CAL or SWA

[RDG]

I had that exact decision to make and chose SWA. I would have been perfectly happy at CAL, but for me SWA was the better choice when factoring in pay, schedules, bases, benefits, work rules, co-workers and corporate culture. Get back to me in a couple of decades and I will let you know if I did the right thing.

 

[wings421]

To get back on topic, I think both companies look pretty good. I would look closely at culture, and domicile locations.

Now to get back off topic..............How about those #20 Salukis!!!!!

Go Dawgs!

 

[Benhuntn]

I'll take my 8 hr block 6 day over your supposed 14hr block 13 easy day. I would rather be 15 hrs in the hotel so I can get back to work making MORE money than be in a hotel for 24. (see other thread...) Pilots are only making money when not at the gate. I would rather work for a company that pays handsome bonuses and shows signs of really blowing the top of its profits for 07. I would rather fly 757's but that is the only downside to this job.

 

[Victor120]

Oh, PropJob

GoodTimes says: "Flying for an airline does not qualify as "hard work". Even if it did, I wouldn't be afraid of working hard for a living."

Wow. You must be management.

(...And learn to "quote" correctly. I think the community college is offering free HTML classes...)

Geez, you didn't even get the quote function quite right there on the first one... You, my friend, seem to be 0 for 2 on the Spelling/HTML police squad. What are your thoughts on the topic again? Your symantics are a little distracting. AND YOU CAN EVEN TRY TO QUOTE ME ON THAT!!

I keed. I make a little joke.


In the spirit of maintaining the thread: Pick the company you don't need to commute to. You will live many longer, happier years.

-Vic

 

[SWA/FO]

Pilots are only making money when not at the gate

....hotel, home, resturant, best buy, costco and hockey game.

 

[Charlie Brown]

FWIW I know a 3rd year CAL guy trying to get on at SWA. He will commute either way. It is a pay and lifestyle choice for him. Lousy schedules and low pay at CAL compared to his potential at SWA. Dont flame me, I am just relaying what he told me his reasons were.

For me personally, I would go with SWA as well. Unless you really wanted to live in CLE or EWR and fly a heavy, I think SWA is the better choice. I think they are both excellent places though and this "friend" is in a great position.

 

[puddlejumper101]

recently there were 3 CAL guys in new hire SWA class. Hmm...one more thing. 16 days off and I have been in SWA a whopping 3 months...hmmm. changing 6 time zones in one flight or doing 5 legs is a wash...either way your body is tired. Tough choice but SWA is one of a kind.

 

[CAL EWR B737]

My two cents. SWA is a great company and right now pays better in every aspect vs CAL.

In the future who knows but it is quite possible CAL will along with the rest of the upper level legacy's start paying like the pre consessionary contracts at DAL and UAL.

FYI I have been a 737 CA for eight years have 5000 in the left seat. I usually fly one leg a day and mostly in the 800/900. I can't stand the airplane anymore and I'm going to the B756 in May and that day can't come quick enough. I would be miserable flying the 737 for another 19 years or maybe 24 years flying two, three, four or more legs a day in and out domestically.

Flame away, SWA is a great company but it's not for everyone.

 

[Quimby]

I'll help bring it back on track too. I'll list some +

CAL:

+Big airplanes. (a 757, 767 or 777 is a lot more comfy to stare out the window and/or the cockpit floor in. Left over 1st class meals too)
+One leg days (he l l, one leg 3 day trips)
+Not running from gate to gate or any of that crap. You go to work, you get on one airplane, fly one flight, and then go to the hotel/bar/etc for 24 hours. <widebody fleet only, a 73 is a 73>
+International destinations (and I'm not talking about Canada or Mexico) from day one if you want it.
+Year 3-4 777 F/O pay: $95 an hour, and you definitely aren't working that hard for it.
+When your neighbor sees you throwing your suitcase in your car, and asks "Where ya going on this trip buddy?", you're saying "Rome." or "Paris", not "Omaha."

SWA:

+Better money upfront. (first year pay is 'economically viable')
+Better money down the road (Captain Pay)
+Year 3-4 FO pay: $108 an hour (but you are working for it)
+Better job "stability"
+Young and/or fun FAs that put out (I have the child support payment to prove it)
+Mr. C's. (Careful, see above +)
+When your neighbor sees you throwing your suitcase in your car, and asks "Where ya going on this trip buddy?", you're saying "Omaha", but your car is nicer than the CAL guy's.



Make a decision and live with it.

do you really care about what your neighbor thinks about where you're flying to?

"big" airplanes = aren't they all big at this level?

pay, QOL, stability, not commuting = important

 

[Whataburger]

If you care what your neighbor thinks about your job, I bet you have a corvette in your garage. My neighbor sells treadmills for a living. I am happier than puppy with two peckers to say that I had a overnight in ELP.

 

[Quimby]

If you care what your neighbor thinks about your job, I bet you have a corvette in your garage. My neighbor sells treadmills for a living. I am happier than puppy with two peckers to say that I had a overnight in ELP.

wassup, Robbie?

my 'vette is in the shop.............



........getting a foot print gas pedal!

86 che-vette............yeah!

it'll buff out.:laugh:

 

[propjob27]

Absolutely, I care what my neighbors think. Which is why my garage is full of Filipino prostitutes.

 

[Wowjack]

It's nice to come back to flightinfo every once in a while and just laugh my a$$ off!!!

 

[CF34-3B1]

Absolutely, I care what my neighbors think. Which is why my garage is full of Filipino prostitutes.

Damn,

I've been wondering where they all went!

 

[twad]

Have your cake and eat it too.

Go to Cal. Work smarter, not harder. Make the wife work and have a nicer car than the SWA guy.

