gettinbumped

I have no idea whether you should leave JB for the warm wonderful waters of UAL (where is the eye roll emoticon??), but as a PacNW commuter.... it's HORRIBLE. You won't see SEA as a domicile for 10 years or so, if it even survives. Commuting out of SEA and PDX is a total nightmare to either SFO or LAX, and I've done both. UAL continues to "right size" in these markets and it has become the RJ Express with HUNDREDS of senior pilots and FA's waiting to bump you out of the seat. If you are in base now, please think about the effect and time it will have on your life... particularly with a youngster on the way (congrats, BTW). It's a GREAT place to live, but the commute is atrocious.

Dwane

Thanks! Yea, I was kind of thinking this might be the case....it seems the NW is sadly underserved.

I appreciate all the comments!

LeeFXDWG

If you do all the investigation possible, realize your predictions are just that and can change at any time, then go for whatever comes out as the best option for you/your's at that time knowing there is no guarantee of anything. Especially in this industry.

I chose UAL in the mid-90's and turned down DAL and SWA job offers. It was the best decision for me at that time, and it was a sound decision at that time in history. Rolex forward and it was the absolutely wrong decision.

So much so that I took a voluntary furlough in 2008 to leave the then mess and the future mess of the obvious merger that was going to happen.

You can only sharp shoot the process so far. Stuff happens.

Should UCH begin hiring off the street, weigh the pro's/con's, realize the potential outcome, and go with what you think is best.

But, as someone else stated, getting based in SEA takes some seniority horsepower and the commute is hard. Plus the SEA base has been under the gun for quite some time.

Good luck to you whatever you decide.

Frats,
Lee

Two-percent

De-wayne I think you're insane for not running for UAL. Who wouldn't want to fly big airplanes all over the hole why-worl and live in a great base. Getoutta JB as soon as UAL starts hiring. There's a job fair 04/13 in LAS. See ya.

RockyBoy

^^^^^

This is one of the biggest reasons why I left JB for a job at Delta. They don't see any significant retirement numbers until the late 2020's. They hired most of their current captain group between 2001-2003 and most of those guys were furloughed or RJ guys so they were young. 20 year upgrades on the bus is what most guys hired from 06 on are looking at at JetBlue....but you really don't know because they won't give you a list that has retirement dates on it....wonder why?? JetBlue is a place to get experience for the resume and move on at this point.

If you want to live in the pacific northwest, I'd leave for the first place that hires you that has a base in Seattle. That's what I did and although it hasn't been all perfect, it was the best move I've made as far as a career decision goes in the last 10 years.

Tony Nelson

You must be junior to him

Bluedriver

OK, so retirements are the only factor in upgrade time......

You sound like a real genius.

RockyBoy

Tell me how many growth airplanes B6 has seen since 2006.

I fly the same airplane I did at B6, make 20% more money, have a better retirement plan, better insurance, better STD/LTD, more options on what and where I can fly, live where I want to live and don't commute, and my relative seniority is better at DAL than it would have been if I'd stayed at B6.

That being said, I'm not saying B6 is a bad place...I actually liked working there. The people were great, crews were fun, flying was fun, and I think they are probably one of the best brand loyal airlines out there. If I wanted to live in Boston or Orlando, I would have stayed.

Jett i son

May someone that currently works for JB tell us why they would consider leaving JB, for any other US airline?
Many UAL/AA/DAL crews complain.
In my personal contact with the JB pilot group, I have concluded that they are mostly quite happy.
OK, maybe for SWA?...
I am partial, I admit it.

Flyby1206

For me (as a JB pilot) it comes down to where I want to live. If the original poster said he wanted to stay in NYC area forever then it might be different. Jetblue is a decent place to work, but our benefits do not come close to those at the legacy level. Especially in terms of retirement and health insurance. Add in the lack of retirements at JB, compared to the projected movement at legacy carriers and you have a compelling case to jump ship.