New SWA record at 380+ trips a month?

[JT12345]

New SWA record at 380+ trips in one month?

Seems the average is about 120-130 trips per month here at SWA without even trying with less seniority and commuting for me at around 16 days off over the summer. With the guys working it averaging about 190 trips a month living in base over the summer that seem senior.

What are the averages throughout the year, living in base, or commuting, schedule with weekends off and a schedule having to work weekends? Seniority percentage from the top?


P.S. This thread might shut the General up, lol, but I doubt it. Maybe PCL128 too!

 

[General Lee]

Seems the average is about 120-130 trips per month here at SWA without even trying with less seniority and commuting for me at around 16 days off over the summer. With the guys working it averaging about 190 trips a month living in base over the summer that seem senior.

What are the averages throughout the year, living in base, or commuting, schedule with weekends off and a schedule having to work weekends? Seniority percentage from the top?


P.S. This thread might shut the General up, lol, but I doubt it. Maybe PCL128 too!

Funny stuff! Supposedly an ATL ER FO made 290 hours last month bidding with line check guys and then getting those trips dropped and picking up Greenslips. Your 360 trips sound great, but if there is one leg to Midland in there, it's not worth it.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Flopgut]

UAL has a lot of problems, but $ isn't really one of them. And we don't have to beat the sh!t out of New Mexico all month to get it.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

I guess SWA must be short staffed on the 737.

 

[redflyer65]

PHX CA got 367 last month. Nothing like a 69k month.

I'm looking at 210+ for this month. It's really not that hard if you don't mind working a little more during the summer months. It's a nice bonus.

 

[wood pecker]

If you are junior and commute, premium is hard to get unless you can clear your board so I wouldn't plan on 200 hour months. Doesn't mean they can't happen due to re-routes and JA's just don't count on them if you are junior.

My buddies that make the 220+ trips monthly are able to clear their boards then pick up premium wherever they can get even if it means sitting in a crew lounge on a day off waiting and hoping. The myth that guys don't put money on trips means it isn't public among us mortals and is publicly discouraged. To them it's similar to day trading. It's f the family got to top each other for TFP count.

 

[JT12345]

Well i did 160 without even trying one month and I am not that senior. Did not pick up anything. Most the guys say I should average 150 even commuting while living in base average 200 over the summer picking up. Still learning the system. At 70% in base and commute one leg.

Any good numbers out there based on seniority and commuting or living in base?

 

[outerlimits]

Funny stuff! Supposedly an ATL ER FO made 290 hours last month bidding with line check guys and then getting those trips dropped and picking up Greenslips. Your 360 trips sound great, but if there is one leg to Midland in there, it's not worth it.


Bye Bye---General Lee

My public math must be off.

Is 290 close to 360 when your talking of over 200 dollars an hour ?

 

[JT12345]

Funny stuff! Supposedly an ATL ER FO made 290 hours last month bidding with line check guys and then getting those trips dropped and picking up Greenslips. Your 360 trips sound great, but if there is one leg to Midland in there, it's not worth it.


Bye Bye---General Lee

I remember when the RJs were taking 'your flying' of leg lengths like Dallas to Midland. When ALPA was fighting over scope at Delta and NWA for them while 1000s were being furloughed. I have a hunch that anyone getting furloughed during that time would rather do that kind of flying than not have a job.

It is amazing how in one breath scope can be a huge issue in a contract and then when an airline has their mainline pilots do short haul all of a sudden it is somehow beneath their piers when times are good. Then when times are bad pilots make short haul and scope an issue again. How quickly they forget how this industry can turn on a dime and all of a sudden that flying looks a lot better than no paycheck. LMAO General.

How often does someone get all their check airmen trips dropped for the whole month? Not a bad deal if it happens year around. Sounds like a very low percentage of the FO group can do that, and what about the poor Captains over there?

BTW we are one of the most productive pilots groups in the industry.
I will take an easy to get 150 a month and Dallas to Midland too beoitch.

Due to low oil prices I heard the 50 seat RJs are coming back from the desert. And with the UAE Qatar issues sounds like a perfect storm.

Any way to block General cause I don't want him to hijack my thread?

 

[General Lee]

I remember when the RJs were taking 'your flying' of leg lengths like Dallas to Midland. When ALPA was fighting over scope at Delta and NWA for them while 1000s were being furloughed. I have a hunch that anyone getting furloughed during that time would rather do that kind of flying than not have a job.

