Spirit and jetBlue
01-11-2015, 06:53 PM
#91
Banned
Joined APC: Aug 2014
Position: A320 F/O
Posts: 442
I was given an interview date with jetBlue while in indoc at post-merger AA.
It was a difficult decision telling the jetBlue recruiter thanks but no thanks.
I wanted to live in S FL so either would good that way. My main concern is passengers fly jetBlue because they like to, not because their route network forces them to (like AA).
At the time jetBlue was making very little money for their size and that was a fairly big concern of mine.
Things can change but I personally would go with jetBlue over the two. Why? You can always create a new airline, with zero legacy costs, and out do Spirit, a super ultra low cost carrier of sorts.
It's much more difficult to build a brand like jetBlue's. The new direction will change things slightly but long term I would bet more on jetBlue being around. It will also offer much more financial security without changing the customer base.
The retirements at AA are nice but if the company continues to shrink under immense pressure from others such as Spirit and jetBlue it won't matter. JetBlue took a massive amount of flying from AA, all of BOS, a significant amount in JFK, and a ton in the Caribbean moving into S. America now.
It was a difficult decision telling the jetBlue recruiter thanks but no thanks.
I wanted to live in S FL so either would good that way. My main concern is passengers fly jetBlue because they like to, not because their route network forces them to (like AA).
At the time jetBlue was making very little money for their size and that was a fairly big concern of mine.
Things can change but I personally would go with jetBlue over the two. Why? You can always create a new airline, with zero legacy costs, and out do Spirit, a super ultra low cost carrier of sorts.
It's much more difficult to build a brand like jetBlue's. The new direction will change things slightly but long term I would bet more on jetBlue being around. It will also offer much more financial security without changing the customer base.
The retirements at AA are nice but if the company continues to shrink under immense pressure from others such as Spirit and jetBlue it won't matter. JetBlue took a massive amount of flying from AA, all of BOS, a significant amount in JFK, and a ton in the Caribbean moving into S. America now.
01-11-2015, 07:50 PM
#92
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Airplane
Posts: 2,385
I was given an interview date with jetBlue while in indoc at post-merger AA.
It was a difficult decision telling the jetBlue recruiter thanks but no thanks.
I wanted to live in S FL so either would good that way. My main concern is passengers fly jetBlue because they like to, not because their route network forces them to (like AA).
At the time jetBlue was making very little money for their size and that was a fairly big concern of mine.
Things can change but I personally would go with jetBlue over the two. Why? You can always create a new airline, with zero legacy costs, and out do Spirit, a super ultra low cost carrier of sorts.
It's much more difficult to build a brand like jetBlue's. The new direction will change things slightly but long term I would bet more on jetBlue being around. It will also offer much more financial security without changing the customer base.
The retirements at AA are nice but if the company continues to shrink under immense pressure from others such as Spirit and jetBlue it won't matter. JetBlue took a massive amount of flying from AA, all of BOS, a significant amount in JFK, and a ton in the Caribbean moving into S. America now.
It was a difficult decision telling the jetBlue recruiter thanks but no thanks.
I wanted to live in S FL so either would good that way. My main concern is passengers fly jetBlue because they like to, not because their route network forces them to (like AA).
At the time jetBlue was making very little money for their size and that was a fairly big concern of mine.
Things can change but I personally would go with jetBlue over the two. Why? You can always create a new airline, with zero legacy costs, and out do Spirit, a super ultra low cost carrier of sorts.
It's much more difficult to build a brand like jetBlue's. The new direction will change things slightly but long term I would bet more on jetBlue being around. It will also offer much more financial security without changing the customer base.
The retirements at AA are nice but if the company continues to shrink under immense pressure from others such as Spirit and jetBlue it won't matter. JetBlue took a massive amount of flying from AA, all of BOS, a significant amount in JFK, and a ton in the Caribbean moving into S. America now.
