SWA Won't Share Its Pain With Workers

[Flycatcher99]

Bingo!
It's not rocket surgery.

Even if it was, you'd have to have an A&P.

 

[Flycatcher99]

Nobody could pay me enough money to want to layover in LBB. No way. Throw in AMA and MAF, and I would be constantly throwing up. (chunks) But, you do have great pay, nice stews, and a management that seems good (for now). Boring aircraft types and too many multiple leg flying days with 25 minute turns, along with LBB as a potential layover, makes me and others wonder... Regardless, other than those items, you guys have it made! Good for you guys!


Bye Bye--General Lee

I realize your continued flaming posts are only meant to elicit angry responses, but I'll just say this much.

You are obviously (either intentionally or obtusely) missing the entire point of this thread. I have a college buddy at American who does the "legacy" thing to Europe and South America on the 757/767, and he absolutely loves doing international ops and experiencing that life. He also said, and I quote, "If it weren't for the other employee groups here, I'd gladly strike this %$*!!! airline into the ground."

What it boils down to is this: I'd a thousand times rather work for a company like SWA whose management treats us like gold (eg. please see previous posts), than for a company like American or Delta who can't find their financial butt with both hands, and who thus compensate for it by sticking it to the employees in whatever number and manner of ways they can get away with.

The destinations served don't matter a minuscule compared to this concept.

 

[FatesPawn]

I'll say this much about our QOL. I enjoy my work and I enjoy my time off.

I tried my hand at a "global" Major and was politely shown the door after 9/11.

Now, I don't like the Texas (or California) 2-step any more than the next guy. I'm about 50% up the F/O list in 2.5 years (in my domicile) and I'm senior enough to avoid reserve, blank/secondary/build-up lines, and most weekends.

Now, my ideal job would involve much more ~choice~ than SWA offers. I'd love be able to turn down international flying or other aircraft types. Choice is a great bonus..... but I'd never choose it over a good job with good management. I made that choice when I turned down my recall.

SWA isn't the ULTIMATE job, but it's one of the GREAT jobs out there.

In any case the grass is always greener. If a pilot was told he only had to work 1 day a week and that day was Wednesday, he'd ask, "Every Wednesday?"

-fate

 

[a320drivr]

I wish JB cared for its employees half as much.

 

[Heavy Set]

I'd take those places over your NY locations and Atlanta. Argue that one. You can't.

Really? I would much rather go to Manhattan and see a great play or eat some great food rather than rot in Lubbock. Atlanta is also fairly cosmopolitan and has some great hotels. I think the General is correct, and you are wrong.

 

[Heavy Set]

same rhetoric, different thread. blah blah blah. Like someone said earlier LBB seems much better these days than JFK...or going through ATL every single day...man that's got to be boring...but occasionally you get to experience JFK...yeah thats worse. Good thing SLC, CVG, and LAX are bases...for now

So, you think SLC, CVG, and LAX won't be bases in the future? My friends at Delta would disagree with you. Also, there are plenty of transcons that do not go through Atlanta, and my friends say they enjoy the downtown NY layovers. I think your NY layovers consist or Ronkonkama near Islip. That really isn't the "real" NY probably. If you haven't been to Manhattan, then you may have a "skewed" view of New York if you only see Islip. And the chance to see Pisa, Italy or Rio on Delta's dime must be great, which is something Southwest pilots cannot say. You seem to have left out about half of Delta's flying, which is a lot more exotic than Islip or Boise.

 

[capt. megadeth]

On of the most intelligent post's you ever made Mega. I knew you had it in ya. I agree 100%. :beer:

Awwww, shucks! Don't let the cat out of the bag.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Bingo!
That is what makes Southwest Southwest. That is why we run for strollers, clean up cabins, and bust our a$$es everyday to keep our airline ontime and efficient. They take care of us, and we take care of them. It's not rocket surgery.

Apparently it is for corporate administration/executives. It's not just the ariline industry either. They just don't get it.......treat your employees better and they will go out of their way to help the company.....treat them like crap and they will "just do their job". It's such a simple concept IMO but these management idiots just don't get it, don't care or both.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Choice is a great bonus..... but I'd never choose it over a good job with good management.



In any case the grass is always greener. If a pilot was told he only had to work 1 day a week and that day was Wednesday, he'd ask, "Every Wednesday?"

