You are correct, it’s difficult (impossible?) to gain seniority at NJA, work a little and make a lot. In fact, the most recent CBA has all but removed that possibility. High earnings at NJA are associated with lots of flying and more time away from home. My personal opinion is that is unlikely to change. It’s one of the reasons I left.

With that said, a new hire at NJA doesn’t have to commute, gets fed well and can pick a schedule with at least 15 days off per month. Their medical is very good, tips and most food is paid for, as well as medical exams, uniform replacements, etc. All of that reimbursement is rare and adds up.

So while seniority at NJA doesn’t give you as much as it would at a legacy, the lack of seniority emphasis at NJA creates a much better QOL than a new hire living in a crash pad on reserve at a legacy.

Also, what happens if the seniority you are waiting for at a legacy never happens? You never know...

Pick your poison.

Best wishes.

 

He’s been doing that ever since he sought refuge here when the airlines furloughed. His life’s mission is to convince the world NJA is something it isn’t.

 

Year 12 CC76 SIC base pay is 138,418. How is it possible that you earned less than the base pay, had no overtime, and no holiday pay?

 

Because my last year there has 9 months year 11 pay and 3 months year 12 pay. On my CC I usually had most holidays off as I worked before and after them somehow it always worked out that way. Of course I worked Xmas and T day almost every year. I never got much OT throughout my time at NJA.

 

It’s clear you never knew what NJA is or was when you were here.

You came in following the “Lost Decade” of aviation; it’s paycuts, furloughs, it’s loss of pensions and somehow expected immediate gratification like most Millennials do.

You had it on your head that “2 year upgrades” were going to happen and that CBA 2015 would somehow top all of 121.

Some of us are just very curious why you even came here and thought those things.

Except for retirement (and we made very good strides a year ago in closing the gap) the opportunity is there to gain parity with 121 earnings... but yes... you’ll need to work. I know... bummer.

But take solace in your decision to become part of an airline that is up for a acquisition next recession. The profile of your employer is one that has been hunted by surviving carriers every recession since deregulation... and the room of dance partners is thinning. I hope you get Delta. American would be a nightmare.

 

I can not speak for him but I can say I was lied to during my time at NJA. From Derrinda not being honest about career progression during my interview, to the union not telling the truth on contract progression and from the many pilots who I asked questions too who straight lied to me about what to expect at NJA from the schedule to the pay to the benefits. That’s why I am on these forums, if I was given just one bit of truth maybe I would have not have accepted the position.

Your retirement will NEVER get close to what is offered at a major. Let’s use this theoretical pilot that went from year 1 to year 2 pay mid year. He made at the major

147424 gross pay
19000 own 401K contributors
22113 company contributions at 15 percent
15921 bonus (goes into 401k)

Total 57034.60

Now it’s capped out at 415 limited of 56K so this theoretical pilot will actually top it out and get a little back from profit sharing.


NJA Pilot year 12 FO

19000 own contributions
10450 company contributions at 55 percent


Thus you would need 26550 in extra pay contributions to top out 415 so dividing by .33 gets you to 80554 in extra flight pay total to get the 26550 in retirement contributions. That is 681 extra flight hours in a year on top of the 12.1 per tour Is it possible? Doubtful at best.

Your pay at NJA will NEVER get close to what one can make at a major. That is simple math man. AA revenues were what 44B last year, NJA was 6B? NJA does not have the ability to pay the pilots what they make at a major, that’s simple economics. UAL is upgrading year 4 guys and guys are getting 777 FO 6 months in. That’s a pay rate of 174/HR starting year 2. In the mean time NJA is upgrading FOs at year 12 to PIC positions that on 7/7 make less than the 777FO year 2.

How’s the bonus at NJA? Oh yeah...ZERO

NJA has a few redeeming factors, as the company cheerleader you should sell those and don’t try to deceive on the others. You got reward points and home basing, sell it brah, sell it!

Stop trying to instill fear in people man, his company may or may not be sold. NJA may be sold maybe not. Stuff you know nothing about yet you have already mentioned how Delta would be better than AA.

Millennials? Seriously did you go there? Absolutely pathetic....

 

Absolutely I went there. Instant gratification and a gold star demanded just because you showed up.

Derinda was many things but she was never a liar. She’s pretty much a rock star, one of the most honest and wholesome people thousands of us ever met and a pretty wholesome person all around. The fact that you’re off that much about her and what made her tick says a lot about your grasp of many things actually. Derinda was likely given bad information from above her as talking points.

I’m not going to point/counterpoint your take on our retirement as it currently stands except to say that 121 has had a 70 year head start on NJA. 70 years.

NJA pilots and NJASAP have made staggering strides in each successive CBA. This point was even memorialized by recognition from nearly every professional pilot union in the US since 2005. We don’t need your recognition. We font need your blessing... and certainly nobody here needs your protection from anything. That’s rich.

I would imagine, given our historical gains over the last 15 years, retirement will be getting more attention just as pay has. Mark my words.

We’ve literally gone from “NJA will never make what ABC airline makes” to “Sure, you make that money but, well, you gotta work for it”.

For the record, most of us don’t have much of an issue putting in actual work while we’re there, or exceeding expectations. It’s what we do. It’s what we’ve signed up for. It’s what the job entails.

 

Derinda was a sweetheart, she was speaking about what was what in ‘07-‘08,if you were hired under Santulli’s reign ,he was planning on 5000 pilots ultimately , and a 2 year upgrade wasn’t a pipe dream at the time, then the recession hit , and so did Hurricane Madoff , wham bam , no thank you ma’am , Richard was soon gone along with 495 of us , but that wasn’t Derinda’s fault, she treated us like gold during the interview process . DH2 , enjoy your life , Godspeed, both of you guys need to step away from the keyboard, take a deep breath , and go play with your kids . Cheers.

 

I was lied to, as was everyone in my new hire class (first new hire class since the furlough). But that’s not a big deal. There are people that still bend and twist realty to sell NJA and that is super annoying. Just show what NJA is and let somebody make the decision but be realistic about it.

 

What were you lied to about?