"winning the lotto"

[CLARKGRSWOLD]

Please explain...I hear being hired by SWA is "winning the LOTTO".... obviously this is for new hires." not current guys and gals...

HOW IS...

Commuting to OAKLAND
Sitting in the right seat for 15+
RSV forever
Commuting on RSV
Flying one airplane
Making 100-150k
12 days off
Very little movement
Buying a type rating for 8k


Winning the lotto...

Not a hater, but with all the old guys and gals at the legacy carriers why would you go to SWA ?

 

[Capt. Qdoba]

........

 

[RJ Bum]

Please explain...I hear being hired by SWA is "winning the LOTTO".... obviously this is for new hires." not current guys and gals...

HOW IS...

Commuting to OAKLAND
Sitting in the right seat for 15+
RSV forever
Commuting on RSV
Flying one airplane
Making 100-150k
12 days off
Very little movement
Buying a type rating for 8k


Winning the lotto...

Not a hater, but with all the old guys and gals at the legacy carriers why would you go to SWA ?

Sounds good to me.... If you enjoy your company so much, why do you care?

 

[say again]

Because it beats being at a regional any day!!

 

[Dude]

Real nice, Clark.

Your assumptions are incorrect.

Have fun at Delta.

 

[slaquer5]

Not a hater, but with all the old guys and gals at the legacy carriers why would you go to SWA ?

Now that's good. I think I meet you trying to sell me a used car and your quote to me was "I will be perfectly honest with you. "

PS Is this you ?

I am a Check Airman, TT of 9000 PIC, 4k PIC all in JET. No college, no faa incidents or accidents, good letters of rec = zero calls.. Oh well, I'll just enjoy the regionals until someone is desperate enough to hire just a pilot, and not someone that has a B.S. in basket weaving

 

[Stinkbug]

Real nice, Clark.

Your assumptions are incorrect.

Have fun at Delta.

I am not agreeing with Clark, nor do I have anything at all against Southwest. I'm curious though, which part(s) is he incorrect about?

 

[CLARKGRSWOLD]

Because it beats being at a regional any day!!

My days at a regional are numbered, we all know the retirement numbers... Just saying, why SWA ? All the females and minorities are nearly gone at my airline, the regular white males will soon to follow..

Where was I wrong in my figures ?

 

[jonjuan]

My days at a regional are numbered, we all know the retirement numbers... Just saying, why SWA ? All the females and minorities are nearly gone at my airline, the regular white males will soon to follow..

Where was I wrong in my figures ?

Ok, where did all the females and minorities go? We want to understand why you are still at a regional. Data please.

 

[say again]

My days at a regional are numbered, we all know the retirement numbers... Just saying, why SWA ? All the females and minorities are nearly gone at my airline, the regular white males will soon to follow..

Where was I wrong in my figures ?

I didn't say that you were wrong. My post was regarding all regional pilots, and that being hired by SWA probably feels like "winning the lotto" to them. The same could also be said about FedEx when they were hiring. As for why SWA? Maybe it's the pay, their lack of furlough, etc? Can't really answer that.

 

[ivauir]

I am not agreeing with Clark, nor do I have anything at all against Southwest. I'm curious though, which part(s) is he incorrect about?

Pretty much everything:

His numbers on days off and income aren't even close. Most lines have 17 days off, there are usually a few with 19. Even reserve lines have 15 to 16 days off. I'm not going to get into pay, that horse seems fairly dead.

He also misses one of the primary reasons pilots were coming here even when the pay lagged: job security.

 

[CLARKGRSWOLD]

Ok, where did all the females and minorities go? We want to understand why you are still at a regional. Data please.

Delta, JB... Why am I still here ??? How about the so called recession and age 65. Why would I apply for JB and Virgin, when I want to work for AA or UCAL ?

 

[CLARKGRSWOLD]

Pretty much everything:

His numbers on days off and income aren't even close. Most lines have 17 days off, there are usually a few with 19. Even reserve lines have 15 to 16 days off. I'm not going to get into pay, that horse seems fairly dead.

He also misses one of the primary reasons pilots were coming here even when the pay lagged: job security.

So a new hire on RSV gets 15 TO 16 OFF ?

 

[Roomwithaview]

Sorry gang

When I saw the title of the thread I assumed it was about SWA buying Airtran.

 

[Sandhawk]

When I saw the title of the thread I assumed it was about SWA buying Airtran.

I thought it was another McDoosh post about AmericaWest acquiring Useless Air........

:smash:

 

[Capt. Qdoba]

So a new hire on RSV gets 15 TO 16 OFF ?

Yes, that's how SWA reserve lines are built. 15 off in 30 day months and 16 of in 31 day months.

 

[Roomwithaview]

Yeah, It's murder over here!

Yes, that's how SWA reserve lines are built. 15 off in 30 day months and 16 of in 31 day months.

Maybe we can get PBS here soon so our QOL doesn't s*ck so bad! And, so we can be a REAL airline!

 

[frqntflyr]

..........see above for answer.

 

[Flying the Line]

sorry, disregard.

 

[waveflyer]

A bigger question is how you're going to convince AA or Ucal that you want to work for them when you werent even motivated enough to get a degree....?

