Originally Posted by jetlink

Most of you in the pool will be heading to JBU in Orlando soon. In my opinion, JB will need more then what they are predicting for 2013. I just turned in my resignation, and there is another two in my class that will be moving on soon. They were a bid surprised, when I emailed them my resignation, and asked me why I'm quitting and how they can retain "talent". My answer is very easy: It's a free market thing! Offer pilots a better pay, and over all compensation package, stop rhetorics of "orgasmic growth" when you deliver 10 A320 and 9 are replacement. Stop raping your employees of benefits when you make billions in record profits (the Caring thing you know), stop intimidating PVC members that are trying to make a difference. Stop comparing your existing "talent" to Cape Air or local flight school Commercial pilots.
When your blue juice level and pressure is finally down, and you start looking from inside out, you'll see, that jB is another stepping stone in your career and management doesn't care if you are going to stay or move on, since right now they have plenty of applicants out there. But they will have to do something next year, when most of the qualified "talents" will start quitting in bulks every week for legacies. For now they are focusing on hiring pilots without PIC or low time, since they know, those candidates will stick around for a while. Good luck to you all, I wish you best of the career in jB, and I hope they will change their approach for retaining "talent"

Originally Posted by RiddleEagle18

Its not about looking backwards at an fo hired 20 years ago. It is about looking forwards 10-20 years. Fact is if you get on wirh UAL now they retire 50% of their list in the next 10 years. Jetblue retires 100 pilots in 10 years!

Being based at home is the ultimate career enhancement though and I understand that argument 100% but bases open and close all the time.(if you live in ny i imagine your safe)

Originally Posted by RJer

Agreed, I'm partly banking on attrition at JetBlue when hiring picks up industry wide.

Originally Posted by Climbto450

I realize JB can do what they want, but in the 13 years of existence have they displaced anyone due to closing a base? Have they even closed a base for that matter. Heck they have kept Orlando open.

Originally Posted by CaptCoolHand

I'm pretty sure that no company ever furloughed or displaced anyone... right up until they were mismanaged to the point where they did.

The arguement that Jb has never furloughed because they are non-union is about as lame as south west has the cheapest tickets.

Originally Posted by CaptCoolHand

I'm pretty sure that no company ever furloughed or displaced anyone... right up until they were mismanaged to the point where they did.

The arguement that Jb has never furloughed because they are non-union is about as lame as south west has the cheapest tickets.

Originally Posted by Climbto450

I did not see the word furloughed in this post, it was in response to RJ's posting. I was speaking of base closures and displacement as a result of it. Our "unofficial" no furhlough policy is a whole different topic.

Originally Posted by pjflyer1999

All this talk about people leaving JB and "the grass is greener" mentality brings up a good question. Do people that are leaving JB actually think they are going to be happier or have more pride in what they do by going to a company like UAL/CAL, USAirways, or AA? I can understand DAL, but the others offer nothing but a historically low moral work environment and a generally negative vibe. My friend who has worked at CAL/UAL for the last 6 years has continually complained about how terrible management treats the pilot group and how it is just a big regional with regards to work rules. I've talked with many extremely senior UAL guys (747 and 777 Captains) that talk about burning the place down and how they would rather destroy the company than work there for another day. I've heard the same complaints from guys and gals at AA and USAirways and been told my many that I should not even think about applying at these carriers unless I want to hate my job every day for the rest of my career.

I understand you'll move up way quicker at a legacy with the future retirements and your earning potential MAY be greater long-term, but no one ever seems to consider QOL or having pride in their position as considerations when choosing a career airline. Do people honestly not care that the general public associates an employee of many legacy airlines as representing a terrible organization that could care less about the passenger, and of course the employee group. Are there people our there that only care about the pay and moving up in seniority? Sounds like a friend of mine who works at the Post Office! Contracts will come and go, but management will not just change overnight. Many management teams at legacy carriers will continue to find ways to keep the pilot group negative regardless of contract negotiations or pay increases (scope, RSV rules, etc..).

I find it very confusing when my same friend who has spent years complaining about how horrible it is to work at UAL/CAL and how embarrassing it is to represent the airline to the public now is encouraging me to apply? I had a USAirways Captain practically beg me not to apply as he thought I would be happier working at Home Depot!

JB may have plenty of issues, but in my short time here I have found the pilot group to be generally much happier than some Legacy groups and cerainly the customers seem to love the product. I think there is something to be said about having pride in where you work, but maybe that's just me!

Originally Posted by Herkulesdrvr

Yes I have heard the mumbo jumbo about culture and all that, it doesn't pay bills. For me its only about pay and benefits with no other considerations, next question.

Originally Posted by Climbto450

I realize JB can do what they want, but in the 13 years of existence have they displaced anyone due to closing a base? Have they even closed a base for that matter. Heck they have kept Orlando open.