Which Legacy/Major do you want to work at and why...

Choose one...

  • American

    Votes: 29 11.8%

  • Delta

    Votes: 59 24.0%

  • FedEx

    Votes: 32 13.0%

  • Southwest

    Votes: 33 13.4%

  • United

    Votes: 58 23.6%

  • UPS

    Votes: 7 2.8%

  • Alaska

    Votes: 10 4.1%

  • Hawaiian

    Votes: 7 2.8%

  • JetBlue

    Votes: 11 4.5%
  • Total voters
    246
jtrain609 said:
Everyone I've met at JetBlue is happy, and when you're slogging it out on the line, grinding out trips weeks after week with no future left but to retire, being happy is important.

Guys like to talk about driving to base, which is cool...I guess. I've done it now, and never got off reserve. When I got a trip, it was always a 5 day, since that's what my base had. So what's the difference between commuting to a 5 day and driving to a 5 day? Not much, in my experience. I commute to 3 day trips right now, and I'm home a lot more than when I lived in base. Oh, and that base I lived in? It closed. Bases close.

Some guys like equipment, or flying but that changes too. What happens when you're flying the 747 to exotic destinations, living in base and driving to work in MSP, and you go through an airline merger, and now you're commuting from MSP to DTW to stay on that equipment?

I've got to be honest, guys, after almost 10 years of doing this crap, working with people you like comes out on top for me. Airplanes will come and go, bases will come and go, pay will come and go, but you'd better be happy with the folks you're working with, and thus culture takes a huge leap to the front for me.
Click to expand...

This.

Find a place that you jive with. Both the pilot group and the kind of work they do. At my old job, there were a ton of guys who were Delta or nothing "because theyre the best!" That might be the case right now, but it certainly wasn't 8-9 years ago when I started this, and I've got about 32 years left before they kick me out. Airline financials and product are going to change.
 
I'm happy at blue. I have no desire to go anywhere else unless things were to completely change. Everyone makes their own personal decisions of what's best for them.

I'm good where I'm at.
 
jtrain609 said:
I've got to be honest, guys, after almost 10 years of doing this crap, working with people you like comes out on top for me. Airplanes will come and go, bases will come and go, pay will come and go, but you'd better be happy with the folks you're working with, and thus culture takes a huge leap to the front for me.
Click to expand...
5 years in, agreed.

Culture is everything.
 
UPS cause they hired me. I interviewed at Continental and World before UPS and would have taken either job if offered. Would have stayed at CAL (would have been an 89 hire) and probably used World as a springboard to something else like Alaska or maybe....UPS/Fedex. In the end, freight worked out for me better. Suits my personality and it's just easier in some ways. Potti breaks are way easier and you don't have to deal with nearly as much pax/FA drama. I'm not really into drama.
 
chrisreedrules said:
This is a strange industry man... I've run into a couple guys recently who you would think would be shoo ins at a legacy but they can't get a call. Plenty of LCA and experienced CAs with masters not getting calls either. And mil guys with fighter time and heavy time not getting called. The retirements don't really start kicking into gear until the next year or two, so I'm sure there will be an uptick in experienced guys ejecting from the regionals. But a lot of the hiring practices of the legacies make no logical sense to me. I wish the hiring was more directly in the hands of the pilots, not HR. If I'm going to be sitting next to someone for 4 days I'd like a little more say in things opposed to some bean counter looking at checked boxes on a screen.
Click to expand...

I was told by a good friend who is at Delta that they are still able to be very selective at the moment. However with the projected retirements at the big three, after 2019 the criteria will have to change. He was saying the "pool" is now only 5000 deep and that is probably the same pool as the other majors as most have applied via a shotgun to anywhere they qualify for. Those guys you are talking about will get the call in the next few years, I cannot see how they won't unless they have serious skeletons in the closet.

I on the other hand, am skeptical about getting on with a major. I have an issue or two from my younger days, granted no DUI or anything of that nature. Also the two year program I used my GI bill for in order to get my ratings has wiped out all but 6 months of benefits. So continuing school is a huge stress at the moment as I will have to go further into debt. The only reason I can make ends meet right now is because I luckily have very little debt. The thought of getting myself into debt is scary when looking at my paychecks knowing I will be taking yet another pay cut getting into the 121 world later this year.

If the time comes when I qualify for the majors, I will choose the first stable place that calls me. This is because I understand that the field is very competitive and getting in asap controls seniority which controls qol. I just hope SWA is the first to call!! Good base selection, good airframe and from what I have gathered a good pilot group!
 
My first choice would be Alaska. First for the ANC base, but also because ever time I've rode the jumpseat all the pilots seem genuinely happy to be there.
 
Just received a CJO at JetBlue. Couldn't be more excited! As much as flying for AA/UAL/DL would be awesome...AA is almost all military/flows, Delta is almost the same, and with United I've seen great people not get past the Hogan. With JetBlue, I can enjoy my 30's at a very good major airline where people are happy, and be close to the top of their pay scale by 40. I just think everyone's situation is different. The legacies are no guarantee, just take the first offer is all you can really do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top