I hear-by challenge general lee:

[On Your Six]

Red,

While GL and OYS are annoying, you seem to have some deep seated issues with Delta. Did you get turned down or possibly former asa/cmr? The latter seem to have a major chip. Furthermore, does your boyfriend FA know that you are using his deltanet password to check loads? I think what some of y'all (swa) are missing is why some are chiming in on your merger. Personally I did not like the way the nAAtives talked about and treat the Twa employees. As former NWA I did not like the drivel spouted from some of my new Delta brothers either. Y'all have always seemed to be a overall hardworking/fun group. I think your time at the top (no one stays there long) has gone to some of your heads. Just my opinion but I bet it is mostly junior capts. and mid to senior Fos talking the most smack. Reality is that the larger swa got and the slowing of growth have slowed a lot of the progression traditionally had at swa. I think some on here feel that the 5-7 year upgrades can be revived for your side with a sli that heavily favors your side to the detriment of the AT capts. I understand your angst. You were hired at a company that has historically upgraded in the 5-7 year range, and my guess is that is what you were promised. That has changed as y'all have run out of the easy growth of yesteryear. Also, with the best contract out there now (including FAs, Mx, and I would guess rampers also) along with the pillaging of the legacies have brought our cost much closer. Don't forget the winding down of the awesome hedges of a few years ago. Long story short is the quick upgrades were over and now you and others want to improve your career on the backs of the AT capts. It is human nature, but y'all don't have to be such dicks to your future co-workers. Take the high ground, keep your mouth shut and classily accept the negotiated/arbitrated list and enjoy your days at the top. It won't last forever and the ride down is not fun.

I agree with EVERYTHING but the annoying part. I am persistant.


OYS

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Absolutely no crow OYS. A little worried about the loads to Asia this summer? I would be if I were you, they suck dude..get used to it, I've seen the numbers. Radioactive Japan is not going to get better over the next three months.

I pointed out ONE flight that had 40% passenger load on a 14+ hour flight and your trying to claim some kind of victory with that? You obviously didn't go to business school.

Here's a hint...that doesn't make money for Delta and there's more pain for the next 3 months, at a minimum. Need me to pull flight loads for June and July? Do you really want me to prove you wrong?

Funny thing Red....

We carry this stuff called cargo.....something you don't do. Scuse me....you carry "mail"....my bad. Cargo pays the bills on those flights and a 40 percent load factor is sometimes required for fuel burn. People are just the gravy on most international flights.....ooops another thing you don't do is international flights!!! Again, my bad!!

Shut your cornhole, or as your family calls it "the moneymaker", and stay out of things you know nothing about.

 

[CaptWidgeon]

Funny thing Red....

We carry this stuff called cargo.....something you don't do.

actually we carry a ton, figuratively and literally, of cargo. i think it was oys (i'm not sure, not bating, but also don't want to go back and read all the above post) who made the comment about delta carrying cargo and red not knowing how much was on an asian flight. swa does the same, but not to asia...yet. very often when loads are heavy i've heard the ops agent make comments about all the bags are on we just have a lot of cargo to load. or they are maxing us out with cargo. we carry A LOT.

rumor i'd heard yrs ago: we were looking into taking a few planes and making them cargo specific. but do to the logistics, pallet movers, loading bins, stuff people haulers don't have but cargo only carries do, we opted out. it wasn't worth the revenue to buy the gnd equip required to be cargo only. but this was just a rumor.

 

[Quimby]

Funny thing Red....

We carry this stuff called cargo.....something you don't do. Scuse me....you carry "mail"....my bad. Cargo pays the bills on those flights and a 40 percent load factor is sometimes required for fuel burn. People are just the gravy on most international flights.....ooops another thing you don't do is international flights!!! Again, my bad!!

Shut your cornhole, or as your family calls it "the moneymaker", and stay out of things you know nothing about.

From Southwest.com

In 2010, Southwest moved 176 million pounds of cargo.

 

[DYLIN]

From Southwest.com

In 2010, Southwest moved 176 million pounds of cargo.

That's roughly 150-180 pounds per flight.

I'm neutral in this debate but that's a drop in the bucket compared to 17 pallets of freight lined up next to a 747-400.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Sorry Quimby...

My apologies......You do carry cargo, probably most of it mail and on demand small packages though. Heck you guys even have a website.....again, I am corrected.

Shipping Guidelines

We want to take the guess work out of your shipping needs. Here are our general guidelines for shipping your cargo.

