For SWA Poolies

[scoreboardII]

To be realistic about hiring, SWA lines have to return to 07 levels of around 90 plus hours a month. We need to grow ten percent to hit that mark before SWA "breaks even" with current manning levels. The JA events are always going to happen, you still need to cover the short notice online sick or line improvement sick call, no matter the manning level.

My guess is unless a major "purchase" without bodies is made, those in the pool have another year before interviews return. Longer if any acquisition/merger is announced that come with bodies.

Keep the faith, stay current.

 

[clueless]

Overstaffed? I was JAed last month and my phone rang 3 or 4 times today for JA trips....

 

[texman]

I am on reserve, the company has used me every time during my reserve block. My domicile chief told me that the fall reductions are the standard of 2% not like the 7% we felt when the economy fell. I asked him about the f word he said it was never mentioned during that period or now. So with that being said it was a sigh of relief. The word on the street is hiring by the end of the year. So I am guessing a jan class. I do hope that we get are line totals up for the people that do hold a line can return to the 90 to 100 plus trip total. But no one has taking a pay cut in general with the totals being down, we did get a pay raise. To actually see it the totals do need to go up.

Being on reserve isn't that bad, but don't except to give away your reserve trips away easily all the senior fo's know that they will fly. I fly about 60 block hours a month, but get paid for 90 or 100 if I go over the guarantee. The past two years I have been rerouted about 10 times. I have been switch from a PM shift to a AM shift about half a dozen times. The schedulers have released me early from my PM shift on my last day so I could get home about 98% of the time if they have no more flying. All the captains are great, yes being on reserve you will fly with the 1% that no ones likes to fly with.

For you poolies hang in there it is wroth it. The only thing that is hard is commuting if you haven't done it. I told my self if this is the only thing that is hard then life isn't that bad. Great company and I think our generation of pilots at SWA will see international. Which will give the company a breath of fresh air.

 

[mt2]

Thanks for the info, pro and con. Any info we can get here poolside is greatly appreciated.

 

[scoreboardII]

when they are flying a reserve 110 a month, then SWA will hire.

 

[U2DRVR]

To be realistic about hiring, SWA lines have to return to 07 levels of around 90 plus hours a month. .

"I do hope that we get are line totals up for the people that do hold a line can return to the 90 to 100 plus trip total."


May trip avg was 94.4 with a max line of about 106 trips. Lots of VJA and JA on the FO side and the occasional VJA/JA on the CA side. Lots of other small, but encouraging signs. I predict hiring in late fall or early next year. No classes really possible until after RNP step 4 is complete in Nov. YMMV

Good luck to us all!

 

[slaquer5]

Some of us don't want 100- 110 tfp a month. I personality like to average 85 - 90 tfp tops. Summer way less. Enjoy life it comes at you fast....

 

[Saluki Dawg]

I agree with Scoreboard, until the lines get more dense and productive, we still have a ways to go before we need to hire. I don't think any new classes until 2011 either. I'm also concerned that with the latest round of consolidation that GK will feel pressured to go out and merge with either FL or B6 in order to maintain and grow market share on the East Coast. If that happens, I would say no new classes until 2013 at the earliest after age 65 starts to kick in again.

 

[slaquer5]

I agree with Scoreboard, until the lines get more dense and productive, we still have a ways to go before we need to hire. I don't think any new classes until 2011 either. I'm also concerned that with the latest round of consolidation that GK will feel pressured to go out and merge with either FL or B6 in order to maintain and grow market share on the East Coast. If that happens, I would say no new classes until 2013 at the earliest after age 65 starts to kick in again.

Maybe buy FL, there is no longer a B6. They are now Republic. If Gary wants the B6 assets , he will just write a Check to Republic for the pieces SWA wants. If that happens I feel you will see new hire classes. ( With pilots from the SWA pool) JMO

 

[SWA/FO]

What about buying F9's junk....Staple job for those who choose to come with said "junk" or not for those that want to remain regional pilots.

 

[Tripower455]

Maybe buy FL, there is no longer a B6. They are now Republic. If Gary wants the B6 assets , he will just write a Check to Republic for the pieces SWA wants. If that happens I feel you will see new hire classes. ( With pilots from the SWA pool) JMO

Jet Blue got bought by Republic too?

 

[slaquer5]

Jet Blue got bought by Republic too?

UG my bad, I meant Fronter

 

[Quiet Flight]

Been off for 4 days. Been called for VJA out of MDW, HOU, BWI and MCO a total of 7 times. I did one. In the seat 57 minutes, paid 13 TFP. Manning/avg monthly tfp is/are FINALLY getting back to normal... Classes early 2011 is my guess. I could be wrong. :beer:

Also, the projected AUG-OCT sched reduction will not be as deep as initially thought. Several trans-cons have been kept as permanent additions to the sched through that time period.

 

[Tripower455]

UG my bad, I meant Fronter

LOL... I figured that's what you meant! No worries!

 

[TZtoSWA]

I bid reserve in April again on purpose. I flew 3 that's right count em 3 days. They did not use me on my reserve blocks for three weeks in a row. It has been this way for a few months now. April was not the only time this has happened to me. I went back to a hardline for May to do some flying for a change. There is no way we need to hire with reserve utilization this low in some of the bases.

The Manager of pilot hiring was in my buddy's jump seat last month. He said NO classes for 2010 planned at this time. All subject to change of course but he was expecting nothing for a year. I want new hires here as much as anyone but seriously all information from the GO says it's not going to happen this year.