Southwest Window

[waveflyer]

Are you being sarcastic? Been here 6 years and I'll be lucky if I upgrade at the 15 year mark.

I'm saying maybe we should wait until upgrades actually get to that level before we claim that's what they are.

We are a mature airline, true. Quick upgrades aren't our deal.
18 years though is pure conjecture.

So is 15 when you've only been here 6
9 years is an eternity in the airlines

 

[Nindiri]

I could see it going down a good bit if all works out.

 

[waveflyer]

And DALPA asked in the pilot contract survey out now if pilots want to negotiate that away..... So.....will SWAPA expend capital to dump the pay for type? I'm waiting...... Looks like you could be WRONG soon...



Bye Bye---General Lee

Let me know when you actually do.
It certainly has never appeared that dalpa is concerned with their junior.
Just sacrifices one must make in order to be a real pilot on a wide body.
(Don't deny that that's the prevailing attitude, we all know it is)

 

[General Lee]

I'm saying maybe we should wait until upgrades actually get to that level before we claim that's what they are.

We are a mature airline, true. Quick upgrades aren't our deal.
18 years though is pure conjecture.

So is 15 when you've only been here 6
9 years is an eternity in the airlines

15 years? Wow. How many legs would that be at the Corny? Maybe 50 legs per month, 600 per year, and that means 9000 legs! Yikes! And 5000 of those are into Texas, 1000 into Islip, and the rest into glorious places like Columbus, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Yes! That sounds Frigggen Fannntastic, and unbelievably exhausting.

That's the big difference between a LCC and a legacy. Variety, and the ability to try different fleets to fly fewer legs to see far off lands. As you get older, fewer legs are easier. At the Corny, that means just a 12 leg 3 day trip. Yes!



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[waveflyer]

Copy and paste your boring Schtick man

 

[DCAA320]

Why don't you two get a room?

 

[shagadelic]

You're not bending over for Wavey, red!
Well, maybe that won't hurt either!:blush:
A few weeks in a crash pad compared to several thousand on buying your job. Along with a ********************ty retirement, and an 18 year upgrade! No comparison. You PFT sellouts will do anything to justify why you had to buy your jobs!

I made $350,000 last year. What a crappy investment. I feel so inferior.

 

[tankerhead]

I made $350,000 last year. What a crappy investment. I feel so inferior.

How big is your watch?

 

[slaquer5]

15 years? Wow. How many legs would that be at the Corny? Maybe 50 legs per month, 600 per year, and that means 9000 legs! Yikes! And 5000 of those are into Texas, 1000 into Islip, and the rest into glorious places like Columbus, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Yes! That sounds Frigggen Fannntastic, and unbelievably exhausting.

That's the big difference between a LCC and a legacy. Variety, and the ability to try different fleets to fly fewer legs to see far off lands. As you get older, fewer legs are easier. At the Corny, that means just a 12 leg 3 day trip. Yes!



Bye Bye---General Lee

Dude

Your hate for SWA is over the top.

I would love to know the real reason for it .

Was it a bf,gf,bff,goat ?

 

[General Lee]

Dude

Your hate for SWA is over the top.

I would love to know the real reason for it .

Was it a bf,gf,bff,goat ?

Hate? What isn't true that I posted? You guys get soooo mad when someone else doesn't want what you have. Prospective applicants need to know what they could be in for, and a 15 year upgrade is what they are currently looking at while at the Corndog. It's a public service. You're welcome. Feel free to refute any of it, which you can't.... Don't hate the playa, hate the game...


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[mayoplane]

Im a SWA pilot. I've been here 6+ years and I love it here.

Im also a big fan of Delta Airlines.

I have a lot of close friends at Delta. I was very disappointed to hear that he had to share a hotel room during indoc and he had to pay for his own lodging during training after 2 weeks. To me, it's very unlike Delta.

My friend who has been there for 7 years showed me his 4 day trip sheet. I was surprised that it only paid 19.5. At SWA, it has to pay at least 26. (Yes, the pay methods are slightly different at each company.....hours vs TFP)

Delta greenslip (double pay) sounds awesome.

I have always had significantly more time off than Delta friends and have made significantly more than my friends who fly intn'l there.

Upgrade is going to be rocking at Delta!! SWA, not so much.

My day at SWA averages 3 legs per day. This 3 day has 9 legs, next 3 day has 6 legs. They each pay at least 21 at straight value. (But im getting 30 this week for premium.)

I still love Delta!! If I were a regional guy, i'd be honored to accept a job offer there.

Im also still happy to have come to SWA. I have no regrets!!

My point is, each company has its pros and cons. If it works for you, that's what matters.

 

[humveedriver]

15 years? Wow. How many legs would that be at the Corny? Maybe 50 legs per month, 600 per year, and that means 9000 legs! Yikes! And 5000 of those are into Texas, 1000 into Islip, and the rest into glorious places like Columbus, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Yes! That sounds Frigggen Fannntastic, and unbelievably exhausting.

