Netjets to Southwest
 

Anyone done this care to give any advice?

Thanks

hkdguy

There are a lot of ex nj pilots at Swa. I'm sure some will chime in.

Best advice I can give is make the move ASAP. Made it in December and haven't regretted it for a second.
BT

Netjets pilots have lots of great customer service stories, where they go above and beyond for the customer. Those will serve you well at an interview!

There are a number of us that have made the move. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm very happy I jumped ship. I was apprehensive at first to give up over a decade of seniority to start over, but after 2.5 years here, I'm at roughly the same relative seniority (around 85%) as I was after 10+ years as an FO at Netjets, and my work/life balance is much better.

I wish I could have made the move years ago (it wasn't for lack of trying!) but I'm happy with the change. My clock doesn't get flipped anymore, and I don't come home exhausted anymore. I typically work 3-on/4-off, gone from home about 55 hours a week, including the overnights.

Not sure about how things were at NJ, but I was happy to give up cleaning the inside and outside if the aircraft, lab service, catering, flight scheduling, arranging rental cars, passenger cars, hotel rooms, running the fuel farm, chart subscriptions, training contracts, crew scheduling, cleaning hangars, company meetings, fuel cards, flight planning, stocking the galley, making coffee, and getting ice. Oh, and flying trips.

You won’t be on call 24/7.

You have a dispatcher that plans your flights!

You show up, fly, and then usually just...go home.

I’ve in my 4th year. Rarely do I get JA’d, and usually when crew scheduling calls me it means more money (and I don’t talk to them much anyway).

Three on, four off. PM trips, and usually off weekends.

I drive to work, and live within a reserve callout if I wanted to do that.

It’s a good gig.

No more hotel points or company credit cards (or cell phones)....but the long term outlook is great.

I’m sure the same or similar story would be heard at the big 3 as well.

Good luck!

I assume Southwest "has your cell number"; can they call you anytime or what is the expectation that you "keep your phone on". Just wondering how that works. I have worked for an employer that expected me to "try to answer the phone if we call you" policy 365 days a year including vacations

The only time you're required to answer your phone is when you are sitting reserve, return to base early from a reserve assignment and are told to remain "phone contactable," or when you are actually on duty.

Rest is rest, vacation is vacation, days off are days off. None of the shenanigans you find at certain fractionals or in the Wild West of Part 135 or 91.

The many pros and very few cons have been listed above and are all very accurate. Chalk me up as one who couldn’t be happier and I got out 1 year ago.

The commute I would say is a big factor. If you live in or near a swa domicile it’s a very easy decision if offered the job. If you live in say Durango and do not like commuting, this may not be the place. Im Oakland based and commute to San Diego. Im currently in my first hardline month and have mostly weekends off and pm trips. My QOL at the end of year one is much much better than it was as a 10 year NJ fo. Factor in the retirement and flexible schedule and NJ just doesn’t even come close. Good luck in your quest!

And even then, you don't have to have a cell phone if you're chillin in the lounge...but that's a short leash to be on. When they tell me be phone contactable...I start driving home!

What are you referring to "or when actually on duty"?

Nobody, whether a line pilot or reserve has to answer a phone call from scheduling while on duty. For a reserve, once they're past the showtime, phone can be turned off until trip is done. If they need ya', they'll get ya'. As a line holder, same story. Never have to answer your phone.


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