Bluedriver

I hope they do as well. It will certainly require a shift in the business model to do it. Can't/won't have 150 flights a day at every base anytime soon. So they will need to find the best 30-60-80 flights a day at each. Not sure if that means the highest revenue markets each legacy has in each city. Or just mainly going after leisure and VFR in each city. Or? Gonna have to figure out how to make money flying 20-30-40 flights a day in some markets, like DTW, ATL, DFW, etc...

96toyotat100

Out of curiosity are you JetBlue guys able to jumpseat on your own metal international? I live in mexico and the idea of riding in the front would make my life easier. Not sure if they would do positive space International.

ProPilotBlue

Yes, JetBlue pilots can jumpseat international up front. Not sure about the positive space commuting though.

GrayFlyer

¿En qué ciudad vives? Why not aeroméxico or volaris?

Softpayman

We have some guys commuting from South of the border. Why? $$ is much better here. If they have the ability to work in the US, the money could be worth it.

ProPilotBlue

I'm not sure about those two specifically, but the pay is MUCH better in the US than in most other countries. I know a guy who was a 7 year captain in Colombia, and he said he earned $50,000-$60,000 a year. B6 new hire FOs are roughly twice that.

hgeonat

I must have missed something - when did positive space commuting come out at JB, and how exactly does it work? Is there any sort of word on how long that may stick around? Is JB trying to attract more pilots with better commutes, or was there another reasoning?

Flyby1206

I think it was early 2021 they started the positive space commuting, but someone else might have better info. It has been said PS commute will remain available until further notice. 🤷‍♂️

I think the reasoning is when we started coming out of covid and flights were full there were lots of pilots/FAs not making it to work and causing ripple effects with staffing problems. This is a way to more reliably get crews to base to start trips.

727_Driver

Positive space commuting allows a crewmember to book a confirmed seat from their listed blue city (closest city to where you live that you plan on commuting to/from) to your base and back. Positive space tickets are capped and you can only book the ticket if enough open seats are available when you create the listing. Most line holders would book their flights as soon as they get their schedule. If you are unable to book comfirmed seat you have to list as S2 standby. Which puts you at the top of the standby list but blocks you from taking the jumpseat if someone else is trying to just jumpseat, so S2 standby has some risks. Most carriers allow their pilots to jumpseat internationally on their own metal. This has to do with US Customs and the master crew list, and gen dec requirements. You generally can't do jumpseat into the US OAL because if the master crew list/Gen Decs, etc get messed up the aircraft would not be allowed to enter US Airspace. This is way too big a risk for OAL to take. I have heard rumors customs may allow this to happen in the near future, but we all know how fast the govt moves and how rumors go.

FlyinCat

Reading this thread with interest. I am planning to move my family back to NC and CLT/AA seems the obvious (only) choice. But I don't really like what I'm hearing about AA, and my regional offers me a fair bit of flexibility with my schedule which I'm worried about losing. Right now I'm able to drop a trip or two a month to get more family time. It also seems that JB takes better care of its pilots than AA, and I wouldn't mind making it a career destination for that and a number of other reasons. (FYI I'm older and won't reap the benefit of 30 years at a legacy) The base locations are the only thing keeping me from going there immediately. Obviously commuting will eat into family time as well. I figure I'd pick JFK as most airports have plenty of NY flights to choose from. Does anyone think that it would be worth commuting to JB over living in base at AA?