That's the big difference between a LCC and a legacy. Variety, and the ability to try different fleets to fly fewer legs to see far off lands. As you get older, fewer legs are easier. At the Corny, that means just a 12 leg 3 day trip. Yes!



Bye Bye---General Lee

FWIW General saw decent pay two leg day trips out of DAL for OCT open time. SWA is going through a painful transition getting rid of the Texas interstate flying. While you may not like it, many passengers and ground personnel have made careers out of that flying. Gary Kelley is pointing SWA in a profitable direction. There is no arguing that. But he is prioritizing external customers first (shareholders) and the not the internal customers (employees). Which what all the hype, books and CULTure has been about since the beginning of time. The 15-18 year upgrade times are based solely on retirements and classic 737 replacements keeping the fleet growth at zero (oh BTW while increasing ASMs with larger replacement airplanes). It's probably better to plan for the long road vs the short. There are orders and potential growth, there could also be another merger/acquisition. Best just to focus on the facts.

 

[General Lee]

FWIW General saw decent pay two leg day trips out of DAL for OCT open time. SWA is going through a painful transition getting rid of the Texas interstate flying. While you may not like it, many passengers and ground personnel have made careers out of that flying. Gary Kelley is pointing SWA in a profitable direction. There is no arguing that. But he is prioritizing external customers first (shareholders) and the not the internal customers (employees). Which what all the hype, books and CULTure has been about since the beginning of time. The 15-18 year upgrade times are based solely on retirements and classic 737 replacements keeping the fleet growth at zero (oh BTW while increasing ASMs with larger replacement airplanes). It's probably better to plan for the long road vs the short. There are orders and potential growth, there could also be another merger/acquisition. Best just to focus on the facts.

I am talking about those retirements and upward movement that results from it. You guys expanded during the Legacy bad times, but now great times have returned, and you are left with career stagnation. The legacies and LCCs have different models, with one fleet type at a LCC compared to many at a legacy due to different types of flying. That means fewer pilots needed at the LCC, with fewer pilots in the training pipeline at one time, not changing plane types.

So, my point here for prospective pilot applicants is 15,000 retirements at the big 3 vs a lot less at the LCCs means better opportunities at the legacies. It's pure math, and the legacies now pay as well or better, and huge profits means it will get even better.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[humveedriver]

I am talking about those retirements and upward movement that results from it. You guys expanded during the Legacy bad times, but now great times have returned, and you are left with career stagnation. The legacies and LCCs have different models, with one fleet type at a LCC compared to many at a legacy due to different types of flying. That means fewer pilots needed at the LCC, with fewer pilots in the training pipeline at one time, not changing plane types.

So, my point here for prospective pilot applicants is 15,000 retirements at the big 3 vs a lot less at the LCCs means better opportunities at the legacies. It's pure math, and the legacies now pay as well or better, and huge profits means it will get even better.



Bye Bye---General Lee

The OP inquired about SWA hiring though. Why don't you patiently wait for someone to inquire about Delta hiring

 

[waveflyer]

How's upgrade now at delta?
You've been talking this quicker upgrade for a while / years now-
When does it dip below 10?

 

[PCL_128]

How's upgrade now at delta?
You've been talking this quicker upgrade for a while / years now-
When does it dip below 10?

It's already there.

As for SWA's upgrade, stop peddling BS, wave. Prospective SWA pilots have a right to accurate information so that they can make smart decisions, and you telling them that upgrade is 10 years is irresponsible. If SWA were to grow at 3% per year (highly unrealistic), I would upgrade after 19 years. Someone hired today, even with somewhat optimistic growth, is looking at well over 15 years to the left seat, probably closer to 20.

If you want to guzzle the kool aid, then have at it, but don't lie to people who have to make career decisions for themselves and their families.

 

[General Lee]

How's upgrade now at delta?
You've been talking this quicker upgrade for a while / years now-
When does it dip below 10?

Last bid the junior Capt bid (NYC MD88) was about 9450 out of 12,000 total. Retirements haven't really even started yet. When they do, and there are 5000+ coming, it will probably go to 5-6 years on property. Kinda like what you USED to do. There are bids every 5-6 weeks, only half of the 717s have shown up, the 757s being parked will be replaced directly by 737-900ERs, and 10 A330s and 45 A321s will also be coming in the next few years. So, huge retirements plus lots of incoming planes.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Herkdrv]

It's already there.

As for SWA's upgrade, stop peddling BS, wave. Prospective SWA pilots have a right to accurate information so that they can make smart decisions, and you telling them that upgrade is 10 years is irresponsible. If SWA were to grow at 3% per year (highly unrealistic), I would upgrade after 19 years. Someone hired today, even with somewhat optimistic growth, is looking at well over 15 years to the left seat, probably closer to 20.

If you want to guzzle the kool aid, then have at it, but don't lie to people who have to make career decisions for themselves and their families.

I thought you were quitting???

 

[PCL_128]

I thought you were quitting???