-fate

DING DING DING!!!!!
We have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RedDogC130]

I think your NY layovers consist or Ronkonkama near Islip. That really isn't the "real" NY probably. If you haven't been to Manhattan, then you may have a "skewed" view of New York if you only see Islip. And the chance to see Pisa, Italy or Rio on Delta's dime must be great, which is something Southwest pilots cannot say. You seem to have left out about half of Delta's flying, which is a lot more exotic than Islip or Boise.

remember that most people that were in the military probably have already been there and done that with regards to international ops. If I never left this country again, I would be happy. How many of you actually go out an roam the areas outside your hotel? I for one do not. A city is a city, unless they have some cool bars next to it or something. As for flying a big aircraft...I for one could care less...as do many people I know and fly with. I like driving to work and driving home and being near the beach....Not commuting and not having to worry if I will get screwed.

 

[puddlejumper101]

So, you think SLC, CVG, and LAX won't be bases in the future? My friends at Delta would disagree with you. Also, there are plenty of transcons that do not go through Atlanta, and my friends say they enjoy the downtown NY layovers. I think your NY layovers consist or Ronkonkama near Islip. That really isn't the "real" NY probably. If you haven't been to Manhattan, then you may have a "skewed" view of New York if you only see Islip. And the chance to see Pisa, Italy or Rio on Delta's dime must be great, which is something Southwest pilots cannot say. You seem to have left out about half of Delta's flying, which is a lot more exotic than Islip or Boise.

I wasn't talking about the overnights in ATL...or JFK...I was referring to the operation. 90% of DAL's operation goes through ATL or JFK...so...you deal with those two monster inefficiencies at least once per trip (and I am being very generous when I say that)...for the rest of forever...that get's just as old as overnights in LBB...the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

 

[RollinOnMy22sYo]

Personally, I'd rather fly a C172 into East Bumblebee North Dakota for SouthWest, than a 777 to Paris for any of the legacy carriers.

 

[RCA]

Sorry about your dad. The sad thing is that what SWA does is something that should be standard....instead, it's looked at as above and beyond and it shouldn't be this way.

I really hope that SWA stays this way. Other companies should follow their philosophies. I am sure there are a few (very few) other companies (not airlines of course) that treat their employees this well. Does anyone know of any?

The culture at CitationShares is much like what I'm reaading here. We had a guy on tour find out his wife just went into labor. The company without hesitation created a long unneeded position leg to the pilots hometown. Like someone said earlier "you can't negotiate that"

 

[Heavy Set]

I wasn't talking about the overnights in ATL...or JFK...I was referring to the operation. 90% of DAL's operation goes through ATL or JFK...so...you deal with those two monster inefficiencies at least once per trip (and I am being very generous when I say that)...for the rest of forever...that get's just as old as overnights in LBB...the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

ATL is in the middle of a large drought right now, so T-storms and weather delays probably haven't really been a problem (a chronic problem anyway), but I bet JFK has had it's share. ATL right now is a great place to have a hub, a new runway is in use, fairly clear weather, etc. It has been fairly smooth sailing the last few times I have had to fly in there enroute to my Lear.

 

[Heavy Set]

remember that most people that were in the military probably have already been there and done that with regards to international ops. If I never left this country again, I would be happy. How many of you actually go out an roam the areas outside your hotel? I for one do not. A city is a city, unless they have some cool bars next to it or something. As for flying a big aircraft...I for one could care less...as do many people I know and fly with. I like driving to work and driving home and being near the beach....Not commuting and not having to worry if I will get screwed.

