Dumping UAL for SWA

[Uaav8r]

Ok, ive had it. 16 years putting up with Ual crap and im done. Yes im in the top third of the senority and would retire a single digit but enough is enough. You can only get dumped on so many times for so long. Ill vote no for the new TA, have the judge impose it anyway, and watch our career get sucked down the toilet. I met a large group of SWA employees last month and couldnt believe how well they got along. After all, at UAL we are all taught to hate eachother. Therefore 3 weeks ago I put in an app at SWA and just got the call for an interview. Ill take the pay hit for some quality of life and job security. Hope you guys wont mind a UAL convert on the property. Ill move over and let a furloughee take my spot.

 

[dane]

Are you kidding?



regards,

dane

 

[Uaav8r]

Not in the least

 

[Jim Smyth]

You probably have been out of the interview mode for a while. I suggest you get a leg up and network with some buds that have the skinny on the Southwest interview. Best of luck.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

He's not kidding......

There was a TWA Captain that left for Jet Blue shortly after AA took over and closed all the TWA bases and sent us all to STL to fly until our furlough. He lived in New York and decided to jump early. I was surprised at the time, but he is happy at JB, still lives in NYC and didn't get forced into commuting, loose his Captain seat and then get furloughed. I believe he may be close to upgrade now.

We all make choice, good or bad, sometimes the choices are made for us.

Good luck!

 

[English]

We all make choice, good or bad, sometimes the choices are made for us.

Oh so true!

 

[capt_zman]

Why is the grass greener at Southwest when compared to high seniority at United? You never know, Southwest might be in a similar condition as United further down the road, nobody knows. What if, and god forbid, another terrorist occurence happens and everything shuts down again? Then you'll be at the bottom and you know which way $hit rolls.

I would seriously reconsider your decision.

 

[FLB717]

If another Terror act was to happen, SWA would be around a lot longer than UAL.

 

[RVR300]

Hey UAL guy,

Come on down! Lately I've been flying with a lot of formers..

Former USAir, Former UAL, former just about everybody, we even have a jetblue defector.

What you saw with the group of SW employees isn't an anomoly. Everybody really does get along great. Ramp, Mx, Pilots, FAs, Ops, Gate, Dispatch...

We have great people working here. Even when we disagree, its not a big deal.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Uaav8r]

True. I dont think its going to take a terrorist act to kill UAL. Management is doing a fine job themselves. Pretty much everyone I know, and that isnt a joke, is getting out of UAL, or trying to, and leaving aviation all together. Ill just do something else and stay home every day. I mean really, they have had 2 years to come up with a business plan and havnt. What does that tell you. They pissed away 4 billion on USair, and 1.2billion on Avolar and here we are.

 

[Fracster]

My following comment here is probably not going to be too popular but.......

It kills me that a guy from United who already got one dream job is going to get another when there are sooo many guys who have never had their shot and will have less of a chance now.

Like I said, not a popular opinion but dang that one reall hurts.

No hidden meanings in this statement, good luck at SWA.

 

[RJones]

Uaav8r, a word of advise. Don't take your anger and frustration for UAL to the interview with you. Leave it at home and do a prep!

RJ

 

[Dizel8]

Considering high relatively senior you are at UAL, I personally would stay.

However, to each his own and if you think SWA is the greener grass, then go with it.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

 

[TexaSWA]

There are a few guys like Uaav8r in most every new hire class. I doubt that any of them took their decision lightly. Its impossible to say exactly what "you personally" would do unless you too have seniority at UAL.

Good luck on the interview.

And Fracster, you have as good a chance at SWA as does anyone.

 

[buzzer]

If the new TA at UAL goes through, it may pay to jump ship....even for some in the upper 3rd. I'm just talking about actuall pay. On another note, the "dream job" that it was will no longer be. It will just be another flying job that pay's the lowest in the industry and has crappy working conditions/benefits for years to come. It's amazing that getting a job at UAL was landing just about the best flying job you could get. Some of those pilots used to think that pilots who flew for SWA were rejects. Ahh, nothing is forever (unless you ask a lady...diamonds).

 

[Fracster]

And Fracster, you have as good a chance at SWA as does anyone.

TexasSWA,

I wish this were true but I am realistic. Why would an airline like SWA take a corporate guy with 3000 or 4000 hours when they can get a another airline or military guy. I wish it werent the case but I am realistic. Heck, if I was in the hiring position I would probably do the same thing. Plus, from what I have seen the majority of corporate guys dont seem to make it to a place like SWA so getting a solid letter of rec from someone you have flown with is that more difficult. For me patience is a virtue but realism is a blessing. Sure would be nice to an SWA pilot though.....

Thanks for the thought

 

[TexaSWA]

TexasSWA,

Why would an airline like SWA take a corporate guy with 3000 or 4000 hours when they can get a another airline or military guy.
Thanks for the thought

We take a pretty equal sample of people from all parts of the industry. If we wanted all 10000+ hr airline guys we probably have the resumes to do that, but we dont. We have a diverse pilot group because thats how we interview and hire.

Keep at it and you will get your chance.

 

[JD2003]

Uaav8r,

Good luck. I had six years of seniority in the IAM at UAL before I left. It is hard to describe, but there is something seriously wrong with the corporate culture over there. I have never looked back and every day I am glad I left to pursue a flying career elsewhere.

Now I look across from the other side of O'hare and I am glad I left.

 

[cactuspilot]

Fracster, there are a BUNCH of reasons why swa will and does hire ex-corp pilots with 3 or 4k hours. It has nothing to do with flying an airplane.

A good instructor can teach a monkey to fly a 737.

 

[Huggyu2]

Uaav8r,
I think you're making a good, logical move. Based on pay scale, expansion, and JOB SECURITY, you will be right back to a comfortable position in only 2-3 years. I know a 12 year UAL pilot that is doing the same thing. He's got kids approaching college, and can do the math. Best of luck.