Well, well...judging from some of the responses I have received in reference to my post further proves to me that I probably made the right decision...because after all...I (just like all of you) have to make the decision that best accomodates me and my lifestyle.
Funny that jetblue claims to be a "different" kind of airline...but still will lie to you from the very beginning. I was told by the recruiters at my interview just 2 weeks before training was to begin that ALL NEW HIRES WOULD BE JFK BASED! GUARANTEED! When I asked about how long the waiting list would be for a FLL transfer; the recruiters responded with "There is a long line of flight attendants ahead of you waiting on FLL and when it does open there are only usually 8 open spots at a time. You''re looking at about 18-24 months."
I don''t think it is unreasonable of me to feel misguided by the information that I was presented with at my interview. FURTHERMORE, I was also told that I would have to find a PERMANENT RESIDENCE in the vicinity of JFK while still in training! No help was offered in finding accomodations, and I did make a point of asking if assistance would be available in locating a place to live. Again, the response was, "It''s up to you to find accomodations."
I have been throught this before, I am certainly not a novice to it. I know how airlines work. I''ve attended SEVERAL airline interviews in the past. I have already been down that road...made a decision in my life to attend training, leave behind a city I loved to relocate in another, incur further substantial debt...only to get furloughed just months later due to 9/11. PARDON ME IF I''M A BIT CAUTIOUS AND SKEPTICAL OF THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY!!!
Ironic that airlines expect you to invest your time, resources, energy and essentially YOUR LIFE in them but provide so little in return. They are so quick to turn on you someday...and leave you with nothing...forcing you to start over at a time in your life when you shouldn''t have to.
Like I said before, I''ve been through this before, I''m not some starry-eyed fool that has delusions of grandeur about some flight attendant position that when you get right down to it...no matter WHAT airline you work for...they all operate pretty much the same. FOR THAT REASON, IF I AM TO BE EMPLOYED BY AN AIRLINE AGAIN I WILL DO ALL THAT I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POSITION WORKS FOR ME!!! There is certainly nothing wrong with that, if anything it shows a more well-thought out approach than many of the others I have encountered at airlines past and present.
What is more, I have EVERY right (just like any of you) to apply with and interview at WHATEVER airline I choose. The fact that jetBlue is primarily New York based means NOTHING, because I went into the interview hoping that I might hear some good news about the need for flight attendants in FLL where there is ALSO a crew base.
One last thing...it seems to really bother you that I "was offered" or "was invited" to training and then turned it down. I never said, I was an "off the charts f/a", I was just stating a fact because I was indeed, "invited and offered". My apologies if what is right for you isn''t necessarily the right decision for me. That''s OK though...I''m due for another raise in a month, and likely another promotion before the year''s end at my current job where I am now making the same as a 4 or 5 year flight attendant and in much less time...with 2 paid weeks of vacation, a week of sick time, 10 paid holidays a year, full medical and dental benefits, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, every weekend off and additional incentives throughout the year. Yeah...I think I''ll stay put.
There is quite a bit to be said for job security...that''s something you''ll NEVER have working for an airline. Sure jetBlue looks good now, but beware...the airline business is volatile and I am not willing to put my future in the hands of such an unstable industry again.
