Cool your jets about the 300 in the 1st Q, folks. I don't know where that came from, but LL mentioned yesterday (if I may) that 140-200 for the YEAR was still the official projection. Of course that's subject to change; Gary Kelly mentioned last week that Iraq was the big wildcard. If it gets ugly over there and the whole industry deteriorates, it could get ugly for us. On the other hand, if that turns out OK but one of our competitors tanks, I'm guessing our pool would drain fairly quickly. LL said they were thinking about the possibility of one March class, but that wouldn't be announced until the middle of February. They will think about classes month to month after that, depending on how things are going. However, if things remain the same, there will be more deliveries and pilot retirements in '04, so the hiring in '04 looks much brighter. The other good news is that they still LUV us, I feel, and all we need to do is be patient and our time will come, Lord willing. I just keep praying, as others have mentioned, and any little tiny thing I can do to help SWA I do.
When I call the employee newsline, I always use my cell phone and dial the Dallas area code, as opposed to the 800 # that would cost SWA some money. When I'm taxiing out to 21L in DTW, and there's a SWA plane told to wait for me to pass before taxiing, I mention the obligatory "I am not worthy" to my FO and increase my "brisk walk" taxi speed to a more "SWA style" brisk walk taxi speed, thereby saving SWA 2 or 3 cents worth of gas just waiting there. And the couple of times I've rode on SWA this year I always make it a point to clean up the area around me when I leave, including the seatback pockets, so it saves a real SWA employee from doing the work, cuts down turn time, and makes a better, clean airplane for the next real SWA customer to enjoy when they fly afterwards and will hopefully buy more tickets on SWA. I also transferred all my credit card balaces to my SWA visa (I know, I'm trying to pay it off...) and I think SWA makes some small percentage of the profit that the credit card company makes.
Little things, I know, but I want to help all I can to make the best airline in the world stay that way. I think all of us wannabees in the pool, as well as those hoping to get in the pool, should do the same. I'm excited that my dream airline would even consider me, let alone put me in the pool. One of my goals someday is to have a chief pilot say, "PT, I'm really glad we hired you." I'm going to do all I can to make that happen, and I don't have to wait until I'm hired to start trying. I can do little things now, as well as continue to be the best employee I can to my current employer.
Now I'm not sure how I got onto that big bunny trail, so forgive my wandering. Ya'll have a great day!
