arjmjj

OK. Because I am tired of people not answering the question and wasting this thread's time with a debate.

I left CAL after 4 mos. to come to NJA. I started at NJA about 3 weeks ago and am in a/c initial on the X. So far I think I have made a great choice.

Pay-1st year at CAL is an insult. I was told by the ACP when I quit that we all have to pay our dues and things will improve-that kind of sealed the deal. Top pay is definitely lower at NJA(base pay). 1st year pay is better at NJA, it looks like I will make Captain quicker and probably wouldn't make top pay at CAL (wide capt) for about 20 years. Also the extras are better at NJA-overtime pay, per diem that is not spent, free health insurance, airline and hotel points, a blackberry that allows me to lower my current personal cell plan (half the month I will have the B-Berry), uniforms paid for w/ annual allowance, no crash pad to pay for, etc. etc.

As far as retirement is concerned I MAY have given up a little better option at CAL-right now w/ 12.75% B-Fund and an industry leading profit sharing plan, it was a big loss. However, I think that when the 08' contract is negotiated ANY pay raise will see a loss in B-Fund percentage and definitely see less profit sharing-maybe not though.

Health benefits. This is a complete no brainer. If I was at CAL my medical coverage would just now be starting at somwhere around $250-$300/month. NJAs coverage is from day 1 at no cost with a superior plan. As far as the other bennies(life insurance, loss of license, disability, etc) it costs me about $18/month at NJA for the exact same coverage that cost me about $54/mo.

QOL, QOL, QOL. I hated commuting. Running around my home a/p desperately trying to get to work was a shade stressful. I also hated paying for hotels/crashpads. If I lived in Houston, Cleveland, or somewhere near Newark I may not of been writing this thread. Commuting was the leading factor pushing me away from CAL.

Leaving was a tough choice initially, with the continued turmoil I feel (for me) it was the best choice I could have made. But like the previous debates on this thread, who knows what will happen-won't know if I made the right choice until I retire. But I do know one thing-there will always be wealthy people wanting the finer things in life, and the average joe may not always be able to afford the annual family trip.

727C47

you know i have old sky on my ignore list,but for God's sake i hope he gets back in the game,because it is eating at him so. cheers brother.

TimSmith

Welcome aboard arjmjj. I agree totally...great company. Let us know how you like the X (or me at least...send me a pm.) I am one of those guys always curious about new stuff I haven't flown. Currently on the 800XP Collins. Have a good week!

arjmjj

Thanks Tim. At indoc it was evident by the number of interviewees and their experience base that competition for a job is getting fierce and I am glad to be here at the start of a big wave.

UAL T38 Phlyer

Arjmjj:

Thanks for the in-depth answer to my initial thread-starter.

I'd like to hear from someone who left a Legacy after a long time-investment--Arj gave me the perspective of a probie.

(Commuting doesn't get any better, even after 10 years).

snakeplt

I was furloughed from AA and was hired a month later by Execjet (Now NJA). I anxiously await my recall from AA so I can tell AMR to PACK SAND.

NJA is an excellent place and I wouldn't leave it for ANY legacy carrier. The only 121 airlines that I would consider, if I were 15 years younger, are SWA, UPS and FEDEX. I wouldn't buy the type for SWA till they hired me though.

You really can't compare the major airline payscales to NJA. Overall, NJA is much better than 90% of the legacy pay charts. Free medical, Free dental, Free eye, 401k with 50% matching. If you add up the first 20 years of pay at NJA with a 4 -5 year upgrade and compare it to say, Delta, you will see that you work fewer days for more money at NJA. Also, comparing the TOP PAY between CAL and NJA is misleading. As stated above, it takes 20 years to get to top pay at CAL while you make MORE earlier at NJA. To see how they truly compare, you must apply your own situation (time to retirement etc...) and then apply the numbers. Also, you have 3 schedule options at NJA...7on/7off, 18 day fixed schedule (just like an airline) and the 15 day Flex schedule (reserver type schedule). Each schedule pays differently and you can choose which one you want. As for commuting, not needed generally as there are 100 bases to choose from all over the country...potentially 10 more to be added soon for a total of 110 bases throughout the country. Just my .02.

UAL T38 Phlyer

Snake:

Thanks for your perspective. And an eloquent explanation of the "real" expectations for "top-end" pay. If you don't mind, what is your background (civil/mil), and what equipment were you on at AA, and how long at AA?

jmack

its cool....let them use CAL top pay..... I know of several BBJ guys here making over 250k on the 7n7. not to mention what the SSBJ pay will be. We will have those before a newbie will ever see top pay at a major

flybynuts

Arjmjj,

Where you a west Coast guy who is still living there? Also, where you in training around Oct and Nov? If so, mind if I PM you?

UCLAbruins

BBJs won't be around for long (according to a BBJ guy I talked to).