P-3Bubba

And furloughs.When the Legacy's are hammering on all 6 cylinders all is good. When the hiccup comes and they're holding their junk, the FURLOUGHS coming rolling down. How do they do those furloughs? Oh right, by seniority.

WARich

That's good to know, thanks.

Free Flyer

I disagree P-3Bubba. Upgrades at CAL were 13 months before age 65, and now are at 7-8 years. Plus we are going to shed on average 300-400 pilots a year for the next 6 years at the "new" UAL due to retirements. It basically comes down to go to an airline with bases that suits your needs.

Trent900

The legacies are going to retire literally hundreds of Pilots every year. Do you really foresee furloughs on top of that?


If the $hit hits the fan with the economy, don't think for one minute JB wont furlough too.



Trent

82spukram

Too add to Trent's comments...... Joanna G admitted at leading edge that could furlough but would not because they have to pay 70hrs/month. I asked will JetBlue keep us current and qualified? She said what do you mean? I said after 90 days (landing currency) I would no longer be current and qualified so then What? She said we never thought about that but we would "never do that". I said sure but by this point in the process of pilots not flying for 90 days you are let go with your golden parachute what does your replacement say. She had no answer said they would look into it. Still waiting almost 2 months latter.

You can be furloughed at any time.....just a matter of who is running the show and what they decide to do

Jay5150

FWIW, Bubba, It took Dela somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 years of passenger service to have its first pilot furlough. There have been 2 total, one after 9-11. I don't know the other Legacy's specific history with this offhand, but the point is: Being at JB, or anywhere else for that matter, does not make one immune from furlough. If JB makes it another 40 or 50 years without furloughing, well then I'll stand corrected.

P-3Bubba

How long for a Delta bankruptcy? The point is that JetBlue has a good thing going. They've weathered a few storms and come out with no furloughs and bankruptcy. To say that is one thing, but say it in the post 9/11 environment and it means something. I'll now comment on the legacy retirements. Legacy's, especially Delta and now Amercian, know that to make $ today you need to have a premium product and utilize on international routes. Flying to Miskokie, OK is contract work to the lowest bidder on larger 90 seat aircraft which still offer 1st Class. I believe the large number of jobs everyone is drooling over are going to be reduced by larger regional aircraft and legacy's not replacing older 320's, 73's and 88's w/ Legacy pilots. Are there retirements? Sure. Will there be jobs and movement at Legacy's where there has been stagnation for the last 14 years. Yes. But will the gates open and everyone hired at a Legacy in 2014 be a 777 Caltain in 5 years. Dream on! It's about a strong brand with sustainable profitability and growth.

Flyby1206

Bubba does have a point. The system wide number of retirements will be so massive that they can't physically be replaced on a 1:1 ratio. The pilot shortage is coming, but raising pay wont solve the problem. Higher pay at the regional level only means that regional flying will become unprofitable, creating a surplus of RJ pilots.

Jay5150

.............

Kellwolf

Let's not forget the other end of the equation: international codeshares and larger a/c. Rather than fly those A320s 3 times a day, why not fly a 757 twice with a C-Series RJ tossed in the mix? Rather than fly your own 777 from JFK-CDG, code share with Air France and let them do it. I'm sure Delta bought a large stake in Virgin Atlantic just for S&Gs.....

I'm okay with international (note INTERNATIONAL) codeshares here at jetBlue. I don't see is doing anything like JFK-LHR or Dubai or Paris or South Africa, so management can knock themselves out signing up international codeshare partners. It's money in the bank for us. For legacy carriers, though, that's a net loss of jobs as they sign more codeshare deals in the long run. Don't get me started on this "unlimited domestice codeshare" we keep getting taunted with. We don't need to go near that with a 10 ft pole.