 

[ACWild]

The 777 went to some new hires on the bid because people don't want to do long haul. Most of the arguments lean on not wanting to be on a plane for those long hours. To each his own. For me, I'm generally doing long duty days interrupted by several take offs and landings, long sit times, and lots of delays in between. I'm lucky to get a coach meal too.
I bid the 777 because I'm expected to sleep in a bunk during my long day, get fed good food, have good pay efficiency (paid by the flight hour, so long sits are a huge waste to me), generally good layovers, and I'll be timed out for the week when I get back. Also, on short call reserve, I can expect to fly about once a month. That's very appealing to me since I've been doing 90 hours a month for the last year.
The decision between CAL and SWA is very subjective since we all look for different things. Either choice, you'll win.

 

[SWA/FO]

Go to Cal. Work smarter, not harder.

Some guys here work smarter then others. Don't kid yourself. Recently met a 5 year FO that made 230,000. He gives away all his trips then picks up only 2X trips. Anything with deadhead... we get 1 for 1 on the deadheads. Plus, there is no cap here, like some airlines. You can get whatever you want here.

 

[mdf]

If you care what your neighbor thinks about your job, I bet you have a corvette in your garage. My neighbor sells treadmills for a living. I am happier than puppy with two peckers to say that I had a overnight in ELP.

Back off the vette comments man. I'm getting a complex:laugh:

 

[Whataburger]

Go to Cal. Work smarter, not harder. Make the wife work and have a nicer car than the SWA guy.

Wouldn't be hard to do better than my '93 Wrangler with 150,000 statute mile on it.

 

[Deacon]

Some guys here work smarter then others. Don't kid yourself. Recently met a 5 year FO that made 230,000. He gives away all his trips then picks up only 2X trips. Anything with deadhead... we get 1 for 1 on the deadheads. Plus, there is no cap here, like some airlines. You can get whatever you want here.

Have a good friend at SWA he claims his w2 cleared 185,000 on FO pay (good for him) He does that pickup trips at 2X thing,he is big into the company Kool Aid.

Another buddy pulled up his "board" and found he had at the most 9 days off in any month. No wonder his idea of vacation is a 3 day weekend in Galveston.

I prefer to work to live not live to work.

 

[race#53]

I have a retired EAL friend who is happier than a male FA in the crash position
and a SW FO who would be happy with the rest of his life as is and a UAL
777FO who is scared to return from Mil. leave...point is, it is what you make of it.

 

[puddlejumper101]

Have a good friend at SWA he claims his w2 cleared 185,000 on FO pay (good for him) He does that pickup trips at 2X thing,he is big into the company Kool Aid.

Another buddy pulled up his "board" and found he had at the most 9 days off in any month. No wonder his idea of vacation is a 3 day weekend in Galveston.

I prefer to work to live not live to work.

this guy you mention had 9 days off at SWA?? How that is true is beyond me since the bottom reserve line has 15 to 16 days off in it.

 

[SWA/FO]

Have a good friend at SWA he claims his w2 cleared 185,000 on FO pay (good for him) He does that pickup trips at 2X thing,he is big into the company Kool Aid.

Another buddy pulled up his "board" and found he had at the most 9 days off in any month. No wonder his idea of vacation is a 3 day weekend in Galveston.

I prefer to work to live not live to work.

Yeah and I have 19 days off this month. Da point was, whatever you are after you can find it at SWA. My buddy at NWA can only make so much....anything over max pay hours gets put into an account, to be used up later.

 

[HHH]

I know that SWA has mostly 3 days, but what is the availablity of 1 and 2 day trips. Having to do 3-4 days for the rest of my career would be the only downside to SWA for me. Thanks.

 

[GuppyWN]

Not to dump on my buds but SWA does have a "cap" of sorts. When you reach the monthly cap, roughly 115% of line average, then you become junior to everyone else who makes themselves available for 2x pay.

Secondly the bottom feeders have 15 days off ON THEIR LINE. Problem is we are all whores who pick up on our days off thus reducing to whatever your personal limit of time off is.

Thirdly, If you don't like 3 or 4 days go somewher else. We have more turns and 2 days LATELY in my base but you've got to be pretty senior to get them. I'd guess that you'd be a captain for 8-10 years before you could hold them. As an FO you'll get them the last year before you upgrade.

Gup

 

[CAL EWR B737]

Many on here think the rates at CAL will always be lower than SWA. Look anything is possible but I believe more than likely on CAL's next contract 737's rates will be as good or better than SWA's and the larger airplanes considerably higher than SWA.

Nothing in this business lasts forever good or bad.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

...then you become junior to everyone else who makes themselves available for 2x pay.

its 1.5x pay

 

[GuppyWN]

Many on here think the rates at CAL will always be lower than SWA. Look anything is possible but I believe more than likely on CAL's next contract 737's rates will be as good or better than SWA's and the larger airplanes considerably higher than SWA.

Nothing in this business lasts forever good or bad.

Man I hope so. It's getting heavy holding the bar. Seriously, It's high time for you guys. Congrats on the profit sharing.

Gup

 

[Captain X]

Look anything is possible but I believe more than likely on CAL's next contract 737's rates will be as good or better than SWA's and the larger airplanes considerably higher than SWA.

Only if the bottom half of the seniority list stands up and says so.

 

[CAL EWR B737]

Only if the bottom half of the seniority list stands up and says so.

Not true. It will take everyone. Its time to for all of us to act like Continental pilots not old Cal, Ti, PEX, NYA, Frontier, Scab, New hire after strike, CALEXP, Really new hires (since 98).

If you want a good or great contract instead of the pos we have all of us need to together unify and earn it.

The type of attitude you endorse is just going to get us another pos contract. Think about it.

Frats,

CAL SPC Strike Coordinator