brog1330

Alright this will sound ridiculous to some. I’m an infant in the 121 world, I’ve gained about 450 hours at my regional, been here a year and a half. I make a good amount now and have a pretty decent QOL im top 25% of FO’s in my base. I have a CJO from JetBlue, but my end goal is ideally a legacy so JetBlue will be a stepping stone more then likely. Are the work rules that much better at JetBlue? I’ve tried to do as much research as I can here to piece together the contract without actually seeing it, and it really doesn’t seem bad. I just don’t want to sit reserve for 6 years commuting am I better off just getting time at the regional? I’m young (would be bottom half of class at JB) and I’m a commuter from FL, currently commute at the regional.

Any advice would be truly appreciated as I feel like I’m between a rock and a hard place on a decision, 2 years ago getting an opportunity to interview with this level of experience would of been unheard of, much less a CJO. This industry doesn’t make sense anymore, and I’ve never seen it in a hard time which has me feeling my choice may be wrong one way or the other.

Boomer

You are a step above your peer group in that you realize the current hiring situation is unlike any other time in aviation history, and that the music could stop at any moment.

Are people so short sighted they forgot that just two years ago airlines were considering massive furloughs?

What do you need to get hired at your dream job? If it’s an Airbus type rating, and you’re morally fine with using JetBlue for that purpose, then JetBlue is your answer. But if it’s turbine PIC, or just flight time in general, then staying at your regional is the better route.

Also consider your commute. Three years of commuting goes by much different than three years of driving to work.

So to try to answer your question, you have three main considerations. Primary is “How do I get to a legacy airline THE FASTEST” while taking into consideration “how much frustration and QOL am I willing to deal with?” and “Will I be happy if the music stops and I’m stuck doing this for five or ten years before the legacies start hiring again?”

Those factors vary by individual so you won’t find the correct answer on a pilot forum.

DrSmacFum

I'm not as hellbent on the legacies, but I was in a similar situation and went to JB. If JB provides me with a great QOL & $$$ Ill probably stay, where as I know I wouldnt stay at a regional and who knows what the regionals will look like a year from now. That was my thought process.

DocVoliday

The ability to ask things like this as if it were normal will forever be mind-blowing to me.


That being said, do yourself (and others) a favor and stay where you are, upgrade, and move on. Legacies still want TPIC (yes, there are always 1 or 2 in each class who are hired at the big three with 0TPIC and it’s no longer “required”). But, as a whole, that’s how you’re getting hired there.

Coming to JB with the sole intent of using it to leave without already having TPIC time is not the recipe for moving on to a legacy from here.

Excargodog

THIS^^^^

Failing majors get merged with a SLI. Failing regionals GO AWAY, and your seniority with them.

SunnyFL

You're going to get varying answers. I was in a similar boat a year ago. Had around 500 SIC 121. Good seniority. Florida commuter. I 100% do not regret making the jump over here to B6. Taking the job offer, even before all the regional pay raises, was a no brainer. If I was still at the regionals with the pay scales they have now I still would've come to B6. Difference for me was B6 was always my end goal. I was born and raised here in Florida and don't plan on moving. So knowing starting out I would have to commute for another handful of years until I get to drive to work was worth it for me. Short term pain for long term gain to be able to drive to work for 30 plus years. Work rules are much better then at the regional I was at. Reserve wasn't anywhere close to as bad as at my regional. I also knew to get into a regional and get out ASAP. Economy, pandemic etc. is always one thing away from making the music stop. If that happens would you rather be at a regional or major? I got furloughed during covid at my regional. Between knowing what happened to a lot of peoples careers after 9/11, 2008 recession and the lost decade for me it was a no brainer getting out of the regional model.

Ask yourself the tough questions like others have said. As others have pointed out in this career you won't know if it was the right decision until you retire. Only thing I would say is don't get so caught up in the regional pay raises and the fact your QOL is good right now because at any time that could change especially at the regionals. Try and think long term instead of short term.

Airwillystyle

History always repeats itself to those who are always chasing the big shiny-jet!

IAFDOF

I’d never suggest staying at a regional. QOL and security at any major is far better and worth leaving just for that reason alone. That said, I’m generally of the opinion that if you go to a major with the intent of leaving, you’re potentially taking that slot from someone who actually wants to be there, and that makes you a d**k.

Bluedriver

I'm kinda torn... I think it's up to management to make this place somewhere people want to stay. If they don't do what it takes to make dudes want to stay it's really not his fault for leaving.

IAFDOF

I agree, except that if you come here knowing you’re leaving, then nothing this company does will keep you here. I’m pretty sure he said he has no intention of staying, so he’s potentially taking a training slot from someone who actually wants to be here, thus kinda hosing them. Ergo…