Southwest evaluates -800's

[redflyer65]

Union openers have already been sent out. Decision to be made by Dec. 1

The trans-continental flights are jam packed. Looking at a 175 config. 38 more seats would be some big revenue.

 

[SteelerMan]

Think they've been evaluating them for some time now. Now the question is will they be paid at the same rate, or not. Something that will be very important if a smaller a/c is brought on property at some point.

 

[Tanker Clown]

Looks like the wait in the pool is about to get longer.

 

[Quiet Flight]

Now the question is will they be paid at the same rate, or not. Something that will be very important if a smaller a/c is brought on property at some point.

I think the UPS model works. One pay scale for all types driven by seat and longevity. MUCH easier to manage for everybody involved. And if a smaller type ever did appear, you don't have to worry about taking a pay cut for doing the same job. Because you know if we get paid more to fly -800/-900's, we will be expected to get paid LESS to fly the C-100/300. (Example only.)

Fire when ready.

 

[XR650R]

Just my opinion...Pay regardng the -800 should be the same as the -700. Smaller airplanes on the other hand would not be sustainable at current rates. You would basically be subsidizing a smaller fleet with the 737 fleet Maybe that still makes good economic sense in the grand scheme of things - I don't know- but if SWAPA digs it's heals in regarding smaller A/C pay, I doubt you'd ever see a smaller A/C at SWA. Maybe that's a good thing as well-

 

[pianoman]

Hey if they negotiate BETTER pay rates for the 737-800, that only helps us here at CAL.

 

[murano]

Just my opinion...Pay regardng the -800 should be the same as the -700. Smaller airplanes on the other hand would not be sustainable at current rates. You would basically be subsidizing a smaller fleet with the 737 fleet Maybe that still makes good economic sense in the grand scheme of things - I don't know- but if SWAPA digs it's heals in regarding smaller A/C pay, I doubt you'd ever see a smaller A/C at SWA. Maybe that's a good thing as well-

So what you're saying is, negotiate the rates for the 300/500/700 higher to reflect the 800 coming on the property? You're not implying the company get a free-for-all with bigger equipment right?

 

[michael707767]

Because you know if we get paid more to fly -800/-900's, we will be expected to get paid LESS to fly the C-100/300. (Example only.)

On the other hand, if you only have one pay scale, I suspect you will forever limit the size of the aircraft your company operates. SWA may be happy to pay the same for an 800/900. The business case supports it. But a business case built around paying a crew the same for a C-100 will not be the same.

I doubt very much you will ever see anything smaller than a 757 at UPS. Nor will the UPS pilots have an argument for more pay if the company opts to buy the A380 at some point.

I would favor a system similar to CAL. Essentially small, medium and large pay scales. I know here at Delta there is no reason not to pay the 88, 737, 320, and DC9 the same. I have seen guys moving from plane to plane chasing a couple of dollars an hour.

I would like to see one scale for the narrowbodies, one for the medium aircraft (757/767) and one for the big boys (330,764,777,747). That way you don't totally decouple aircraft size from pay, but you do even out the scale some and cut down on training costs.

 

[Whataburger]

Same pay.
I see us buying much more smaller jets than bigger jets.

 

[RedDogC130]

I would like to keep it like ups....one rate regardless of pax capacity

 

[FR8dognit]

One rate....the potential down side of smaller ac is much greater here even if we do get larger ac.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Looks like the wait in the pool is about to get longer.

Boo hoo....

Besides a pond would be good for you......

Getting you through training IF you get hired is going to need a side letter!! SWAPA better get to work on that.....

 

[XR650R]

So what you're saying is, negotiate the rates for the 300/500/700 higher to reflect the 800 coming on the property? You're not implying the company get a free-for-all with bigger equipment right?

All I'm saying is union/mgt issues aside- my guess is that you can't pay a 12 year SWA captain $200/hr to fly a C100/300 into smaller markets, going head to head with Republic with their sub-standard rates and expect to recover the same yield.
I too would love to see the spreadsheets.

I'm firmly in the small/medium/large camp.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

All I'm saying is union/mgt issues aside- my guess is that you can't pay a 12 year SWA captain $200/hr to fly a C100/300 into smaller markets, going head to head with Republic with their sub-standard rates and expect to recover the same yield.
I too would love to see the spreadsheets.

I'm firmly in the small/medium/large camp.

You sound like management. Sure the pure numbers would support a SLIGHT cost advantage for Republic when going head to head.....a hundred or so bucks an hour.....if SWA is worried about that small advantage, then you should pull out (rhetorical and sarcastic).

SWA can leverage other strengths and will still kick Republic tail regardless.....here's hoping for it!

 

[Fly2AK]

Union openers have already been sent out. Decision to be made by Dec. 1

The trans-continental flights are jam packed. Looking at a 175 config. 38 more seats would be some big revenue.

The 800's I am flying are all coach and have 189 pax. How will they configure the aircraft, will they have the club seating? I haven't been on a SWA flight in years, not sure if they are still doing the rear facing seats.

 

[B727Driver]

Keep one single aisle pay scale regardless of the number of seats, then negotiate a widebody pay scale for the larger equipment. Try this for starters.

 

[Tanker Clown]

Boo hoo....

Besides a pond would be good for you......

Getting you through training IF you get hired is going to need a side letter!! SWAPA better get to work on that.....

Be nice Lumberg! I didn't force you to take a crappy job at Delta. Or to take pay concessions for that matter. Therefore, there's no reason to project such hostilities towards me. Besides, if SWA doesn't start hiring soon I may have to join you over at Delta until things improve.

 

[waveflyer]

One blended rate- establish a rate for each airplane and average it fleet wide-
the other thing to consider are our own financial choices-
I can't tell you how many mainline pilots I know that would rather be flying domestic turns but financially have to bid for larger craft nc it's so weighted towards the top.
I'd hate to see that dynamic at WN

 

[Quiet Flight]

I have seen guys moving from plane to plane chasing a couple of dollars an hour.

This is the # 1 reason I personally would like to see one pay scale at SWA. Jumping around for a few dollars ends up costing the company a fortune in training and otehr areas which in turn affects profit sharing and long term viability. (ROIC, organic growth, fleet upgrades, etc.) I think the one FAIR pay scale model keeps this in check. We shall see...

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Be nice Lumberg! I didn't force you to take a crappy job at Delta. Or to take pay concessions for that matter. Therefore, there's no reason to project such hostilities towards me. Besides, if SWA doesn't start hiring soon I may have to join you over at Delta until things improve.

If the job is so crappy...why even think about coming here.....

wannabe