Quote:
Originally Posted by hilltopflyer
Do you want to drive to nyc every trip or stay in philly for every trip. It’s a tough choice frontier is growing like a weed while we are stagnating somewhat by deferring planes. When I started I’m glad I came to Jetblue but if I lived at a frontier hub it would make it much harder. Frontier is still on the bottom rung and probably will be but you never know what will happen in this career. Living in base would probably sway my decision. If I were you I would start at Jetblue and if the time came I would move to frontier if you didn’t like the drive, job etc.
There is no denying that F9 isn't high on the pilot contract totem poll, but like you said, living in domicile can make up for a lot. I fully plan on taking my B6 class, as I truly do want to work there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flysooner9
Frontier might be on the bottom but if upgrades indeed happen at around 3 years at F9 you could be making over 200k in short order.
Good friend is there now and last upgrade just awarded was under 3 years... in the domicile I live. He projects they'll stay at around 3-4 years. Again, projects.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nuball5
I think it depends on the makeup of that PHL base, which none of us at Jetblue know obviously. Do they have a lot of day trips, which to me makes living in base much more advantageous? If it’s all 3&4 day trips with little open-time to swap into better trips, or opportunities to make premium pay then in my opinion that kind of defeats the purpose of living in domicile. Ask a Frontier friend for a bid packet and check our the trips. I’m not JFK based, but the people I know that are based there are pretty successful wheeling and dealing their schedule since JFK has the most varied flying we have. Second year FO I know should be close to 200k this year but they live a little bit closer in Jersey.
Totally agree. Currently they are primarily operating day trips, but the consensus is that will only be the first few months and then there will be a more even split. Ideally, I would like 2-days and day trips. At JB, with the drive, I'd be much more inclined to bid 3-day trips. It would be a bit much for my to pick up high block day trips with the 2+ hour drive on each end. Maybe some months, but not often.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluedriver
Frontier may have lower pay rates but growing faster (we are slow growing and SLOWING GROWING (read that until you understand that)).
Faster growing at Frontier equals better seniority, faster natural upgrades (vs upgrade due to bypasses that leave you on reserve forever) and also remember that everyone at Frontier is on Airbus pay vs awful E190 pay (lower than 99% of other major airline pilots).
I agree with the other dude, you probably can't not take the JB class date, but keep working on better opportunities.
This is one of the most pivotal pieces for me. I wish I saw
any direction from JB. I'm significantly concerned about being a seven year FO on the bus not even close to upgrading due to no retirements and slowed growth, and upgrading to CA rev being awful. Realistically, it seems like 9-10 years would be a decent time to upgrade. Vice at F9, I could upgrade and sit reserve because I live in domicile.
All that said, JB has the better contract, the better product, and hopefully a future... which could mean being bought by UAL.