Are there many UAL furloughees at jetBlue? I am just curious, for someone who has seen both operations, if after working for JB and experiencing their company culture/outlook, would you return to UAL if recalled in the near future? (I’m only guessing you were able to keep your UAL #?) My hope is to someday work for a legacy (UAL, AA, DAL) due to the type of route structure in place, but I hear a lot of good things about JB, and wonder if it may a better place to be? Thoughts?

 

I think UAL has a once down the list, once back up, take the recall or you're off the list type of a system. So when UAL hired in 08 or so they had already gone up and down their list. So the only UAL furloughs at JB would be those few who got hired in 08, all of which are still furloughed.

 

Gloopy,

I dont think thats true. Thats why UAL furloughees are being preferentially hired at CAL for the time being...they are being given work, but not a CAL seniority position for the merger. At least thats my understanding. UAL furloughees go all the way back into the late 90's, with recall rights.

 

Yeah UAL furloughed I think 1500ish going back to the 90's. However all of those had decided to come back early 2008 I think otherwise they would be off the list. So the only ones that could have gotten on with JB and still be there, yet still have UAL recall rights, would be those hired at JB 09 through now. Most of them have been furloughed twice but only those furloughed on the second round could possibly be in that scenario. Clear as mud I know. You are correct though, the DOH could certainlly go back to the 90's.

 

There are 1437 United pilots on furlough. During the first furlough you had to accept recall after they went thru the list twice. During this furlough you have ten years to bypass if you choose. When I came back last time after bypassing as long as possible, my class was filled with pilots that had been hired at JB while on furlough. These guys resigned from JB only to get furloughed again from UA. I don't know but would have thought JB would have been reluctant to hire furloughed airline types after losing so many to recalls.

 

I had 3 former USAF buds get furloughed in the first UAL furlough that landed jobs at JB. They all elected to stay and decline recall which for them was good as they would have been furloughed again. They are doing well there which is good for them.

As with any airline, they have their pros and cons working there. These individuals didn't think it was smart to try and come back to UAL. They turned out to be right.

I did meet one guy that got furloughed, got a JB job, then came back to UAL. He was a Colorado guy and wanted back....sadly, furloughed again. I also met a couple of new hires in 08 that had some good left seat seniority at a regional I can't remember. They left from the left seat making reasonable coin to the "show" only to get shown the door after a short stint on the property.

Timing is everything and your decisions are always your best guess when the situation requires it. Hind sight is 20/20. If we all had a crystal ball, we'd always make the right decisions. I turned down SW and DL in favor of UA in the 90's........and my decision turned out to be wrong.

Frats,
Lee

 

You are correct. After all the furloughed guys went back to UAL and DAL in 07-08, JetBlue said they would not hire furloughed guys again. I know alot of guys went back to UAL in 08, but I'm sure there are a few that bypassed and are still there. I know a couple of furloughed Delta guys who still have recall rights who are still at JetBlue and have been captains for almost six years now. Some of those guys won't come back unless a merger with someone makes recall to Delta a better option than a merger scenario.

 

I do know they have taken at least a couple of NJ furloughees, fwiw.

 

Just flew with a guy who was hired at UA in either '00 or '01. Went back and got f-ed again. Got hired at JB in '09 and doesn't plan on going back.

So, yes. JB actually does still hire furloughed pilots.

GP

 

August 22, 2011 10:00 AM ET

JetBlue Airways Names Bonny Simi Vice President, Talent

PR Newswire
NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2011

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- JetBlue Airways JBLU today announced the promotion of Bonny Simi to the newly created position of Vice President, Talent. In this role, Ms. Simi will oversee the value airline's primary asset, its crewmembers, from hiring to skills development and succession management. Ms. Simi will report to Chief People Officer Joanna Geraghty in the airline's hometown of New York City. Prior to this role, Ms. Simi served as JetBlue's Director, Customer Experience and Analysis at its Customer Support Center in Salt Lake City. She is also an EMBRAER 190 captain for JetBlue.
"Bonny brings a rare combination of experiences to this role that will greatly benefit JetBlue crewmembers," Ms. Geraghty said. "Bonny knows the challenges and opportunities an airline career provides, and also knows how to use data to drive crewmember satisfaction and teamwork."
"I look forward to this new challenge," Ms. Simi said. "I believe JetBlue crewmembers are already among the finest in the industry, and the Talent team will be dedicated to making sure they have the right team supporting them, and the best opportunities to grow their career."
Ms. Simi holds degrees from Stanford University and Regis University in communications, human resources, and management. Prior to joining JetBlue in 2003 as a pilot, Ms. Simi flew for United Airlines from 1990 to 2003. Ms. Simi also competed in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games in luge.