Compare / AS vs B6
Alaska Airlines vs JetBlue
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates Alaska Airlines and JetBlue for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
Alaska Airlines
AS · Seattle
7.8
crew score
JetBlue
B6 · New York (JFK)
7.1
crew score
Choose Alaska Airlines if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 17% more per month
- ✓Faster progression (career 7.6 vs 6.9)
- ✓Kinder roster (7.2 vs 6.8)
- ✓Better layovers and lifestyle (7.8 vs 7.2)
- ✓Easier life at base (8.0 vs 7.4)
Choose JetBlue if…
- ✓Short-haul flying means you sleep at home most nights
- ✓Visible tattoos may be accepted — a hard stop at the other airline
Side by side
| Alaska Airlines | JetBlue | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $2,400-$3,200 | $2,000-$2,800 |
| Senior pay / month | $5,000-$6,800 | $4,200-$5,800 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Seattle | New York (JFK) |
| Type | Full-service | Low-cost |
| Fleet | ~330 | ~290 |
| Destinations | ~140 | ~100 |
| Alliance | oneworld | None |
| Minimum age | 21 | 21 |
| Reach / height | — | — |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Some allowed |
| Language beyond English | None required | None required |
Crew scores compared
Alaska Airlines
JetBlue
Apply
Alaska Airlines
Recruiting to staff post-merger growth and the new Seattle international gateway; postings recur through the year for English-speaking and language-qualified crew.
JetBlue
Hires in waves tied to attrition and A220/A321 deliveries; postings are heavily oversubscribed and close quickly, with Spanish speakers in recurring demand.
Still torn? Let the data decide.
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alaska Airlines or JetBlue pay cabin crew more?
Alaska Airlines pays more at entry level: about $2,400-$3,200 a month against $2,000-$2,800. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, Alaska Airlines or JetBlue?
Alaska Airlines is actively hiring (Recruiting to staff post-merger growth and the new Seattle international gateway; postings recur through the year for English-speaking and language-qualified crew.) while JetBlue is periodic intakes (Hires in waves tied to attrition and A220/A321 deliveries; postings are heavily oversubscribed and close quickly, with Spanish speakers in recurring demand.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
Alaska Airlines or JetBlue — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
Alaska Airlines scores higher overall in our index (7.8 vs 7.1), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.