It is amazing how in one breath scope can be a huge issue in a contract and then when an airline has their mainline pilots do short haul all of a sudden it is somehow beneath their piers when times are good. Then when times are bad pilots make short haul and scope an issue again. How quickly they forget how this industry can turn on a dime and all of a sudden that flying looks a lot better than no paycheck. LMAO General.

How often does someone get all their check airmen trips dropped for the whole month? Not a bad deal if it happens year around. Sounds like a very low percentage of the FO group can do that, and what about the poor Captains over there?

BTW we are one of the most productive pilots groups in the industry.
I will take an easy to get 150 a month and Dallas to Midland too beoitch.

Due to low oil prices I heard the 50 seat RJs are coming back from the desert. And with the UAE Qatar issues sounds like a perfect storm.

Any way to block General cause I don't want him to hijack my thread?

50 seaters coming back from the desert? Who will fly them genius? And maybe you didn't hear, but the big 3 are losing 5000 pilots each over the next 6-10 years. What happens when 500 senior guys leave in one year with multiple fleet types? Do you think there would be thousands of training events? Yes, yes there will be. Btw, the ME carriers are losing a lot of their expat pilots back to the States or back to Europe, where things are better due to lower gas prices. Take a look at PPRUNE and the ME section for a taste of their pain in the Sandpit. Not as great as it was a few years ago.

And you mentioned me, so I responded. You're welcome, and you're wrong, again.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Lost]

I was 115 last month courtesy of re routes and a ja, which is on my upper end, 95 next month. Usually sit in mid to upper 90s bidding about 50%. I commute and don't pick up. I don't like to think about work on my days off. I've seen the boards of 150+ guys and it wouldn't be my cup of tea, but if it keeps me from getting ja'd, go nuts.

 

[JT12345]

50 seaters coming back from the desert? Who will fly them genius? And maybe you didn't hear, but the big 3 are losing 5000 pilots each over the next 6-10 years. What happens when 500 senior guys leave in one year with multiple fleet types? Do you think there would be thousands of training events? Yes, yes there will be. Btw, the ME carriers are losing a lot of their expat pilots back to the States or back to Europe, where things are better due to lower gas prices. Take a look at PPRUNE and the ME section for a taste of their pain in the Sandpit. Not as great as it was a few years ago.

And you mentioned me, so I responded. You're welcome, and you're wrong, again.


Bye Bye---General Lee

LOL

He thinks the 1500 hour rules are gonna stick! So niave.
hahahaha
200 hour pilots will be back at the regional airlines soon my friends. Problem solved. Been a long time without any major accidents. Knock on wood.

_____________________


BTW Gen,

We are hiring 350 this year. That is more than you guys. Heard a rumor thanks to your TA vote things are delayed till March minimum and we got some of your orders... thanks! I also hear we got tons of other 73s lined up as international growth has slowed.

There is talk of age 67 too. Just in time for competition from the Arab states to slow things down for you guys internationally during that perfect storm.

As for all that training and fleet types. Sounds expensive and a disadvantage that might affect that profit sharing and your ability to grow.

Good luck. One day and I have had my fill of FI for another 6 months. I will just monitor the responses on those trip credit questions.




20,000 posts dude. Everything in moderation.

All kidding aside man. Are you seeing anyone for this FI problem?

General, most everyone loves flying. Why we do it.
Why is it your goal to ruin it with superficial non sense about the industry?

 

[BeachBummer]

Any way to block General cause I don't want him to hijack my thread?

YA! Ignore list and stop quoting it! ....don't quote the ignored it defeats the purpose. LoL

 

[General Lee]

Great response JT12345. You still haven't learned how to debate. You try character assassination instead of debating those issues. Will the 1500 hour rule stand you ask? Has it changed yet? Until it has, those mysterious 50 seaters coming from the desert will still be hard to crew. To say otherwise is exactly what you continue to do, which is just "guesswork."

Keep trying. And, enjoy Amarillo.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Kharma Police]

PHX CA got 367 last month. Nothing like a 69k month.

I'm looking at 210+ for this month. It's really not that hard if you don't mind working a little more during the summer months. It's a nice bonus.

Wow, with people like you and the PHX Kernal each doing the work of 3 pilots, I'm shocked we don't have a contract yet. When you work your 28 days a month are you rocking the "rebelious" black tie and SWAPA pin?

