Gup,
As a poolie, it was actually refreshing (believe it or not) to hear a negative perspective of the company for a change. Sometimes it makes me wonder with all the positive comments, if everyone is telling the truth or just blowing smoke.
That said, I've looked real close at your gripes and their merits. From a guy on the outside looking in, I have a real hard time seeing anything that even comes close to what pilots in the rest of the industry have had to deal with (pay cuts, loss of pension, furloughs, etc.). Granted, you know the company much better than I, and I don't doubt what you say is true about WN not being the same as it once was.
I just think that with the industry in such a turbulent state, it's unrealistic to expect everything at WN to operate as if there were no problems at all. You sound very frustrated at how WN is no longer the same as it used to be---I can only imagine how great that must have been, but still look forward to working for what I still consider the best airline out there today.
I have no illusions of the problems in the airline industry and the challenges Southwest faces over the next few years. I worry about the future of the company, furloughs, and just whether my training date will slip once again. None of that, however rises to the level to make me give up my pool slot, or to give up flying altogether.
Definitely hang in there Gup. I'm hoping that your statement about not wanting to go "the extra mile"
was made more out of frustration, than not caring. From what everyone on the "inside" tells me, I think SWA is still too good of a company to give up on.
Thanks for keeping things honest.