Could Southwest's run of profitability be coming to an end?

[Quimby]

Exactly...So why does everyone go around saying they are the lowest paid to make other airlines look bad, when clearly they are the highest paid and deserve it? I don't understand?

Herb basically built the company up from 1971. If you don't think he doesn't deserve what he's reaped from it, well......everyone has an opinion. Name another exec that been with an airline for 37 yrs these days. Let me know when you find one.

I'd say SWA got a bargain out of what HK built the company into.

Bill Gates is worth what, 50 billion? Is he overpaid? HK made peanuts compared to him.

 

[Jim Smyth]

except nobody is retiring...thus SWA/FO is still the SWA/FO

They will still continue to retire but not at the same rate as before. In 5 years (most likely 2-3) it will pick up again and then it will seem like a mute point. When you get to age 60 you can make your own mind up at that point to see if you will stay or go early. Nice choice to have. Until then you have the second best job in the company.

 

[momalley81]

So why does Gary Kelly stay at SW when he can come over to any other airline and make ten times as much and not even have to work for it??? Is he stupid??

See how east it is to look up information on the internet? Plus, it is so much more accurate than the people you obviously listen to.

I don't know what Gary Kelly's motivations are. I haven't asked him.

However, I do know that he has worked for SWA since the 80's and LUV's the airline. He makes a VERY comfortable living and actually cares about it and the people who work for it.

You asked me to prove my statement which I did.
Like 328dude said "Nice back pedaling."

 

[YourPilotFriend]

See how east it is to look up information on the internet? Plus, it is so much more accurate than the people you obviously listen to.

I don't know what Gary Kelly's motivations are. I haven't asked him.

However, I do know that he has worked for SWA since the 80's and LUV's the airline. He makes a VERY comfortable living and actually cares about it and the people who work for it.

You asked me to prove my statement which I did.
Like 328dude said "Nice back pedaling."

The CEO of AMR made $10 million + off AMR. Herb has made $200 million +. You didn't prove anything, you just picked a year where someone received stock options to add to their yearly salary. Warren Buffet only makes $100K a year from his salary at Berkshire. I guess you're worth more than him since you make more per year at SW.

 

[Whataburger]

Arpey could not run a local Starbucks in the Black. Herb created the most profitable airline in history. Herb should have made $400,000,000. He definetly got the short end of the stick. 35 years of continued profitability deserves more compensation that most white collar jokers.

 

[momalley81]

The CEO of AMR made $10 million + off AMR. Herb has made $200 million +. You didn't prove anything, you just picked a year where someone received stock options to add to their yearly salary. Warren Buffet only makes $100K a year from his salary at Berkshire. I guess you're worth more than him since you make more per year at SW.

You asked me to prove something and I did. You were wrong and you continue to be wrong. Herb Kelleher year in and year out has been one of the lowest paid CEO's in the business.

BTW, I compared Arpey's 2006 salary with Herb's Salary for ONE YEAR. A little reading comprehension goes a long way. Furthermore, if you would do just a tiny bit of research you will see that Herb did sell shares in 2006.

Seriously, just do a little research before you spout off and talk about things you know very little about.

 

[Jim Smyth]

You asked me to prove something and I did. You were wrong and you continue to be wrong. Herb Kelleher year in and year out has been one of the lowest paid CEO's in the business.

BTW, I compared Arpey's 2006 salary with Herb's Salary for ONE YEAR. A little reading comprehension goes a long way. Furthermore, if you would do just a tiny bit of research you will see that Herb did sell shares in 2006.

Seriously, just do a little research before you spout off and talk about things you know very little about.

Owned again...............Round 3?

 

[YourPilotFriend]

You asked me to prove something and I did. You were wrong and you continue to be wrong. Herb Kelleher year in and year out has been one of the lowest paid CEO's in the business.

BTW, I compared Arpey's 2006 salary with Herb's Salary for ONE YEAR. A little reading comprehension goes a long way. Furthermore, if you would do just a tiny bit of research you will see that Herb did sell shares in 2006.

Seriously, just do a little research before you spout off and talk about things you know very little about.

Herb makes more than Arpey, you can't possibly think that Arpey has made more than Herb.

 

[momalley81]

Herb makes more than Arpey, you can't possibly think that Arpey has made more than Herb.

Herb has been CEO of SWA since the 1980's.

Arpey has been the CEO of AMR since 2003.

Over the course of that time Herb has been at the job much longer than Arpey. If you state that Herb has made more than Arpey that would only because Herb had been in that position much longer than Arpey. NOT because he made more money per year than Arpey.

Herb has continually been one of the lowest paid CEO's in the industry. I proved it to you and you still don't get it.

