JetBlue Latest and Greatest
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Don't take offense. This will be my last interference on this B6 thread. I read the email your company sent you a few days ago promising stellar growth in LGA etc. I haven't read the TA but it sounds from an outsider's perspective like the email the company sent doesn't line up with the language of the TA. Good luck to your pilot group. The whole industry is watching
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Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
Either the company didn’t notice the scope detail, or they were betting that ALPA wouldn’t notice... doesn’t matter. Either way, the sudden urgency isn’t on us. The deal has to be “the right deal” for the pilots to sign off on it. 51 percent, anyway. If it takes another round, so be it.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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New Hire
Joined: Feb 2021
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Fellow JetBlue Pilots:
My background as a MEC Representative at my last airline during the tragic events of 9/11 and its subsequent first bankruptcy, along with my 10 years in various Chief Pilot positions at JetBlue, have given me a unique prospective as I enjoy life as a FLL 320 Captain. Since returning to the line I have made it a point to stay out of the fray. However, there are a lot of misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the information surrounding LOA 13, and many Pilots have reached out to me over this potentially watershed agreement. For that reason, I would humbly like to share my thoughts with you.
First, I encourage you to cast an educated ballot by reading the full LOA. It’s hard to understand at first, so follow up by reading the supporting documentation provided by ALPA and JetBlue. ALPA has done a tremendous job in explaining things. The letter from the Scope Committee Chairman and first Ride Report are especially good. In addition, last week’s Pilot Pocket Session featured good information from CFO Steve Priest and Head of Revenue and Planning, Scott Laurence. I have personally worked with both men and have always found them to be extremely credible and honest. After absorbing all this information, re-read the LOA. It is amazing how much more you will understand.
The paragraphs below will address these items that are necessary for understanding this deal:
• The NEA will give us access to valuable slots we would not otherwise be able to get
• We are NOT giving away flying to Eagle
• A “no” to this agreement will not automatically mean either party is willing to renegotiate
JetBlue has been trying to make inroads at LGA and other northeast airports for years. Even in JFK we have a limited amount of premium slots to feed potential transatlantic flying. AMR already has the valuable real estate that we have long desired, and this agreement gives us major access to key slots. This would allow us to bring back our parked aircraft sooner and bring flying back more quickly. It’s not surprising that Delta, Southwest and others desperately want to kill this deal. They truly understand the negative impact this agreement would have on their business. Let’s not give them the satisfaction of getting another advantage.
I’ve heard concerns about the section outlining American Eagle flying. I’ll tell you from my experience that you shouldn’t be concerned as we are not giving away flying to Eagle. It’s too much to explain here, so I encourage you again to read/listen to the information presented by both JetBlue and ALPA. By understanding the true purpose of the section on Eagle, you can see that it actually opens up more and better opportunities for us to grow and gives us access to revenue that we otherwise wouldn’t have.
The last questions is, did we get enough? ALPA National is very experienced and has done deals of this magnitude. Based on my extensive involvement working with ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis Team (EF&A), especially during the bankruptcy at my former airline, I can attest to their expertise. They are the best, hands down. Be mindful of this when you hear Pilots with little or no experience suggesting changes without understanding the full ramifications of what they are saying.
Finally, keep in mind that voting “no” does not automatically mean that either group will go back to the table and try to renegotiate. If that’s your intent by voting “no,” realize that’s a risky approach. In the end, allowing JetBlue to take full advantage of the changing landscape will allow us to accelerate our revenue stream and then enhance our bargaining position for future contracts. In the meantime, we are preserving our own careers and ensuring there is a good future.
If anyone would like to discuss this further, please reach out to me via email or phone.
Paul Hocking
My background as a MEC Representative at my last airline during the tragic events of 9/11 and its subsequent first bankruptcy, along with my 10 years in various Chief Pilot positions at JetBlue, have given me a unique prospective as I enjoy life as a FLL 320 Captain. Since returning to the line I have made it a point to stay out of the fray. However, there are a lot of misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the information surrounding LOA 13, and many Pilots have reached out to me over this potentially watershed agreement. For that reason, I would humbly like to share my thoughts with you.
First, I encourage you to cast an educated ballot by reading the full LOA. It’s hard to understand at first, so follow up by reading the supporting documentation provided by ALPA and JetBlue. ALPA has done a tremendous job in explaining things. The letter from the Scope Committee Chairman and first Ride Report are especially good. In addition, last week’s Pilot Pocket Session featured good information from CFO Steve Priest and Head of Revenue and Planning, Scott Laurence. I have personally worked with both men and have always found them to be extremely credible and honest. After absorbing all this information, re-read the LOA. It is amazing how much more you will understand.
The paragraphs below will address these items that are necessary for understanding this deal:
• The NEA will give us access to valuable slots we would not otherwise be able to get
• We are NOT giving away flying to Eagle
• A “no” to this agreement will not automatically mean either party is willing to renegotiate
JetBlue has been trying to make inroads at LGA and other northeast airports for years. Even in JFK we have a limited amount of premium slots to feed potential transatlantic flying. AMR already has the valuable real estate that we have long desired, and this agreement gives us major access to key slots. This would allow us to bring back our parked aircraft sooner and bring flying back more quickly. It’s not surprising that Delta, Southwest and others desperately want to kill this deal. They truly understand the negative impact this agreement would have on their business. Let’s not give them the satisfaction of getting another advantage.
I’ve heard concerns about the section outlining American Eagle flying. I’ll tell you from my experience that you shouldn’t be concerned as we are not giving away flying to Eagle. It’s too much to explain here, so I encourage you again to read/listen to the information presented by both JetBlue and ALPA. By understanding the true purpose of the section on Eagle, you can see that it actually opens up more and better opportunities for us to grow and gives us access to revenue that we otherwise wouldn’t have.
The last questions is, did we get enough? ALPA National is very experienced and has done deals of this magnitude. Based on my extensive involvement working with ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis Team (EF&A), especially during the bankruptcy at my former airline, I can attest to their expertise. They are the best, hands down. Be mindful of this when you hear Pilots with little or no experience suggesting changes without understanding the full ramifications of what they are saying.
Finally, keep in mind that voting “no” does not automatically mean that either group will go back to the table and try to renegotiate. If that’s your intent by voting “no,” realize that’s a risky approach. In the end, allowing JetBlue to take full advantage of the changing landscape will allow us to accelerate our revenue stream and then enhance our bargaining position for future contracts. In the meantime, we are preserving our own careers and ensuring there is a good future.
If anyone would like to discuss this further, please reach out to me via email or phone.
Paul Hocking
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2005
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