And yes- you are hating on Swa - just in such a boring way it doesn't matter

 

[rattler]

There is no doubt SW has the best contract in the industry. I think the real question is why would a regional pilot choose SW over DAL, UAL, AMR, USA, etc. The choice isn't as easy as it may first appear. On the surface SW is the clear choice, but if you have 30 years ahead of you, that leaves alot of guess work. If one truly could choose their airline, I would look at retirements, future fleet plans, growth and fiscal stability. SW may well indead lead the industry in pay for many years to come, but it is likely parity will prevail. Contracts come and go, but seniority is forever.

 

[elcid]

I wouldn't call it winning the lotto. I don't think the words dream job are a stretch though. Great pay, great contract, great management, 17 days off is a given. If you want to work less (since your pay is higher at SWA), giving away is a snap. 20 days off would be no problem. 9.3 % 401k match! Do the math on that one. Cheap, caddy health plan. Job security! Of course there are those who will complain here. All pilots do. If you give a pilot a million, he'll want TWO million and bitch about it. Just like my wife

 

[jpd05]

Just like my wife

So your the guy that married my ex!

 

[General Lee]

There is no doubt SW has the best contract in the industry. I think the real question is why would a regional pilot choose SW over DAL, UAL, AMR, USA, etc. The choice isn't as easy as it may first appear. On the surface SW is the clear choice, but if you have 30 years ahead of you, that leaves alot of guess work. If one truly could choose their airline, I would look at retirements, future fleet plans, growth and fiscal stability. SW may well indead lead the industry in pay for many years to come, but it is likely parity will prevail. Contracts come and go, but seniority is forever.

SWA does lead the pack now for pay at passenger airline companies, but that won't last forever, and I doubt SWA will lead the industry in pay for MANY YEARS to come. After the pay issue is factored out, why would someone choose SWA over a legacy? Fewer INTL flights meaning less fatigue? Several SWA pilots on this board are chomping at the bit to fly internationally, bragging they may do Europe someday, in a 737, or bigger.... You just never know, but the pay issue may be moot sooner than later, and then you have to look at the whole total package. And, you are correct, seniority is forever, until arbitrators decide otherwise. (unless you are a USAIR East pilot)


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[GuppyWN]

Why would I apply for JB and Virgin, when I want to work for AA or UCAL ?

You do realize that AA and UCAL have about 6,000 pilots still on furlough don't you?

Gup

 

[CLARKGRSWOLD]

You do realize that AA and UCAL have about 6,000 pilots still on furlough don't you?

Gup

Its actually 3k, and they have been furloughed for nearly 10 years now. I imagine very little will come back.. I have heard UCAL will retire 1.5 pilots everyday for 10 years once 65 hits.. How many does SWA plan on retiring ? I am sure a UCAL pilot will confirm this as its a pretty common discussion in the jump seat

 

[Roomwithaview]

GenLee

SWA does lead the pack now for pay at passenger airline companies, but that won't last forever, and I doubt SWA will lead the industry in pay for MANY YEARS to come. After the pay issue is factored out, why would someone choose SWA over a legacy?

Your arrogance and ignorance (about swa) never ceases to amaze me. Is it just pointless to refute all your bunk? You just spew stuff that not only doesn't make any sense but has no basis in fact or reality.

First off, I don't know if you can say SWA "leads the pack" We have a good contract that we fought hard for. We have industry leading scope protection that came at a price, but we don't have to worry about our flying being farmed out. Something no legacy carrier can even come close to saying. Based on contracts, the total of all sums, I would match us against any other "legacy" for those "many years to come".

Several SWA pilots on this board are chomping at the bit to fly internationally, bragging they may do Europe

Nobody's "bragging" Read the press clippings. Kelly's the one talking about going international. Not us.

but the pay issue may be moot sooner than later, and then you have to look at the whole total package

That's what I said
Pay
Scope
Codeshare
Benefits
Quality of Life
Schedule

I'll take any of these issues in our contract over any in another "legacy" You think we're going to go backwards while the "legacy's" pass us by?

Keep posting your anti-SWA drivel General. Your avatar fits you.

:nuts:

 

[Dumb Pilot]

The industry has been so degraded in the US that our perception of what "good pay" should be has also been distorted, SWA is a good job and most people seem to like it but it is simply what a job should be, when SWA started their salary levels were about 20% lower than what the industry average was and the salaries they pay today should be the norm for narrow body pay and not the exception, when you take into consideration that the salary level at your average LCC in Europe is at about the equivalent of $210K the earnings at SWA are not "Lotto" like, they are average.

 

[Turbojet]

Dumbpilot,

What is their tax rate?

 

[jonjuan]

The industry has been so degraded in the US that our perception of what "good pay" should be has also been distorted, SWA is a good job and most people seem to like it but it is simply what a job should be, when SWA started their salary levels were about 20% lower than what the industry average was and the salaries they pay today should be the norm for narrow body pay and not the exception, when you take into consideration that the salary level at your average LCC in Europe is at about the equivalent of $210K the earnings at SWA are not "Lotto" like, they are average.

And it's probably not gonna get much better with state subsidized foreign carriers like EY/EK dumping hundreds of A350s/A380s on the US. Planes operate by many US based pilots working without a union and for crummy pay-indentured servitude if you will.
What's happening here WILL soon impact your foreign airline, like it or not.