So you wouldn't like to fly with a third pilot (the rest seat has a movie and a 1st class meal waiting) over to Europe, take a nap at a 5 star hotel (for security reasons), and get up and drink beer watching cute foreigners after a great meal? You did that in the Air Force? Riiight. You wouldn't want to see Europe or South America (Buenos Aires and Rio are probably very nice, and Santiago has great wine supposedly) on someone elses dime (DL)? You wouldn't? You would rather see LBB and MAF? Really? I guess you don't ever want to fly to Hawaii either (like DL does), or the Carribbean or Mexico (Cancun or Puerto Vallarta)? Aruba anyone? You don't go out anywhere on any of your layovers? Really. I guess you don't want to do anything but Intra-texas flying, that would make you really happy. As happy as a pig in s$#@. Go get um Red Dog! You are making yourself look like a hick. Did you fly the C130 to Paris, London, Frankfurt, Rome, Athens, Rio, Lima, Vienna, Prague, Buenos Aires, or any of those places? No, I bet you flew it to Afghanistan and Iraq, places Delta probably won't fly to. Back when I flew at Tower Air on the 747 we had great long layovers in some exotic places, and we had fun. I am sure the Delta guys don't just do the "slam and click" like yourself. Boring.....Do you sit in your hotel room and count all of your money and stack pennies and say "someday I will have ONE BILLLLLLION pennies.....?" And I guess you don't care about flying big planes, and many of the people you know don't care either, because they are flying smaller mainline planes like yourself. I really miss that 747 I used to fly, it really was a kick.

 

[AA717driver]

Heavy--BTDT. Int'l. isn't the Holy Grail it used to be. I'd rather live the extra ten years that Int'l. steals from you.

And you're not SERIOUSLY infering that Delta crews have more fun on layovers than SWA crews? I can tell you, having partied with a few SWA crews, that is an absurd inference.

But, everyone's different. IMO, I have more fun on layovers when I'm not brain dead from fatigue.TC

 

[AV80R]

I had a health scare with my wife recently. My chief pilot told me to take all the time I needed to make sure she was OK. He said, and I quote, "All the company cares about right now is that you take care of your family and we will take care of you."

You don't negotiate that.

Gup

Very good point. Hope she's all right.

 

[AV80R]

If a pilot was told he only had to work 1 day a week and that day was Wednesday, he'd ask, "Every Wednesday?"


Why Wednesday? I hate Wednesdays...I say let's have a six-day week with no stinkin' Wednesdays!...

 

[Whataburger]

So you wouldn't like to fly with a third pilot (the rest seat has a movie and a 1st class meal waiting) over to Europe, take a nap at a 5 star hotel (for security reasons), and get up and drink beer watching cute foreigners after a great meal? You did that in the Air Force? Riiight. You wouldn't want to see Europe or South America (Buenos Aires and Rio are probably very nice, and Santiago has great wine supposedly) on someone elses dime (DL)? You wouldn't? You would rather see LBB and MAF? Really? I guess you don't ever want to fly to Hawaii either (like DL does), or the Carribbean or Mexico (Cancun or Puerto Vallarta)? Aruba anyone? You don't go out anywhere on any of your layovers? Really. I guess you don't want to do anything but Intra-texas flying, that would make you really happy. As happy as a pig in s$#@. Go get um Red Dog! You are making yourself look like a hick. Did you fly the C130 to Paris, London, Frankfurt, Rome, Athens, Rio, Lima, Vienna, Prague, Buenos Aires, or any of those places? No, I bet you flew it to Afghanistan and Iraq, places Delta probably won't fly to. Back when I flew at Tower Air on the 747 we had great long layovers in some exotic places, and we had fun. I am sure the Delta guys don't just do the "slam and click" like yourself. Boring.....Do you sit in your hotel room and count all of your money and stack pennies and say "someday I will have ONE BILLLLLLION pennies.....?" And I guess you don't care about flying big planes, and many of the people you know don't care either, because they are flying smaller mainline planes like yourself. I really miss that 747 I used to fly, it really was a kick.

To each their own. Good for ya if you liked that foreign stuff as a big bad whale pilot. Some like it, some don't. Why get on to someone if they dont agree with you? I did all the stuff you mentioned as a civilian before I hit 30 years old. It was neat-o. All those places are much more fun to visit with family vs. crew. Apparently you and the General like foreign stuff. I would much rather earn nice money flying 5 to ABQ and 6 back the next day vs. one leg to any non-U.S. funny-speaking country. The crews are happy, the attitudes are great, and the company treats us like royalty. I'd like to thank all yall international pilots for what you do, maby you will be allowed to code share for us some day!

 

[Bake]

Heavy Set, did you say watchin' the cute foreigners? No, we would rather get naked with the girls in LBB, MAF, and HRL. But don't worry not your daughter because she is probably heavy set too. Although we will let her get naked while we take pictures. You keep your overnights, we will keep ours. You keep looking and we will keep poking.