Bozo the pilot

True- B6 is better than any regional but worse than any real airline so until an industry standard CBA is in place, consider B6 a stepping stone. Get your type and update your apps on DAL/UAL/AA and SWA.

Juicers- please argue this.

JustAnotherPLT

I have to second CanoeBum. I'm not on the juicer aircraft (190) and can say with confidence that most people are not happy with our current situation. As a new hire, you'll constantly be harassed as to what airlines you're applying to. I'll buy you a beer if you don't get asked within the first month of being online. As for Southerner, I feel that his excessive amount of years as a sim driver has him out of touch with what's really going on. Hear say at the school house is a poor representation.

Also, a guy who doesn't wear an ALPA lanyard is the wrong guy to ask about where we stand as a pilot group. Just say'n...

pilotpayne

So anyone that does not agree with you is a juicer?

But really what is the point? You have made your position very clear. Only an industry leading CBA will help but you also don't think we will get that.
So if the only thing that can help us in your opinion is out of reach why bother?

You need to define real airline

aewanabe

Just like anywhere else, most of us confine our griping to the forums and not the cockpit. We talk about sports, our families, work gossip, what we're gonna do on layovers just like 99.9 percent of pilots everywhere.

I'm a good example; JetBlue has frustrated me an awful lot in the last couple years, and sharing that here is important to help people make informed decisions I think. As a result I'm a bit guilty of most of my posts being negative lately, and I have little tolerance for the usual suspects that chime in to tell me that I'm wrong, or exaggerating, or that the problems are the same everywhere. Our Crew Scheduling, Dispatch, and Tech Ops (Blue speak for maintenance) swing the full gamut from good to awful, so if you're expecting otherwise when you leave your regional you will probably be disappointed. My frustration mostly ranges from having seen the potential this place has and being disappointed at failing to live up to our potential. The changes in maintenance in particular have me strongly concerned; at a time of record profits I am flying brand new jets with MELs that were unheard of just a couple years ago.

Having said all that, on a daily basis I enjoy the aircraft and the people I fly with. The newhires I've flown with are still mostly impressive in their experience and quality, but many of them are open about the difficulty we will have retaining them. The 320/321 flight decks are an awful nice place to hang out if you're going to be in a jet 3-7 hours at a stretch. The layovers run the full gamut of nice to stupid; most places in the Caribbean are good, CONUS ranges from a Fairmont to spending 20 hours in an Aloft across the street from the airport.

Quite honestly if you have an offer you're probably better off here, assuming commuting to reserve on first year pay isn't going to destroy your family. If you can or currently do live in a JB base, it's a no-brainer to come over I think. Depending which regional and what longevity you have, you will equal and then exceed your top of scale anywhere between year 2 and 4 on either airplane, and that's assuming no new CBA. Dealing with your own employees versus being the red-headed stepchild with agents, ops, etc is a nice change, especially if you travel online. And there is an awful lot to be said for being clear of the FFD rat race in general.

Worst case, get online, start flying the line, and if we aren't your cup of tea JetBlue on your resume will help you stand out from the other 1000 RJ Captains with 1500 plus TPIC already. JB SIC time seems to go over quite nicely at the big three plus FedEx and UPS. All this is just .02 from a 10 year guy that's flown all 4 seats at the airline and isn't going anywhere. Hope it helps a bit.

aewanabe

We're an almost-real airline, but my buddies at UA and DL aren't telling me about 25-million in maintenance budget cuts whilst the'yre making record profits. That's the biggest gap between us and the "reals" in my book currently.

Bozo the pilot

Disagree all you want Payne. My point has always been crystal clear- Your's is more nebulous. You waver from faulting the airline to then attacking those who dont see how we get an industry leading contract.

Answer me this so that your point is clear; What reason does B6 have to offer industry leading pay etc?

We've spoken privately and I thought we had reached common understanding. Are you just putting up a public front? Please discuss openly or text me.
Bz

12fly

Thank you for a thoughtful post. Very helpful to someone waiting to pass Phase II.

Bozo the pilot

Great summation Wanabe

pilotpayne

Wait you mean I can see fault on both sides and not just say JetBlue sucks at everything or everything is great at JetBlue? I am the last one to put up a front, my name is right there and on bluepilots and I texted you when you challenged me about a post. My name is even on my bag so say hi if you see me, I would be happy to chat it saves me from typing.

I was just pointing out that you always say the only way we fix things is by an industry leading CBA but we won't get that and that you would like to stay but you can't. And so you will just go round and round and until there is a CBA to judge it's almost a pointless argument. (Not trying to be rude)

The reason to offer industry leading cba would be to attract pilots, the same reason United would offer an industry leading CBA.

pilotpayne

I'm not disagreeing with you but I wonder what % we were spending on mx vs others? Again I do not know I also am not sure why the "cost savings" I do agree things on that side are not as good as they were. From a buddy in LSC he said the budget is super tight and they can't get money to do anything. That's one reason I think something is up. But if there is one thing I would prefer they spend money on it is mx.