It's a hiring requirement. If you don't meet it, you don't get hired. I don't and have never agreed with it, but I certainly don't regret meeting that requirement. When NO one else was hiring in the early to mid '90's, SWA was hiring like gangbusters. It's by far the best investment I've ever made in my career and it's been paid back for about 14 years now. I make what my type cost in less than 6 working days now. My only regret is that I didn't do it a year or 2 sooner. Sure, I could've waited another year or 2 for the economy to get better in the mid '90s, (all the while making poverty level wages at DHL after my last commuter went T.U.), and then gone to DAL, UAL, AA, CAL etc., or I could have PFT at Valujet, or some of the other "invest in the company for your job" schemes (not a chance). I shudder when I think that I almost didn't get the type because I didn't want to spend the cash.
FWIW, I don't even know (or care) who you work for, because I wouldn't trade places with you.
You're right, I don't care. My paycheck and QOL are and have been so much better than it would've been had I not gotten the type.
Awesome.... I didn't need to be typed at any of the other airlines I worked for either. I wouldn't go back to any of them.
Enjoy your choice. I'm loving mine.
Actually, I discussed this with Gary in December during his lounge visit, and mentioned that in the spirit of "fair and equitable", that the trannies be required to be typed before the SLI. He thought it was a great idea!
You do what you need to do for your career. Criticizing other's choices says a lot more about you than it does about the ones being criticized.
You know how many times I took the friggin FE written, because it was a hiring requirement? Complete waste of time, effort and money, but you do what you gotta do.
FWIW, I've got 5 type ratings, and I paid for one of them out of my pocket (not a dime of which went to WN). Which one do you think has served me best?
You make your choices and live with them. I am fine with mine.