Hence the use of the word "would" instead of "will."

 

[slaquer5]

Hence the use of the word "would" instead of "will."

Need to take bets

I say you will stay.

 

[PCL_128]

Need to take bets

I say you will stay.

I've tried to get wavey to take me up on it, and he's too scared. I'd love the easy money!

 

[waveflyer]

Last bid the junior Capt bid (NYC MD88) was about 9450 out of 12,000 total. Retirements haven't really even started yet. When they do, and there are 5000+ coming, it will probably go to 5-6 years on property. Kinda like what you USED to do. There are bids every 5-6 weeks, only half of the 717s have shown up, the 757s being parked will be replaced directly by 737-900ERs, and 10 A330s and 45 A321s will also be coming in the next few years. So, huge retirements plus lots of incoming planes.



Bye Bye---General Lee

None of which answered the question

 

[waveflyer]

I've tried to get wavey to take me up on it, and he's too scared. I'd love the easy money!

I actually do not care -
So... I don't look up the post that said you'd be gone by last April- you'll do what's best for you as you should.
I held into my SWA job through a lot of good hard working times- you know what I think from a business stand point- but I bet you have those bases covered in another way when you do quit.

As for your version of GLs public service announcement- I'll now repost my constant thought on this: upgrade thinking is regional thinking.
If I'm struggling on $160k, I'm sure I'll be struggling on $230k-
To me, if upgrade is your #1 priority- then yes, other places will be a better fit. If you aren't into SWA and it's culture, and it's just a job, there is no reason to consider us over the other options.

I would rather be a SWA FO for 20 years and retire with laugh lines than be a capt at delta united American- so I got lucky and it worked out. If you don't feel this way- apply elsewhere and see where you land.
The last decade worth of risk is mostly mitigated now with retirements save united- that place has systemic upper level leadership issues.

All that said, we have 50 new international cities opening up and the culmination of 5 new initiatives where by all accounts we will be growing at a pretty good clip- 3% will be easy
I expect my upgrade will be just over 10 since I got to sit here for the stagnation, but I wouldn't be surprised if those hired in the last few years see 8 year upgrades again IF we don't buy a young carrier that does what we do.
What I absolutely know is that no one has a 10 year crystal ball. And certainly not PCL who really has never been right about career moves.

 

[redflyer65]

My thoughts exactly Wave. This place may not be for everyone, but it allows for financial stability and schedule flexibility that works for me. Both of those things have allowed me to branch out as well and start my own business. So far so good and things are better than I expected. Cheers.

 

[General Lee]

My thoughts exactly Wave. This place may not be for everyone, but it allows for financial stability and schedule flexibility that works for me. Both of those things have allowed me to branch out as well and start my own business. So far so good and things are better than I expected. Cheers.

So, you and Scoot opened a "Chippendale" franchise targeting senior citizens in OAK? I hear your new buddy Scoot asks for Quarter tips, but to be inserted in his "slot." That's Nasty. Good luck to you two fruitcakes.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[redflyer65]

So, you and Scoot opened a "Chippendale" franchise targeting senior citizens in OAK? I hear your new buddy Scoot asks for Quarter tips, but to be inserted in his "slot." That's Nasty. Good luck to you two fruitcakes.


Bye Bye---General Lee

Do you ever wonder why people don't take you seriously anymore?

I give you Exhibit A.

 

[Scoot 11]

Do you ever wonder why people don't take you seriously anymore?

I give you Exhibit A.

If you guys would just stop anthropomorphizing this azzwipe, he might just go away.
He has already posted himself into insignificance with nearly 20,000 posts that offer nothing but high school level debate! And even that's pushing it.
He is not and has never been a pilot for Delta! Maybe his uncle is. He isn't. It's been proven time and time again.

 

[General Lee]

If you guys would just stop anthropomorphizing this azzwipe, he might just go away.
He has already posted himself into insignificance with nearly 20,000 posts that offer nothing but high school level debate! And even that's pushing it.
He is not and has never been a pilot for Delta! Maybe his uncle is. He isn't. It's been proven time and time again.

This from a chubby Chippendale who asks grannies for quarter tips in his rear end! How can anyone believe this skid mark? Nobody can! And Red is his choreographer......they play the song "I'm too sexy" to each other before they ride the pole....(the stripper pole you sickos!)



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Do you ever wonder why people don't take you seriously anymore?

I give you Exhibit A.

Let me guess, you commute home on an allnighter from BWI Westbound to your home in El Paso on a medical Learjet that sometimes pushes back at 0310am on every other Thursday night? Yeah, and you're a loser.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[On Belay]

Well i've been at SWA 6 years and I think Wave and Red are smoking crack. It's still a good company and a good job... but it ain't what it used to be. It will take a miracle for a NH to upgrade in under 20 years now. Delta, United, American are all better options if the left seat is the goal. I can say that the right seat at SWA is still better than the left seat at many other places. Time will tell, but the Koolaid at SWA is starting to taste a little sour.