Delta or JetBlue

G

Gundam

Well-Known Member
Which is the preferred airline considering
  • Base does not matter
  • Preference for a faster upgrade time
  • Preference for scheduling flexibility
  • Long term objective is to get on MEC to ideally see ALPA take a more proactive role in assisting aspiring pilots
My read is that both are pretty stable. JetBlue seems like it could experience a lot of growth. Delta could grow as well I guess, but it's already pretty big, but it does still have a lot of retirements coming.
 
Apply to both (apply to all, not just these two). Take the first one that calls. IF you have multiple offers at the same time, then you can pick/choose.
 
We are hiring 45-50 people a week right now. I had an offer at both, went with DL. But it sounds like JB fixed their insanely long pool wait times and background check thankfully. I know they are ramping up their hiring numbers for next year too.

Upgrade just moved to 2018 hires, and it will continue to decrease. Both are part of ALPA. I would pick the legacy over JB, better pay and contract. But really that's up to you to decide, JB has a great company with cool flying too. I'd go to whoever called first and if the big 3 come knocking I wouldn't turn them down but that's just me.
 
bike21 said:
Why so focused on upgrade times? That's a regional thinking bruh.
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I love this style of thinking though because it makes more opportunities come available as a FO quicker and more seniority boost on the right seat, while guys will go be a plug left seat for God knows how long when they have 25-30+ years left at said company. Different strokes for different folks I guess...
 
tcco94 said:
I love this style of thinking though because it makes more opportunities come available as a FO quicker and more seniority boost on the right seat, while guys will go be a plug left seat for God knows how long when they have 25-30+ years left at said company. Different strokes for different folks I guess...
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Yep, I've never really known seniority in this biz and a result refuse to chase the upgrade until it makes more sense. Certainly understand everyone has different needs & priorities but the rush for upgrade is a curious one at times. Especially at this point in the career when the money is pretty decent in both seats. Heck, the other day I was making more than my captain, at least on an hourly basis for four days :)
 
bike21 said:
Why so focused on upgrade times? That's regional thinking bruh.
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I prefer to be the PIC for one. Beyond that, I'd like the option because it might help me retire faster or at least have the option to stop working indefinitely sooner. Every 5 to 10 years has some exigent event either to the whole economy or me personally, and removing the Pacific Rim doomsday clock constantly ticking down would be nice. I don't know how much more opportunity I'd have for override pay as an FO so maybe it won't matter, but I think it probably will.

Thank you everyone for the input.
 
Gundam said:
What caused you to have this opinion?
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I'll start with Widebodies and a true global airline. You could say now that you dont have a desire to fly those, or those type of flights, but things change. Even if you never decide that flying is for you, it still really helps your progression because there will be pilot senior to you that will camp out on those widebody fleets while you upgrade into a narrowbody. It also its nice to change planes from time to time to try something new, flying the same routes in the same plane year after year WILL get boring. While Jetblue has recently entered into transatlantic flying and will continue to fly to more, its far from established like DL and is really no comparison in variety. If Jetblue had orders for 50 350s, it may be a slightly different discussion. That could realistically happen, but if its only rumors at this point, I wouldnt count on it. Delta is also less likely to merge with anyone in the foreseeable future. DL has bases in very liveable cities all corners of the country. DL has top level pay and top level contract. DL has retirements which I count as more of a sure thing than possible growth. IMO the scales are greatly tipped for DL than JB in this match up.
 
Just watch the flow of pilots.

There are probably far more JetBlue pilots applying for Delta than there are Delta pilots applying to JetBlue.
 
Gundam said:
I prefer to be the PIC for one. Beyond that, I'd like the option because it might help me retire faster or at least have the option to stop working indefinitely sooner. Every 5 to 10 years has some exigent event either to the whole economy or me personally, and removing the Pacific Rim doomsday clock constantly ticking down would be nice. I don't know how much more opportunity I'd have for override pay as an FO so maybe it won't matter, but I think it probably will.

Thank you everyone for the input.
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I had 9 years in the left seat before I came to my current job and don't get me wrong it's good to be king as they say. Just want to point out that there are other opportunities and ways to make good income aside from chasing the left seat. I'd be inclined not to put that at the top one's job search criteria, especially since it's subject to change at a moment's notice.

At my current pay rate (330) if I were to go to say 220 left seat it would be a little over 15% pay bump but come with a significant QOL hit which of course can be measured in many ways. Once international flying really comes back, the desire to upgrade to chase a few more dollars is gonna be tougher. Though as you mention the drive to earn good coinage shouldn't be necessarily overlooked with retirement and other financial goals.

Moral of the story, if you're fortunate enough to have options I think it's a good idea to seek a shop that gives you the most career flexibility as possible. And of course, no matter who calls first, accept the job and re-evaluate if someone else calls before you get too settled in.
 
Whatever you do, please don't go work at an airline that you don't want to work for just because it is perceived by you or your buddies as "THE BEST!!!" If you don't want to work at JetBlue, please don't work at JetBlue, you're going to make your colleagues miserable complaining about how AT DELTA or AT UNITED. If you want to work at one of those carriers, go work there.

Also, know where you don't want to work. I stopped updating at American after working at a carrier that was doing Eagle flying, because I decided I wasn't interested in being treated the way American treats people.

Finally, there's a whole lot of internet bluster out there, but in the end the paychecks and career will probably wash out in the end, and every airlines advantage today might be a hindrance tomorrow. Delta doesn't have a significant international presence compared to United, and it quite frankly saved Delta and almost tanked United when international flying stopped dead in it's tracks.
 
Gundam said:
I prefer to be the PIC for one. Beyond that, I'd like the option because it might help me retire faster or at least have the option to stop working indefinitely sooner. Every 5 to 10 years has some exigent event either to the whole economy or me personally, and removing the Pacific Rim doomsday clock constantly ticking down would be nice. I don't know how much more opportunity I'd have for override pay as an FO so maybe it won't matter, but I think it probably will.

Thank you everyone for the input.
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Have you looked at the pay scales? A 4 year wide body at Delta could make more than a junior 190 CA at Jet Blue. Delta also will have more retirements, more variety in flying, and possibly opportunities to make money. Just because there is a quick upgrade now doesn't mean it will still be there if/when you get hired.

Worst case scenario has you as a 4 year 190 FO making $120/hr while at Delta worst case is a 4 year 717 FO making $150/hr.
 
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