 

[JT12345]

Face it Gen. Most of your problem is with who's airline is better. When really how many pilots have a choice of who hires them and is really just lucky to get hired by one.

The debate essentially is like a highschool debate. I will say that your Amarillo and Midland agruments are a joke. Swa pilots have a better life style, make more money, and our company has the only recommended buy financials on Wall Street cause we own everything. We dont rent many airplanes so job security is a lot better here and more important than where we fly. Our productivity is so good that we can probably absorb 10% furloughs and keep everyone working. Our managment does not pit Major pilots vs. Regional pilots. Our main goal is to compete with others and not amoungst ourselves, so the work environment is better. But ya some pilots want to fly international and check the box in their life. And some want to be the King fast risking bad financials and initial low pay for it.

So getting back to your high school debate. My airline is better than yours for so many reasons. Upgrade is not everything especially when you get senior as an FO at SWA and make what a Captain makes at a Legacy.

I will just say that we both are lucky we got on with Major Airlines and things are going well. Stop being so negative and blameful especially towards SWA. This is the USA and a capitalist economy. Get over your past and getting feked by RJs and LCCs. Life is too short and you waste too much time on here.

Have more productive fun than FI fun man.

 

[OState597]

If everyone would put him on the ignore list and stop quoting GeneralLee, this site has potential to get back to decent.

I have a personal friend who knows who the General is at Delta. He's legendary for the fact that everything you read on here, is true. He's arrogant and a pr!ck. Every airline has cocky, bad apples and he's stamped his name on it at Delta. He's mad e legacy of himself at Delta for being unliked by everything there.

No matter what he decides to write back, it's bullish!t. Sucks to be "that" guy when you walk into the crew lounge, as my friend put it.

 

[-9Capt]

Wow, with people like you and the PHX Kernal each doing the work of 3 pilots, I'm shocked we don't have a contract yet. When you work your 28 days a month are you rocking the "rebelious" black tie and SWAPA pin?

So true.

 

[-9Capt]

I was 115 last month courtesy of re routes and a ja, which is on my upper end, 95 next month. Usually sit in mid to upper 90s bidding about 50%. I commute and don't pick up. I don't like to think about work on my days off. I've seen the boards of 150+ guys and it wouldn't be my cup of tea, but if it keeps me from getting ja'd, go nuts.

That's me too...almost identical.

 

[Flopgut]

I think the SWA homers have been a lot more detrimental to this site than GL

 

[SWA Bubba]

I think the SWA homers have been a lot more detrimental to this site than GL

You only think that because you're one of the Southwest haters. I mean, how many times have you and I been round and round on your anti-SWA ideals and rhetoric? You hate what happened in HOU, even to the point of misrepresenting facts. You rail against SWA in DAL, even though it doesn't concern you. You even keep offering "thousands" of your own money to "fight" Southwest.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Bubba

 

[wood pecker]

For non-Swa guys, currently at Swa we are suppose to be wearing a dark tie with our union pin on to show unity. Count how many flag ties you still see every day in the terminal.

It's all because of ego, ask them why no dark and the answer is, "I just love getting compliments on my flag tie from pax".

Then ask why no union pin on the tie and it's, "oh mine never came in the mail or I gave it to a pax".

Yet these compliment starved guys will only tip $1 to van drivers, brag about how much premium they fly and refuse to let the APU be started outside of 5 minutes from departure.

 

[Flopgut]

You only think that because you're one of the Southwest haters. I mean, how many times have you and I been round and round on your anti-SWA ideals and rhetoric? You hate what happened in HOU, even to the point of misrepresenting facts. You rail against SWA in DAL, even though it doesn't concern you. You even keep offering "thousands" of your own money to "fight" Southwest.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Bubba

And as you often do, you make my point for me

Without being drug into specifics of our debates, consider the big picture. If I juxtapose something that even slightly competes with what is held among SWA people as the "truth", I get a 5,000 word response from you, 10 links from Howie, and about 10 others that shout me down. It's a lot worse than one member with 20,000 posts IMO. Just look at this thread's originator: He's hijacking his own thread to go after GL. This repeats itself over and over on here.

 

[Tripower455]

Well i did 160 without even trying one month and I am not that senior. Did not pick up anything. Most the guys say I should average 150 even commuting while living in base average 200 over the summer picking up. Still learning the system. At 70% in base and commute one leg.

Any good numbers out there based on seniority and commuting or living in base?