Those items coupled with a market cap of just over $4B and orders with Airbus, makes JetBlue ripe for a merger. Speculation? Very much so! But, something to take into account. Good thing the pilot group got representation in the form of ALPA before any merger goes through. Incidentally, Spirit's market cap is higher, over $5B, with a great number of Airbus orders, BUT not the valuable brand name or loyal customer base. The chances of a merger or purchase are significantly lower.
Plus, not all that convinced AA is really under a lot of pressure from Spirit or JetBlue. I think pressure at AA will come from United and Delta and/or the Middle Eastern Airlines (plus Turkish). Remember, Spirit's passenger take I believe is 1% of US passenger traffic, or just below 1%.
01-12-2015, 02:42 AM
#95
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Capt
Posts: 611
Things can change but I personally would go with jetBlue over the two. Why? You can always create a new airline, with zero legacy costs, and out do Spirit, a super ultra low cost carrier of sorts.
It's much more difficult to build a brand like jetBlue's. The new direction will change things slightly but long term I would bet more on jetBlue being around. It will also offer much more financial security without changing the customer base.
The retirements at AA are nice but if the company continues to shrink under immense pressure from others such as Spirit and jetBlue it won't matter. JetBlue took a massive amount of flying from AA, all of BOS, a significant amount in JFK, and a ton in the Caribbean moving into S. America now.
It's much more difficult to build a brand like jetBlue's. The new direction will change things slightly but long term I would bet more on jetBlue being around. It will also offer much more financial security without changing the customer base.
The retirements at AA are nice but if the company continues to shrink under immense pressure from others such as Spirit and jetBlue it won't matter. JetBlue took a massive amount of flying from AA, all of BOS, a significant amount in JFK, and a ton in the Caribbean moving into S. America now.
AA is much more likely to be undone by your managements inability to build cohesion with 3 different airline cultures than by JB.
JB and Spirit are both good airlines. Where can a guy eventually hold Captain in FLL the quickest, be it 10 or 15 years down the road. Heck, which one will be around in 15 years? Ha!
01-12-2015, 03:37 AM
#96
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Under the Frog
Posts: 1,125
01-12-2015, 03:40 AM
#97
SDQ Base Chief
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: 320 CA
Posts: 5,633
Thanks for the insight. I just find it hard to imagine someone would choose JB over AA tho. Just the 401k contributions alone are a trump card. And even with all of the route pressure in the Carribean and Boston, AA has a lock on the Deep South and lots if Europe to take deflect any losses until they can get their head screwed on again. I'm not convinced the Spirit or JB could take such a hit.
AA is much more likely to be undone by your managements inability to build cohesion with 3 different airline cultures than by JB.
JB and Spirit are both good airlines. Where can a guy eventually hold Captain in FLL the quickest, be it 10 or 15 years down the road. Heck, which one will be around in 15 years? Ha!
AA is much more likely to be undone by your managements inability to build cohesion with 3 different airline cultures than by JB.
JB and Spirit are both good airlines. Where can a guy eventually hold Captain in FLL the quickest, be it 10 or 15 years down the road. Heck, which one will be around in 15 years? Ha!
If those same percentages hold for the future, a JB newhire seniority #3000 would need the list to grow to 6500 pilots to hold FLL CA, or 4300 pilots to hold JFK CA.
01-12-2015, 04:52 AM
#98
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: A319, A320, A321
Posts: 545
The thread is ridiculous, but I feel like I have to chime in. My neighbor is a junior 320 captain in JFK and he just spent 3 weeks over Christmas and New Years away from home because his schedule only gave him the bare 117 minimum time off. Can you imagine that? Say what you will, but quality of life at Spirit is pretty good. Oh, and I'm crediting 133 hours this month, flying 45.
01-12-2015, 05:25 AM
#99
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 44
The thread is ridiculous, but I feel like I have to chime in. My neighbor is a junior 320 captain in JFK and he just spent 3 weeks over Christmas and New Years away from home because his schedule only gave him the bare 117 minimum time off. Can you imagine that? Say what you will, but quality of life at Spirit is pretty good. Oh, and I'm crediting 133 hours this month, flying 45.
of course I'm at half RonnyKs pay, lol
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