Flying Elvis

I left at the <1yr mark for DAL, leaving my bonus on the table. It was not all for the pay. I was about to jump up to 2nd year pay, and though I think that should be higher and hopefully will be once they get their first CBA, it would have been plenty comfortable for my living situation. Obviously DAL pay rates are significantly higher (my second year pay will be equal to 4th year pay at B6), and with college bills just over the near rocks, I am not complaining at all about that.

It definitely wasn't for the commute. I was driving to work at BOS. Now I drive to BOS and commute to NYC. A short commute with a bazillion options, but any commute is worse than living in base.

It wasn't because of the people. I truly enjoyed flying with just about everybody. Great group of guys and gals. A couple I didn't hit it off with completely, but none I would ever even consider putting on a no-fly list.

It wasn't so much for opportunities to fly widebodies. I'm a greybeard. Not much time left in the industry. With the rapid seniority growth, maybe I'll try the international thing at the end game. Maybe I'll jump on the upgrade bandwagon because at heart I'm a bit of a control freak. More likely, I'll be content to be as senior as possible in the junior seat of a junior aircraft at the most junior base.

It was for:
1. The company. A company is in business to make money. I get that. But a company that fails to emphasize "internal customer service" won't make it in the long haul. My perception is that B6 was exceptional in this regard at the start, but took its eyes off the ball.
2. The work rules. There is no comparison. I hope the B6 pilots all come to realize that in their first CBA, work rules need to be staked out first.
3. Not wanting to be on the "sold" side of a transaction.
4. A bit of a worry that the bitterness between company and pilots is going to lead to a very rocky road in the near future and will delay the CBA for way too long.
5. The pay. But this was far behind in my priorities.

I'm hoping #1 turns around quickly, fixing #2 and #5, and making #3 and 4 moot. And I honestly hope B6 pilots get an absolute killer contract - I may have some short-term regret and envy if this happens, but I'd be very happy for all my friends and fellow pilots still at B6. You deserve it.

NoDeskJob

FE, can you elaborate on the work rules that are better?

Another guy told me how on reserve, the max days on SC is 6 per month at DL. What other work rules make it better?

Flying Elvis

That's a better question for one of the many DAL threads.

JustAnotherPLT

I find many things wrong with this post.

Attrition is expensive to a company and, honestly, our top 75% are not lined up to leave. Our attrition has been from the bottom and with that, it costs a pretty penny to replace that freshly typed FO who just left. According to my seniority, attrition has been mostly behind me, which would justify my previous statement.


Listen, this is a business. You're a number, not a name. Our culture is within our crew members, not management. Legacies are the same, trust me.

Legacies also have a foundation to sustain rates that you're seeing today. I'm not saying we don't deserve more, because we do. However, we are not internationally structured like a Delta, United, or American. Delta makes money hand over fist with business class both domestic and international; we just introduced Mint. Also, we recently introduced a union, which the above companies have had for most of their existence. We just hit the tip of the iceberg.

In conclusion, and in my opinion of this whole recent outrage, jetBlue will improve. We haven't achieved the accomplishments we have seen today with a inept management. As much as one wants to B&M about this company, we've mostly made money since day one. We've grown as an airline and have significant accomplishments. Pay scales with ALPA will improve, but I highly doubt you'll see a legacy paycheck anytime soon.

Oh and as for comparing us to a regional, I highly doubt any FO is making 80K second year.

txbusdriver

12 years ago training pay was $2500 a month and first year pay was $56 an hour. Like everything else, changes in compensation occur via email at Blujet. This company is a joke and is just as hostile to its employees as the garbage regional I worked for. At least at the major I worked for had the stones to tell you that pilots were over compensated. This place talks out of both sides of its mouth.

The pilot group is reaping what it has sowed and now the new hires are taking it in the shorts too. Collectively, we the pilots of JetBlue are at fault for our current predicament. Yes, many of us voted in favour or representarion all three times as well as campaigned for the union. Beware of coming to work at Jetblue, lots of big compensation issues that won't be fixed for a long time. This pilot group thumbed its nose at representarion and allowed themselves to be duped by management. Own your own career Bluebelles.

WARich

15 years. Baby steps gents. Give it some time, I wouldn't be surprised that in 10 years JB is a place to be. Things don't change overnight, but I think you guys are moving in the right direction, give it a chance. Remember there are always going to be the negative dudes in any company you're in. But it's the ones that have just an ounce of faith and work towards improving the environment their in that make a difference. The glass isn't always half empty. And honestly you negative dudes really don't belong anywhere to include any of the legacy's with that attitude. If I recall, the Delta dudes don't even get first year pay until after IOE, where as I believe JB dudes get it the day after the check ride. That's a week or 2 or 3 of first year pay that the Delta guys don't get. Does JB first year pay suck, yes, but once again, I think things are moving in the right direction so give it a chance before you all go so negative. Didn't you just vote in the Union, you don't even have a CBA yet. Wait to complain until after you have that.

benzoate

I agree attrition is expensive and should be mitigated but management seems to think otherwise(making the wheel rounder perhaps).

Culture and values has been the beating heart and life blood of this airline since it's inception or at least that is what management told us. The reality is now obvious to most.

I'd would like to echo your cup is half full but my glasses are no longer rose colored. Jetblue is more a marketing company with airplanes than anything else. Management views employees as liabilities and nothing else so it's my opinion the road ahead will be long and arduous.

I'd like to believe the future is bright but the past has proven otherwise. I'd love to read you saying "I yold you so.

Anyhow cheers to a good Saturday night. Good luck boys. Hopefully everyone gets that DAL interview they are after.

BlueBlood

This is the most intelligent post I read in a while

BlueBlood

Not everyone is after DAL or any other
Someone would like to make this home
We need to improve a lot , but some posts here are wrong
And being so negative does not help building a better place

clear4approach

Spot on! Think negative people will be positive all of a sudden just because they're flying a plane or collecting a paycheck with a Delta, AA, or UA logo on it? Probably not.
We have a long way to go here at JB but changes happen slow and steady and there are sometimes bumps in the road. That applies to life in general too.
First year pay sucks. Don't take the job if you can't handle that financially or emotionally.
BTW doesn't Delta also make you pay for your hotel during training? Why is no one up in arms about that? I figure my new hire hotel in training probably cost the company 4-5k. I'd rather that then paying for it on my own or bunking up with some insomniac snorer fellow new hire.