What Would You Do?
03-13-2025 | 10:11 AM
#42
It's 5 o'clock somewhere
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 2,671
Likes: 17
It sounds like you have no ties to a particular area and are financially sound to weather a downturn. JB isn't going to get any better than it is right now. UAL will offer way better long term opportunities especially at your age. I'd say go.
Regarding furloughs I think it would have to get really bad like another pandemic or WW3 bad for the airlines to furlough signifigant numbers. They're much more likely to offer early outs to seniors than to furlough and struggle again to get pilots on the other side. They remember the self induced pilot shortage well.
Regarding furloughs I think it would have to get really bad like another pandemic or WW3 bad for the airlines to furlough signifigant numbers. They're much more likely to offer early outs to seniors than to furlough and struggle again to get pilots on the other side. They remember the self induced pilot shortage well.
03-13-2025 | 03:16 PM
#43
Line Holder
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 976
Likes: 75
From: NOYB
For all the joking and rumors I've seen about buying JB over the years, what's been bubbling recently is the first time I can't dismiss it out of hand. Jon Ostrower of The Air Current is a knowledgeable guy with deep sources, and he's picked up on merger or other deal buzz regarding UAL and JB. I still don't think a merger will happen for all the reasons Kirby laid out in the story below and tend to think it might be a JFK slot deal of some sort. But, if a merger was ever going to happen it would be during the current administration. Might want to pay close attention to Ostrower's social media feed before quitting JB.
https://onemileatatime.com/news/unit...etblue-merger/
https://onemileatatime.com/news/unit...etblue-merger/
03-13-2025 | 07:41 PM
#45
off weekends (if Reserve)
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 97
Ummm Yeah that would be the most efficient way to lower your credit score....... and at 40 unless we are offering 787 street captains positions.....the individual would never be able to recover lost pay.
It is understandable but there appears to be a lack of understanding from United pilots just how close JB 320 hr compensation is to UAL's narrow body. Again you would only know if you worked at both places (like me) but JB's pay is much closer to a legacy narrow body than it is greater than Alegiant, Spirit, Frontier.
As to the OP....I like you left after 4 1/2 years at B6 as well.....mostly cause I live 35 mins from Newark and unlike you am very tied to the area with all types of responsibilities and I was 40 when I left.
There have been times since then that I have regretted my decision ( not to say B6 is better just that sacrificing seniority and its effects on family).......there have been a few more times when I really Thank my lucky stars I left. The scoreboard may change again....we won't know if I was right until the buzzer sounds.
A good thing is you already seem to be mature enough to know it may get worse before it gets better.
Last edited by 11atsomto; 03-13-2025 at 08:24 PM.
03-14-2025 | 09:39 AM
#48
SDQ Base Chief
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 34
From: 320 CA
For all the joking and rumors I've seen about buying JB over the years, what's been bubbling recently is the first time I can't dismiss it out of hand. Jon Ostrower of The Air Current is a knowledgeable guy with deep sources, and he's picked up on merger or other deal buzz regarding UAL and JB. I still don't think a merger will happen for all the reasons Kirby laid out in the story below and tend to think it might be a JFK slot deal of some sort. But, if a merger was ever going to happen it would be during the current administration. Might want to pay close attention to Ostrower's social media feed before quitting JB.
https://onemileatatime.com/news/unit...etblue-merger/
https://onemileatatime.com/news/unit...etblue-merger/
03-14-2025 | 10:12 AM
#49
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
I'd say make the jump. I was 33 when I got hired, WITH all of the stuff that you DON'T have. (Wife, kids, mortgage etc) and I am already something like 48% company wide. Still lots of retirments coming up, and if you're fine with a commute or an eventual move, it seems to be a no brainer for me.
03-14-2025 | 03:09 PM
#50
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Yet another "Stay or Leave" post.
I've been at B6 for coming up on 4 years now, based in MCO. I came here because I wanted to live in FL, and I didn't want to be furloughed. I'd been holding out on leaving because of fears of a furlough back when everyone in my class left. Now it's been years, and all my classmates that went to legacies are having a ball while we've been struggling to grow. I was feeling, a bit optimistic back when I thought we might gain Spirit's route network, but now that thats all fallen through and with all the downgrades coming, I just feel like I sold myself short. Now don't get me wrong, B6 has been good to me, but I'd be lying if I said I really look forward to the next 30+ years at this moment in time. Now with an april class date offer from UAL, I'm stuck wondering if the possibility of a furlough in the near future is worth the risk. The economy isn't looking great right now, and hiring is starting to slow down. I've got good senioriy at B6 with 1,200 below me, but I'm not sure if thats saying much when I fly with 12+ year captains on reserve.
Things worth noting:
- 32
- no kids
- no wife
- no debt
- no mortgage
- widebody flying seems cool, but isn't a main driver
- don't mind commuting for now if I know it'll be worth the long-term gain
All things being equal, I feel relatively good about JetBlue's future, but thats only because I think we will be bought in the next 2-4 years. Is it worth staying to find out? WWYD?
I've been at B6 for coming up on 4 years now, based in MCO. I came here because I wanted to live in FL, and I didn't want to be furloughed. I'd been holding out on leaving because of fears of a furlough back when everyone in my class left. Now it's been years, and all my classmates that went to legacies are having a ball while we've been struggling to grow. I was feeling, a bit optimistic back when I thought we might gain Spirit's route network, but now that thats all fallen through and with all the downgrades coming, I just feel like I sold myself short. Now don't get me wrong, B6 has been good to me, but I'd be lying if I said I really look forward to the next 30+ years at this moment in time. Now with an april class date offer from UAL, I'm stuck wondering if the possibility of a furlough in the near future is worth the risk. The economy isn't looking great right now, and hiring is starting to slow down. I've got good senioriy at B6 with 1,200 below me, but I'm not sure if thats saying much when I fly with 12+ year captains on reserve.
Things worth noting:
- 32
- no kids
- no wife
- no debt
- no mortgage
- widebody flying seems cool, but isn't a main driver
- don't mind commuting for now if I know it'll be worth the long-term gain
All things being equal, I feel relatively good about JetBlue's future, but thats only because I think we will be bought in the next 2-4 years. Is it worth staying to find out? WWYD?
Economic downturn aside since no one knows, United will better shield you from furlough based on what someone else said which is absolutely true... we're too big to fail barring serious corporate criminal activity.
Folding up a narrow body into a smoking hole has been estimated to cost approximately 2 billion when it's said and done. As I said, B6 could probably stomach the financials but doubtful it would survive the decade backlash afterwards. I'm not saying United would simply shrug it off but the financial aspect is a non issue and the brand, IMHO, would recover far faster.
For all of the 737's faults, it is a seniority rocket ship so you'd be able to recover seniority relatively quickly.
Finally, if you just get tired of flying the same airplane to the same routes over and over, a switch is always nearby. That can be a non tangible goldmine as life deals you unexpected changes in the future.
The grass is greener if you want to see it
