capt_zman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2001
- Posts
- 462
Talk about a great story, this happened to me last week.
I had flown down to Dallas Love to hand deliver my application package and to get a frontline view of the Southwest environment. I arrived around 12:00 and decided to go to lunch and be back around 1:30 or so. I got back from lunch and walked into the lobby and tried to call the recruiter that I have been working with. She wasn't available and I was directed to the People Dept in the main lobby. I went into the Dept and gave one of the attendants my app package, spoke with her a little bit and decided to call it a day.
As I walked out of the building and into the parking lot, I had 4 hours to kill before my flight, so I decided to sit in the car and watch the planes come and go (for those who have never been to Southwest headquarters, the building and parking lot are right on the runway).
While sitting in the car, I noticed a gentleman pull up next to me with a flat right rear tire. He was having some trouble getting the spare out from underneath the truck, so I got out and helped him with the tire (it had also started to rain). Remember, I had no idea who this person was. While changing the tire, he asked me how my day was going and I explained how I had flown from Massachusetts to hand deliver the app and to experience the Southwest culture. He asked, "Are you a pilot", and I said "Yes". He then said, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Ken Gile, head of Flight Operations for Southwest". I almost dropped on the spot, absolutely couldn't believe it. I desperately tried to keep my composure, but I think my excitement was obvious as my voice seemed to go through the first stages of puberty.
We finished changing the tire and talking about Southwest, and I gave him my business card and off we went. As I backed over the curb trying to leave the parking lot, I sat in amazement over how such a chain of events could be possible. Think about it, a hick from Massachusetts who flies to Dallas, goes to lunch, sits in his car for 30 minutes in a parking lot of probably 1000 cars, and randomly helps a guy with his tire in the rain who turns out to be the person who ultimately signs the "Success" letter.
Everyone asked me if I had bought a lottery ticket that day, and I said "No, this was better than winning the lottery."
Zman
I had flown down to Dallas Love to hand deliver my application package and to get a frontline view of the Southwest environment. I arrived around 12:00 and decided to go to lunch and be back around 1:30 or so. I got back from lunch and walked into the lobby and tried to call the recruiter that I have been working with. She wasn't available and I was directed to the People Dept in the main lobby. I went into the Dept and gave one of the attendants my app package, spoke with her a little bit and decided to call it a day.
As I walked out of the building and into the parking lot, I had 4 hours to kill before my flight, so I decided to sit in the car and watch the planes come and go (for those who have never been to Southwest headquarters, the building and parking lot are right on the runway).
While sitting in the car, I noticed a gentleman pull up next to me with a flat right rear tire. He was having some trouble getting the spare out from underneath the truck, so I got out and helped him with the tire (it had also started to rain). Remember, I had no idea who this person was. While changing the tire, he asked me how my day was going and I explained how I had flown from Massachusetts to hand deliver the app and to experience the Southwest culture. He asked, "Are you a pilot", and I said "Yes". He then said, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Ken Gile, head of Flight Operations for Southwest". I almost dropped on the spot, absolutely couldn't believe it. I desperately tried to keep my composure, but I think my excitement was obvious as my voice seemed to go through the first stages of puberty.
We finished changing the tire and talking about Southwest, and I gave him my business card and off we went. As I backed over the curb trying to leave the parking lot, I sat in amazement over how such a chain of events could be possible. Think about it, a hick from Massachusetts who flies to Dallas, goes to lunch, sits in his car for 30 minutes in a parking lot of probably 1000 cars, and randomly helps a guy with his tire in the rain who turns out to be the person who ultimately signs the "Success" letter.
Everyone asked me if I had bought a lottery ticket that day, and I said "No, this was better than winning the lottery."
Zman
