jmack

SWA,
its cool, I know 200 is easy at SWA, and it is here too as well, on the BBJ, my comapirision was to my friend in year 8 as that is what I am in here at NJA. No doubt the profit sharing is great at SWA, but the 401k is the same each company. There are good things aboput each the others don't have, we don't have a payroll deduct for ins, crew meal, etc. We NEVER set in a hotel waiting for a call!! sometimes I wish we would LOL.
I'll work 154 days this year (plus 15 extended days, 3 after midnights OT), I know when each of those days are for as far in the future as I want to look, unless I want to change it.
But Like i said just talking to my 8th year bud out of BWI I'll get him for the bet LOL, and im not on the BBJ or the flex.
SWA is a great company no doubt, can't go wrong there. its more of a sure thing for a guy starting out on the bottom of the list. At NJA someone on the bottom has many variables to think about, upgrade time, how fast will growth be, etc etc. All indications, and our President, say that growth will continue for the next 5 years with the company growing to a max size of about 700 to 750 plane and approx 5000 pilots.
I'm fully expecting us to take deliveries of SSBJ's within the next 5 to 7 years which will broaden the earning potential here at NJA.

jmack

don't want to mislead anyone, I'm including the bonus payout from the contract in my salary for the bet. This of course isn't something that we at netjets will get every year. Without it, he'd win the bet for sure.

IndyAir Guy

Why dont you apply, get an interview, and get hired after that then make the decision. Its not as easy as you think.

ABXGO

My question is for netjet guys. When you are able to hold a captain slot, do you go back to first year capt pay, or is your salary based on years of service with the company?
Thanks

jtf560

Years of service, unless you go to a class IV or V aircraft (5 or 6 total on property at NJA and 1/2 of the new CA slots on the GIVs at NJI). Realistically at least 20 years for a new hire for a CA slot and by then a whole different generation of airplanes and at least a few new pilot contracts that can change things there also. I guess a third year FO can go to a class IV FO slot, but it's a gamble in overall pay since they may be able to upgrade in a smaller airframe before the end of the 2 year seat lock (at NJA) or 3 year seat lock if you transfer over to NJI.

Pilot_135

By all means, I'm applying and waiting for the call(s). I'd be thrilled at either company. no, I don't take the interview process for granted and I don't sit back and think I'm a shoe-in. In fact I know it's going to be one of the most nervous times in my life. .
Like a runner up at a beauty contest, "It's an honor just to be here".

Express pilot

I'm in the same situation your in. I've applied at NetJets and CAL. I don't have the 737 type so I haven't put it in at SW. I know 5 guys at Express that got the 737 type and got the SW interview and 7500 dollars later, NO job at SW. Three of them are at CAL and two are at NetJets. You can't go wrong with any of them. I'm hoping for NetJets over CAL, I live in the Dallas area, and would never move to IAH. It's an easy commute, but still a commute. With all that said, I'm going were I get hired.

My opinion is that NetJets is only going to get bigger. They have a great contract with great benefits and retirement. I don't think you will have to worry about a large airline merger or another 911 issue at NetJets. You talk to any NetJet guy, he loves it.

BURflyer

Fractionals is the industry to be at right now. Don't even waste your time looking for places at the 121 world. Unless you get a call from SWA or FED/UPS take the Netjet job and never look back.

jetlag7

I'll try to "steer" this thread back to your original question reqarding travel perks.

I'm still an FNG at NJA (hired Jan '06) so hopefully, my perspective will give you a better idea of what to expect the first year on property should you decide this is where you want to be. Of course, I can only shed light on what's available at NJA -- hopefully someone from SWA will highlight their benefits to provide the "balanced opinion" you desire.

1. Flight Perks: the company airlines us around A LOT. I've only been here 10 months and am already up to Elite Status on both Delta and US Airways.

So far, I've earned 3 round-trip tickets on Delta, one round-trip on US Airways, and another on SouthWest. I don't live in a hub city for either of these carriers.
I should point-out that these are guaranteed seats. I played the "Non-Rev Travel Game" at the airlines for nearly 10 years -- in my humble opinion, this is a much better way to go!

2. Hotel Perks: just like the Frequent Flyer programs, we get to keep all the hotel points for our overnight accomodations. I've accumulated over a quarter-million points and am a Diamond VIP with Hilton. (their highest award level) I've earned enough for a FREE week and a half at any 5-star Hilton property, one week FREE at any member of the Priority Club network (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc), 2 days FREE at any Hyatt property, and 1 day FREE at Marriott.

The cool thing about hotel points is you can convert them into airline miles, redeem them for cruises, or use them to buy products. (flew with a guy the other day who bought a brand-new Bose QC2 headset with hotel points)
Most Airline employees enjoy siginificant travel-industry perks like reduced-rate hotel accomodations, but there isn't a program out there that can compete with FREE.

3. Time off to actually Travel: I'm on the Flex/Reserve schedule at NJA. (I can hold the 7/7, but I'm still on 1st year pay, and like the bigger paycheck) Even on the FLEX/Reserve schedule, I spend more time at home that I ever did at the airlines.

To be fair however, I was a commuter with the airlines, and now reside in my domicile with NJA. Not having to fly-in the night before, and always having a guaranteed airline ticket home on the last day (as opposed to playin' the non-rev/ get bumped game) really makes a difference. I never have to use a "day off" to commute.

The 7/7 guys know what their schedule will be more than a year or so ahead of time, so they can actually make travel plans well in advance. (as opposed to the airline system of monthly bidding where you find out your schedule a few short weeks out)

For travel planning, 7/7 is the way to go, but guys like me on the FLEX/Reserve schedule still have it pretty good. FLEX/Reserve guys are given 4 "Hard Days" (ie: guaranteed) off each month in addition to 10 or so company-assigned days off. We get to pick these Hard Days 3 months in advance.

This system has allowed my wife and I to buy concert tickets 2 months out (since I knew I was guaranteed to be off those days once I picked 'em), and has given me the freedom to RSVP and attend 2 weddings so far this year.

By bidding my Hard Days all 4 in a row, my wife and I have been able to take a couple of "weekend" mini-vacations by burning-up hotel points. (ie: FREE) We've been to the Keys, Myrtle Beach, and Savannah. (we live in the SouthEast, and drove to each of these locations)

4. Vacation: Probably the nicest travel perk is the amount of time they give us to go on vacation. For every "calendar week" of vacation awarded, NJA also adds "lead-in days" before and after that week.

Pilots on the 7/7 schedule, are awarded 7 lead-in days prior, and 7 lead-in days following their vacation award. In other words, one "week" of vacation for us equals 21 GUARANTEED days off on a row. (with pay)

Pilots on the FLEX/Reserve schedule (like me) are awarded 4 lead-in days prior, and 4 lead-in days following our vacation award for a total of 15 days off in a row. By placing Hard Days on either end of the lead-in days, I was able to create a vacation period equalling 19 GUARANTEED days off in a row. (with pay) -- I've never worked at a job where I was given nearly 3 weeks off in a row my first year.

Calendar weeks are awarded as follows: (remember each of these is a 19 or 21 day block of time off)

1-4 years of service: 2 calendar weeks
5-9 years of service: 3 calendar weeks
10+ years of service: 4 calendar weeks

That's about it in a nutshell!! Hope this helps!! Good luck with the job search!!

Pilot_135

JetLag7, I couldn't have asked for a better answer to my questions. I knew there was some advantage with collecting miles/points, etc, but I didn't think it was that good. I'm wondering how that compares with SWA.
Do you know if this is the same at other fractionals or just NJA?

Again, thank for the time you put in your answer. it helps a lot!