Originally Posted by BeatNavy (Post 2806372)

Funny you mention cabs and Uber. Lyft and Uber are burning through billions in investors’ cash annually and are far from profitability, yet still fetch insane valuations. Fortunately for them they have raised ungodly amounts of money, but they aren’t slowing down ripping through it, and people are continuing to invest in them. So, if JB think throwing money into these startups is a good hedge against a disruption to a very thin margin, highly competitive industry, I’d point to the actual financials of Uber and Lyft...and the aviation industry is probably a million times harder to disrupt with the giants on the manufacturing and operating side. It’s not nearly as simple as a car driving business. Turns out moving people from point A to point B, even in someone else’s car with “contracted” labor is still not as good a business plan as the good ol taxi company, at least until driverless cars are part of that business plan.

From another site (financial times I think?) on the Uber IPO prospectus:

Originally Posted by pilotpayne (Post 2806419)

Interesting especially how we as a society will deal with more and more automation and the elimination of thousands and thousands of jobs. It’s the next industrial revolution and we are not really talking about it.

My only thing with them ventures is it’s fine to play around but only when your own house is in order. Don’t go gambling in Vegas if you can’t afford your mortgage. But if you have everything funded have at it :)

Originally Posted by BeatNavy (Post 2806415)

For the record I don't claim to work (or not work) at any particular airline, nor do I claim to have options to work at any airline. I may be a GoJet lifer who enjoys hanging out on the JB forum and comparing airline contracts ;). I have a lot of friends who like it at JB and don't want to go anywhere else. I also have some friends who are at JB trying to get to a legacy. I have a lot of friends who are at JB who tried to get to a legacy but then got senior or upgraded and didn't want to start over after several years there. I think the biggest factor in choosing a major airline is who calls you first, followed by base location/contract if all else is equal, and whether or not resetting seniority is worth it if a hotter chick (better airline) ends up calling you (financial crossover point if applicable, projected hiring, movement, age, all that stuff). The best airline to work for changes over time, and in a 30-40 year career, who knows where "the best" will be on retirement day. It's all a partly educated gamble based on a snapshot at the time someone is applying to airlines and the options he/she has at the time.