Either you don't read what I post or you are incredibly stupid. After reading most of your diatribe I suspect the latter.

 

[328dude]

Herb makes more than Arpey, you can't possibly think that Arpey has made more than Herb.

Dude, I'm not sure what your smoking, but everyone here seems to understand the concept except you. Let's take a time out for a second.

Tell you what, start an airline, I'll pay you $10 a month and see how long you stay. Herb got paid nothing the first years of Southwest and paid for his lawyer services pro bono. Arprey, got paid how much since 2003 on the heals of his employee's.

Realitivity is a great thing, when you actually look for it. In either case, you're either really missing the point, or a regional new hire.

Let's just move on, ok friend?

 

[Jim Smyth]

Dude, I'm not sure what your smoking, but everyone here seems to understand the concept except you. Let's take a time out for a second.

LMAO!.............................

 

[canyonblue]

When you get to age 60 you can make your own mind up at that point to see if you will stay or go early. Nice choice to have.

Unfortunately Jim, it was Age 60 changing that took my choice away. I could have left at 60 and lived comfortably, but now without the hundreds of retirements coming, I will not see the "First Best Job" for a few more years. Couple that with the loss of the 401k compounding plus greater PS contributions, I might just have to work the 5 extra years just to see another 2 years of Captains pay. But enough about that, I am sure the last few Captains I have flown with are sick of my ongoing rants about the subject.

 

[Jim Smyth]

It wasn't fair last November when it went to 65 and it wasn't fair back in 1959 in my Dads generation either when they made it age 60. Things change and we all have to make the best of it, for better or worse.

I feel for ya, I really do. Everyone deserves to get there shot at the helm. You are fortunately young enough to weather this current storm. There are others that arnt as fortunate.

 

[puddlejumper101]

It wasn't fair last November when it went to 65 and it wasn't fair back in 1959 in my Dads generation either when they made it age 60. Things change and we all have to make the best of it, for better or worse.

I feel for ya, I really do. Everyone deserves to get there shot at the helm. You are fortunately young enough to weather this current storm. There are others that arnt as fortunate.

What will happen if SWA furloughs within the next ten years?? I hope for the sake of the company and the culture that it doesn't. I am sure Paul and Stan will say or do nothing about the pilots that will be on the street thanks to the extra 5 years they got. I have yet to hear the age 65 coalition leaders even mention anyone except themselves. Paul wrote letters claiming he was a hero for his efforts but never once wrote about the guys at the bottom whose lives have completely changed for the extra 5 years they got. The oldest guy in my class might never see the left seat at SWA...even worse guys might end up in the street thanks to age 65 (not just at SWA). I understand the rule and how it had to change, but in the end this was not about the age...it was about individual needs. It seems selfish of the coalition not to even address the problems they caused for fellow pilots on their seniority list.

 

[Jim Smyth]

There are "NO" guarantees that were made to you in Aviation! Not then and definitely not now! There are so many variables that are out of your direct control, so you are in it like the rest of it. My best advice is to do whats best for you and your family and always plan on the worst case scenario. It has served me and my family well through my 3 airlines.

My Hats off to Paul for spending 10 years of his life, time off and personal money to work for change in what he believed in. This is America, feel free to do the same with your beliefs.

Sorry for getting of the orginal intention of this thread. My Guess is 22 Million profit for the first quarter.

 

[race#53]

[

Sorry for getting of the orginal intention of this thread. My Guess is 22 Million profit for the first quarter.[/quote]

Jim,
My guess is closer to 200 million profit first quarter,
i just read SWA is sitting on 3,000 million profit from
fuel hedges this year alone!
Gary is losing sleep trying to figure how to hide all the money.
FI guys will have go back to the "they only made money because of the hedges" after SWA reports.

 

[Jim Smyth]

I hope your right but the first quarter is not noted to be the big money maker. If past performance is any indication to what we have to look forward to, I will stick with my guess.

 

[johnnyV]

Young Enough?

It wasn't fair last November when it went to 65 and it wasn't fair back in 1959 in my Dads generation either when they made it age 60. Things change and we all have to make the best of it, for better or worse.

I feel for ya, I really do. Everyone deserves to get there shot at the helm. You are fortunately young enough to weather this current storm. There are others that arnt as fortunate.

Define young enough.

 

[Jim Smyth]

That would be Pilots that spent there 20+ years in the military and retired out. Got with an airline, had the left seat set back due to the age 65 issue and wont have many/any years at the helm once they get there. The 2 SW FO's that were just discussing this (SWA FO and Cayon Blue) the page before on this thread are relatively young compared to the above reference and will get there turn.

 

[airlinepilot]

Bookings for the first quarter were ahead of last years numbers. I will be interesting to see how we do.