Best option for NK pilot group?
 

Putting aside the actual sale price of NK, which option do you think is best for the pilot group?

JetBlue Take Over?
Frontier Merger?
Neither, go it alone?

I don’t think staying independent is going to be a thing anymore. Once the toothpaste comes out of the tube… etc. I can not fathom why anyone would prefer Frontier at this point. We know what Franke is and isn’t. Who wants to go back to that? Sure the F9 merger would probably go a little smoother but is it worth it? Further negotiations would be an absolute grind. JCBA woof starting point would be at current F9/NK rates. JCBA with B6 starting point would be b6 rates. That is already a big step up for Nk pilots and Hayes has already been on record saying rates need to increase. From a financial/stock holder pov it’s a slam dunk for b6. People talking about future values of stock… lol. Deals aren’t negotiated in perceived future value. How long will it be until the F9 would be more value for shareholders? A year? 5 years? Never? No one knows. I also believe DFW, ORD, and DTW are more likely to be in the picture with B6. This should be an absolute no brainer for all involved.

One would think. I don't know if it's ignorance or naivety for those who support having anything to do with F9. God help us all if we go down that path.

I think it has to do with him being a known quantity. Franke is an incredibly smart business man. He has a vision of making money. He’s very good at it, but it’s at the expense of those that work for him. Lots of unknown with JetBlue. Change is good. Give me the step up to B6 instead of a lateral/slight step back with F9.

Just desperately trying to hold on to their seniority.

Funny thing about that too, is there's a big misconception that being the bigger airline somehow guarantees them better sonority. Just not true. Both sides of either merger are going to have wins and losses for either airline.

There's really NO benefit from a pilots perspective to work for F9 over B6. A few common "benefits" I hear are that our business models are similar... which means absolutely nothing from a pilots perspective up front in the flight deck. Or if B6 gets us that we're going to be commuting to the NE. Closing bases is completely counter-intuitive to what B6 is trying to do here. This is a quick growth move by JB. They'll need the gates, routes, planes, pilots, MX facilities, training facilities, etc. that are already in place at NK.

We'll make greater overall compensation with B6. Better QOL, route structure (Europe and more), nicer product, crew meals, Dunkin coffee, on and on.

OR with F9 we could fight to get current B6 pay rates, get called in for carpet dances for calling out sick, micromanaged, etc. No thank you.

This is essentially how my line of thinking falls as of now.

B6 is the better option both in the short and long term.

That would strike me more as a glitch than a feature. 😂

B6 has older pilots, it makes sense to merge with them and see them retire before you do.

It’s funny because all the guys (I’ve noticed) that are complaining about losing seniority are 20 plus year guys that are already super senior. “I was hired here before b6 even started operations. I’ll be damned if any of them go in front of me on the list.” Lol k old timer.