Airtan Pilots

[forumjunkie]

I have a question for the SWA pilots, how common is it to drop all your trips and pick up trips in a senior base if you are junior? If so, how common is it to do that during certain times of the year? Also do you guys have long call reserve or do you guys have Pre-assigned Reserve long call as well? Plus do your reserves get used often, if so how much? Do certain bases get used more then others?

It really depends on the base. Some bases are pretty easy to get rid of things, some are harder. I have always been able to give away, trade or elitt when i needed to move things around. I don't try and give my line away, but I have friends from my new hire class that do with great success. As for reserve, we don't have ready reserve or long call. Each reserve pilot has a 2 hour call out. I have only been called out 2 or 3 times. Most days the trip is assigned the night before. During the spring and summer months, and during the holiday season you will probably be used for every block. You also can trade with a line pilot for his trip and it increases your pay. Hope this answers your questions.

FJ

 

[Old Crow]

I live in Atlanta, have a wife and a gaggle of kids... My life has always and will always be centered around them. Though I appreciate the swapa contract and benefits, the staple job really makes this a bad deal.
Already,,, SWA announced the purchase of Airtran, stopped hiring at AT, and took the deliveries. All are good company decisions, but the fallout is that I was pushed from a 90 credit average to a hard 75 hour credit on reserve. I have taken quite a pay cut and quality of life hit already. Now with this isl I cannot hold Atlanta and will be pushed into a stapled environment, junior in all bases and probably on reserve for a long time. Oh yea, commuting, crash pad, and all that that I have always avoided. I built my house and will never move, probably couldn't sell it anyway. My kids are deeply involved in their schools and church. Therefore, moving is simply out of the question.

Is this worth the raise? To me, no. Seniority is just too important in this career because it gives you choices and opportunities.

Thanks CRJ for the informative post. I think we would all be better off in the long run with a fair integration that doesn't protect every single Airtran Capt and and every SW pilot above the 1600 something guy and throw 650 fo's under the bus, buy hey... That's just me.

Regardless... I will buy the first round. Look forward to flying with you guys.

 

[Ty Webb]

Great post, Old Crow.

I, too, think there are ways this agreement could be improved for BOTH groups.

 

[sf34dvr]

Have been at SW 31/2 years, currently on reserve in the base where I live. Could be line holder in most other bases. Driving to work makes it seem like a part time job. Came from regional- reserve QOL here is better than line holder at regional no question. Almost always assigned a trip the night before reserve block begins. Blocks are 3 or 4 days. 14 or 15 days off.

One thing to keep in mind- we have a.m. trips or p.m. trips. Very few (if any) are commutable both ends. If you commute as a line holder or on reserve you will need a hotel or crash pad at the beginning (a.m.) or end of trip (p.m.) Line holders and reserves all buy hotels.

When I commuted to PHX I held a hard line or blank line (think relief line). I put them up for giveaway asap. When open time was scarce, I was successful in giving away 2-3 trips a month, then picked up trips where I live. The flexibility here is one of our biggest QOL benefits. You will like it! When there is an abundance of open time guys are reluctant to pick up your trips (holding out for premium pay 1.5x's)

BTW, not trying to sell the deal- not sure it is all that good for us..... but, we will all be on the same team ...... eventually.

 

[redflyer65]

Old Crow,

I can appreciate your pain with this. I wouldn't mind there being rights for all you guys to keep your ATL base for an extended time. I just recently flew with a very senior guy who was kinda pissed he wouldn't be able to bid right into ATL immediately and reap the reward of were he lives...he's been commuting to a SW base for years.

It's a painful reality for all of us that Gary pulled the trigger on this deal and Bob pulled the big golden parachute. There is angst and heartburn on both sides, believe me.

RF

 

[Lear70]

If you can find me anywhere in SL9 that even GUARANTEES there will BE an ATL SWA pilot base anytime prior to the completion of Operational Integration, I'll buy you a case of Scotch.

The whole ATL base protection thing may not materialize for a year or two or longer. Re-read SL9. It only says that the NUMBER of overnighting aircraft, BY THE COMPLETION OF OPERATIONAL INTEGRATION, will be a certain number of AIRCRAFT. Not people. And Complete Operational Integration doesn't have to be just 30 months, it can be extended by mutual agreement between SWAPA and SWA.

So they have until the END of the operational integration to open the SWA ATL base. For any equipment type. And the only guarantee is the number of planes. Not the number of crews.

Lots of gotchas in SL9, folks... read the whole document. Hoping there's more specific protection language in the 4-party agreement on this and other issues.

 

[doer42]

I just want to ask one question. If you were stapled to the bottom of the list but got a 35% pay raise, would you be happy? If seniority is not that important at SW, then why do you all want such a big bump at the expense of them. I can see if they only brought pilots and not airplanes it would matter. Take AT out of the equation and your boss said "If I give you a small bump of 5% in seniority, a new domicile, and no reduction in pay, with nothing in return, do you wan't it?" What would you say?

 

[redflyer65]

There's a whole lot of Southwest pilots at the bottom of the list that did that very thing!

Leaving corporate, regional, and other jobs with great seniority to start over at the bottom of Southwest....and THOUSAND of others that are ready to do the same thing tomorrow if the window were to open.

All of these thousands of people answer your question easily. What's it like to work for one of the top, most admired companies in the world? Alot of people would like to know.

 

[FlyinGuy]

Great post, Old Crow.

I, too, think there are ways this agreement could be improved for BOTH groups.

The problem is that there will be no improving for anyone. At least that is the way I understand it. Looks like it is this deal or going through the drive thru at Arbys!!! Hopefully it all works out and we can keep this place from going all us air and stuff....

 

[wood pecker]

It can be improved only if it is not sent out for a vote. They will have time for more negotiations. If it is sent out for a vote then by the time all road shows etc.. are complete then there will be no time and off it goes to the arbitrator.

That is the understanding that I have gathered and has changed my and a few others to wanting the MEC to say no vs letting us vote.