Aloha or Southwest?

[confused]

What are the pros and cons of working at these carriers?

If you were to choose, which one would you choose?



It looks like Aloha has a really good retirement plan, but Southwest has a higher earnings potential. Does Southwest have a retirement plan or just a 401k?

 

[mach zero]

Southwest. They look like the best bet in the airline business to provide a long term paycheck to you. Plus every pilot I have talked to loves working there.

 

[Bill Nelson]

confused,

you got one thing right, you are "confused" if you had to ask that question.

 

[English]

Aloha has a good retirement plan. A fund, B fund and 401k. Supposedly, our plan is one of only three ALPA carriers whose plans are fully funded. I think Alaska was one, don't know about the third.


Looking at www.airlinepilotpay.com, it looks like you'd be paid more at Southwest. But, I also heard that Southwest only has a 401k plan and no retirement. I don't know that for sure - someone here that works for Southwest could answer that one better than I could.


Aloha has 10 leg days so there is some similarity in the flying. Lots of 20-40 minutes flights with 20 minute turns (interisland, 737-200). But, a 10 leg day ends up being something like a 9.5 hour duty day at Aloha. Minimum rest is 12 hours. The -700 fleet does the transpacific flights, usually two or three day trips.


I think you'd have much more variety flying for Southwest - larger company, more crewmembers, more destinations. But, if you live in Hawaii and wanted to be home every night, then Aloha might be the ticket. Aloha has some really nice crews, as I'm sure Southwest does as well.

Aloha seems to be very conservative in it's growth. SWA does as well, but SWA seems to know when to take the chances.

 

[SWA/FO]

SWA baby!!

 

[Nalo Boy]

Depends on where you want to live... how much money do you really need. An extra thousand or two a month wouldnt make me move.

 

[capt. megadeth]

I definitely wouldn't pick an airline based on retirement. What you have today, may be gone by the time you retire. The way I look at airline retirement....it's a "bonus" that comes as a surprise. I have my own retirement plans. Good Luck!

 

[Polaris]

Please!!! Hawaii or Texas, come on now, that makes it simple!!!

 

[TexaSWA]

Please!!! Hawaii or Texas, come on now, that makes it simple!!!

TEXAS...

you're right, that was simple.

 

[miles otoole]

I definitely wouldn't pick an airline based on retirement. What you have today, may be gone by the time you retire. The way I look at airline retirement....it's a "bonus" that comes as a surprise. I have my own retirement plans. Good Luck!

No kidding-neighbor just retired at SWA and I mentioned to him that I heard they tell everyone in new hire training "Welcome to the last job you'll ever have." Thought that was cool until he told me- "Yeah, I was told that same thing at Eastern new hire training in '73."

 

[HelloNewman]

NEITHER!!!!! way too many legs at either airline

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

NEITHER!!!!! way too many legs at either airline

Got a response for you over on the SWA/PHL thread jackbone.

 

[GEO]

though I know this doesn't count as a "real" retirement...SWA has a 401k with a dollar for dollar match on 7.3% of salary and stock option proceeds, the max limited only by the government ($13,000 this year), profit sharing with a precent match depending on the profitability (no-kidding) of the company... range has been 2-20% over the years, 6% in 2002, 8.03% in 2003 two of the best years in airline history for sure. No furloughs (yet.. I know), and a projected doubling (almost) in size over the next few years assuring those hired now will probably make captain around 6 years or so. As a 7th year guy I'll be making $99/trip as a f/o or $149/trip as captain ( "trips" are a unit of pay like hours are at real airlines) effective 1 sept '04. Average pilot gets 108-110 trips/month (personally I averaged 142 trips/mo. in 2003 and I'm averaging 162 trips/mo so far this year and yes I still have a life...wife, 3 little kids etc). Do the math.

should you "choose" to come here...good luck surviving without a real retirement thats yours to keep should SWA go belly up the day after you turn 60.
luv,

 

[SWAdude]

Geo,

I averaged 140 trips a month over a 18 month span a few years back and one thing you don't have and thats a life. I find that statement a bit misleading. the rest I agree with.

SWAdude

 

[SWAbigdaddy]

There is no way you have a life and work 140 - 160 trips.
You're full of crap. How many days off a month do you get with that many trips? I don't get enough time at home doing my 90 - 110 trips a month!
You need to "do the math"!

 

[Freight Dog]

Before you guys hijack the thread... here's a small comparison to an Aloha interisland pilot.

Your line will be 11-16 days, you'll spend every night in your bed. Your schedule is in shifts - AM, PM or Day Combo which is like an 8-5. No packing for overnights, you'll see your wife and kids every day.

Now.. if you're a commuter - you can fly a night cargo line, and the max days you'll work is 13. Stack your days right, and you could end up with a month off with no vacation time taken. This actually goes fairly junior on the interisland side.

Long haul flying.. you'll work 15 days or so, but you'll actually fly 9 or 10 days. Your other "work days" are on a 30-some hour layover.

Basically, whatever floats your boat...

That being said... we have no overtime like SWA, so you really can't make all that extra cash. Kinda sucks for the senior folks, but it's nice for those that are close to upgrade or junior folks.
Your guarantee as a bid pilot is 80 hours, but you'll only fly around 65-70 hours block and get your 80. You can't go over 80 hours by our contract.

Some of our guys say that SWA pilots work too hard. Well, I think we work hard too especially interisland, especially on day combos which will yield 10 landings and around 6.5 block hours. The good part about that is that lines like that will only make you work 11 days in a month, and they go senior. I guess that's comparable to your Texas two-step.

As far as the Company is concerned, I like SWA culture. I'm a LUV stockholder, and I keep up with what's going on there. Personal opinion.. I think it'd be awesome if we merged and you brought your management to us and we kept and brought our retirement package to your pilot group. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves...

Bottom line... it boils down to what you want to do and where you want to live. Aloha's been around since the 1940's. It's probably gonna be around for years to come... SWA is an awesome airline that's continued to be successful through some of the worst time in the airline industry.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[RogerMOSA]

Freight Dog -

I like what you're selling.... Can you remind all these good folks where Aloha's pilot base is???? I know it's not for everyboby, but are there any benefits there over say...OAK/MDW/BWI?

RM

 

[igneousy2]

Freight Dog -

I like what you're selling.... Can you remind all these good folks where Aloha's pilot base is???? I know it's not for everyboby, but are there any benefits there over say...OAK/MDW/BWI?

RM

www.weather.com

 

[apdsm]

GEO

You are averaging 162 trips per month? Are you a FA or a pilot? How do "average" 162, unless of course you are doing union work or a checkairman!!!! You still have a life? I'm not buying that for second. I guess the definition of a life is subjective.

 

[apdsm]

Confused

Personally, I would not let a retirement fund sway my decison toward an airline. Look what has happened in the industry with retirement funds and it is obvious that you cannot count on it being there when you retire.