I've been here 20 years, and my all time best month was 137, and it was a miserable month. I'm doing 130 this month, only because I got a 54 tfp (POT) 4 day, out of domicile (which was a first for me). The trip was a ball buster, and honestly, I would probably not do that again. It simply wasn't worth it.

I actually wanted to hit 150 this month, but between not being able to move stuff around due to all of the ELITT "gains" in this contract, coupled with the SWApA SL 17 "gains" that synthetically restrict almost everything trade I try to make, I wasn't able to do it.

If you're averaging 150 while commuting, you're definitely working a lot, either actually flying, or while being tied to the smart phone or CWA when you're not. 150, in domicile, isn't too difficult if you can clear your board, don't mind risking a small check if you can't score the POT and keep your block low. It's also very seasonal. 150+ is much easier in the summer months than in Jan or February, unless you can capitalize on a MDW Meltdown, caused by a Polar Vortex or the like.

The lack of flexibility when commuting is what kills your chances at POT. I live 3 hours drive from domicile, and I figure that my lack of flexibility has cost me $30-$50k per year by not being able to take advantage of the POT game.


If you're junior, you're not likely to regularly score any good premium on DOT (Heck, I'm not that junior and I rarely get anything in DOT).

The most common way for a junior guy to get good premium trips is via the HOT or SNOT system, both of which are of limited use to a commuter unless there is a DH and you can get to the trip from your commuter city.

As a commuter, you will be busting your butt for 150+ tfp IMHO.

 

[JT12345]

Thx for the OP info Tri. That helps. I am just thinking even if I move to a base I will not have the seniority to do much at around 70% from the top?

 

[Tripower455]

Thx for the OP info Tri. That helps. I am just thinking even if I move to a base I will not have the seniority to do much at around 70% from the top?

Aside from making this job much easier, the biggest difference between living in base vs. commuting is that you are already in place for the short notice stuff. Commuting is a major PITA. It's like working an extra few days per month for free. I did the airplane commute for 10 years, and have been doing a long (3-4 hours of real life Pole Position) drive commute for 14. Both suck, but the long drive is 1000 times better than the airplane commute, and still 1000 times worse than living a reasonable distance (+- an hour) from base.

Talking to some of the high tfp players that I fly with (many of whom make as much or more than I do), most of which are not that senior, the short notice stuff is the most likely way for a junior guy to get POT. But it's like being on reserve and you have to be available to do it.

The other side of the coin is getting rid of your trips. Very few people will pick up a weekend reserve block or weekend 4 day trip.

You need some bidding horsepower to get lines including turns and 2 days that don't start on Fri, Sat or a holiday that you can give away and or ELITT to whittle down the number of trips on your board. This process starts when your line is posted on your board on the 11th, and continues all month, every month. It is a lot of work IME.

 

[redflyer65]

That's me too...almost identical.

KP and -9,

You need to re-read the post you quoted from Lost (Post number 11). Not picking up POT will just lead to more JA. You think the company cares what they need to do to keep the schedule they published? Please.

 

[$$$4nothin]

If general Lee was a real pilot he would know that Nrita, London, Midland, Odeasa. All the same 5-10k foot piece of concrete. Who gives a damn. You can get the same beer anywhere you go. The only thing that matters is how much $$$ you make, and how much time off you get while making that $$$. Anything in country is preferable to me anyway. Customs, class 2, an ocean between me and home sucks anyway. Enjoy your ice cream cones and customs. I'll take my 'Merican speaking controllers any day.

 

[intooclose]

This month I'm at 165 trips with 13 days off.....and its a ball buster. And I commute which has made it worse. Its nice to be able to ramp it up if you want. But, I'm looking forward to a slower September....105 trips with 18 days off. I like long overnights where I can relax, eat while not rushing, coffee, crap, and exercise.

 

[Flycatcher99]

Thx for the OP info Tri. That helps. I am just thinking even if I move to a base I will not have the seniority to do much at around 70% from the top?

You will in the summer months. I'm close to the bottom in my base and got a premium 4-day that overlapped vacation in July. This summer in particular was unique in how junior the gravy went. But even when I was in the 50-70% range as an FO, you can still do well from March thru August.

The door on open time will slam shut in September and won't reopen until the holidays and/or a big weather event. Living in base definitely helps, as you can get the stuff that's close in, whereas commuters are relegated to DOT and some HOT the night before, for the most part.