I would be able to gain seniority rather quickly.
The drawbacks to F9 are that they have a substandard contract and work rules and that it seems to be a bit of a mess over there with Indigo running the show. However, I'm optimistic that they will follow in the footsteps of Spirit and even B6 and eventually be a stable company.
My questions to you all is what do you realistically think my progression would be if I were hired at B6. What airframe am I likely to be hired into? How long would I have to commute before being able to hold a FL base? What time frame am I looking at to be able to both move up to the AirBus and how long before I could upgrade on either A/C in Florida?
Also, would I be able to pick up extra work or trade trips out of FLL or MCO even if I'm based in BOS/JFK?
I've had several pilot friends tell me I'm crazy for even considering F9 over B6, but everyone's situation is different. If I were young and single it probably wouldn't even be a question.
I've also been pursuing Spirit but it seems they have all but stopped hiring for the near future.
Please give me your honest opinion and try to refrain from turning this into a negative thread. Ultimately it will be up to me but I would love some insight as to what I may be looking at whichever path I choose.
Thanks!
A little of my background info:
I worked for regional "A" for 11 years, 10 of those as Captain on the CRJ. I commuted the entire time from FL to various bases. I patiently waited for a call from a carrier with FL bases but never had any luck and eventually made the decision to leave there and work at regional "B" which has several bases in FL. Although I took a pay cut I am much happier as is my family now that I'm home most nights and no longer have to suffer the torture that is involved in commuting. I'm 46 years old and at this point in my life don't think I'll be a good fit for a legacy (will hit 65 before I hold any seniority) nor am I competitive as I haven't finished my BS degree. Also, all legacies aside from AA would require me to commute again. Moving out of the state is not an option for me as most of my family is here in FL and I have established a life here for myself and my children. I don't think AA will be calling me any time soon for a MIA position.
Having said that, my current employer has a Pathway Program to Frontier that I will most likely be eligible to use before the end of the year. I'm having a hard time going back and forth between the opportunities between F9 and B6. Granted, I have not been hired by B6 yet but if it comes down to a choice it will be very difficult for me to make.
The positives of B6 are that I feel it is a more established company and I think the work rules are probably much better there. They do have FLL and MCO domiciles. And, the pay scales on the AirBus are higher at B6 as well.
The drawbacks are that I will most likely be assigned the 190 in BOS or JFK. Now I'm back to commuting. It seems to me from what I gather on these forums that for me to be able to hold a Florida base it could take some time. Then, there is the issue of being able to move up to the AirBus. That again would most likely require me to again commute to the NE. Lastly, it seems that upgrade time on either airframe could take a significant amount of time, especially in a FL base. So, it seems to me that I could potentially be commuting for years to be able to progress up the pay scale.
The benefits to Frontier are that I would be able to hold MCO relatively quickly and upgrades are currently running around 3 years. I have done the math calculations and it seems that my income earning potential and QOL would be much greater at F9. Although things have been rocky there recently and there are question marks as to the future of the company, it seems as though with their projected growth I would be able to gain seniority rather quickly.
The drawbacks to F9 are that they have a substandard contract and work rules and that it seems to be a bit of a mess over there with Indigo running the show. However, I'm optimistic that they will follow in the footsteps of Spirit and even B6 and eventually be a stable company.
My questions to you all is what do you realistically think my progression would be if I were hired at B6. What airframe am I likely to be hired into? How long would I have to commute before being able to hold a FL base? What time frame am I looking at to be able to both move up to the AirBus and how long before I could upgrade on either A/C in Florida?
Also, would I be able to pick up extra work or trade trips out of FLL or MCO even if I'm based in BOS/JFK?
I've had several pilot friends tell me I'm crazy for even considering F9 over B6, but everyone's situation is different. If I were young and single it probably wouldn't even be a question.
I've also been pursuing Spirit but it seems they have all but stopped hiring for the near future.
Please give me your honest opinion and try to refrain from turning this into a negative thread. Ultimately it will be up to me but I would love some insight as to what I may be looking at whichever path I choose.
Thanks!
You'll make it through and be on line for a year before you ever get offered a class date at Jbou. If you hate F9 after that year go to blue, sail through training and enjoy the ride. Either way, whichever you decide to park yourself at, you'll be in great shape.
Never give up seniority waiting for that 'possible' offer! Timing, it's everything!
03-29-2019, 09:35 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 478
To be a bit more definitive as regards retirements... 2027 is the first year that we will see triple digit retirements. Only 595 pilots will retire in the next 10 years.
Only 16 last year, 14 this year, and 27 in 2020. We are a young group. Come here with the notion you'll never be senior (unless you're 35 or under) and you won't be disappointed.
Only 16 last year, 14 this year, and 27 in 2020. We are a young group. Come here with the notion you'll never be senior (unless you're 35 or under) and you won't be disappointed.
04-05-2019, 06:39 AM
#17
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 4
Thanks everyone for the input. Lots of good insight. Obviously I’m going to do my best at the interview and then if lucky enough to be hired I’ll be able to evaluate my situation from a much better perspective. Thanks again!
04-12-2019, 05:36 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Posts: 429
I can’t believe people still ask these questions. Here’s my take junior.
#1 rule of commuting? Never pass on a flight that’s going to where you need to go.
There’s your answer. Why in the Sam Hill would you turn down a job at JB to wait for frontier only to find out down the road something happens to your “flow” and it never happens.
Take the first one that’s available! It’s not rocket science.
#1 rule of commuting? Never pass on a flight that’s going to where you need to go.
There’s your answer. Why in the Sam Hill would you turn down a job at JB to wait for frontier only to find out down the road something happens to your “flow” and it never happens.
Take the first one that’s available! It’s not rocket science.
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