From your website....Looks like it's nothing that can be bulk shipments though:
Maximum Weight and Size

Maximum Size and WeightThe maximum weight per piece is 200 pounds (including packaging). For seafood, the maximum weight per piece may not exceed 175 pounds (including packaging).

Total SizeA package exceeding 90 total inches will be accommodated as bin space permits. Total inches can be determined by adding the length, plus width, plus height of the shipping container. Packages exceeding 90 total inches are subject to advance arrangements by contacting your local Southwest Airlines Cargo facility

 

[Quimby]

That's roughly 150-180 pounds per flight.

I'm neutral in this debate but that's a drop in the bucket compared to 17 pallets of freight lined up next to a 747-400.

Agreed. But 176 million lbs is better than nothing.

 

[flythere]

General Lee= ((((Cricket-Cricket-Cricket))))

 

[Esprit]

Absolutely no crow OYS. A little worried about the loads to Asia this summer? I would be if I were you, they suck dude..get used to it, I've seen the numbers. Radioactive Japan is not going to get better over the next three months.

I pointed out ONE flight that had 40% passenger load on a 14+ hour flight and your trying to claim some kind of victory with that? You obviously didn't go to business school.

Here's a hint...that doesn't make money for Delta and there's more pain for the next 3 months, at a minimum. Need me to pull flight loads for June and July? Do you really want me to prove you wrong?

You obviously aren't aware that it is "Golden Week" here in Japan. Traditionally the loads coming in this direction fall off but will pick up in another week. I'm almost embarrassed to call myself a Pilot when I read all these "My airline is better than your airline" threads on FI. Like a bunch of schoolkids.

Esprit

 

[Sandhawk]

Bump for the General.....just in case he missed it!

imp:

 

[General Lee]

General Lee= ((((Cricket-Cricket-Cricket))))

Why would I take this challenge? I love FI. It is a great place to debate the industry. Although I will accept a new challenge. I will use Whateburger's own money to bet him that Southwest and Airtran have a FANTASTIC SLI, and nobody is offended, and it goes smoothly via arbitrators. Deal?


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[redflyer65]

It will go smooth General, and there most likely be less narrowbody Delta planes in 2014 because of it..

RF

 

[Whataburger]

Why would I take this challenge?

Bye Bye---General Lee

To prove that you are willing to back your bullsh!t.

 

[On Your Six]

To prove that you are willing to back your bullsh!t.

Lame alert! I'm glad he hasnt responded anymore to this dumb thread. Let's talk about a thread that needs to be talked more about, like the SLI thread concerning AT and SWA. And why do you think The General's and my wishes for a FAIR SLI for you two is such BS? Embrace it, it will be your future Mr. BigMac. (try not to get upset now please, Mr. short temper)


OYS

 

[chjack]

Agreed - everyone should be thankful of SWA's great contract. It will serve as a basis for other negotiations going forward...

whats so great about a contract that tops out at alomst 50% below what delta's did 10 years ago?

 

[JumpJetter]

I guess that it's 50% ABOVE deltas.......pow

 

[zippy32]

And why do you think The General's and my wishes for a FAIR SLI for you two is such BS? Embrace it, it will be your future Mr. BigMac.


OYS

This is what I envision when you preach your propaganda. Embrace it, it will be your future:

http://jediknight960.tripod.com/palpatine5.jpg

And when you the General get going, this is how I see you guys:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YcsRkF6yBLI/TCNv7_PgRoI/AAAAAAAALIM/-kgeMPO77FE/s1600/Ace+and+Gary.jpg

The Ambiguously Delta Duo.

 

[whymeworry?]

I like SWA and have a ton of friends who fly for them. Their corporate philosophy is top-notch and their attitude towards employees/ pilots is to be emulated by all.

But that said... you guys crack me up when you compare yourselves to other carriers. A majority of SWA's profitability and market-share gain over the past 10 years was due to fuel hedging and a stronger balance (stronger because of fuel hedges) as the Legacy carriers retreated from the domestic market. You're not as well-hedged these days. In fact, Delta is better hedged for 2011 than SWA (according to the data I've read; feel free to correct me). Furthermore, while SWA pilots are indeed paid more, as they should be, there is the offset of retirement contributions. IOW, most legacy-carrier pilots get slightly higher retirement contributions that their SWA counterpart's 401K match. So the income gap is less than stated.

I'm all for SWA guys climbing the career ladder when it comes to earnings. The better they do they more evidence we have to present in contract negotiations that we are grossly underpaid. But get your facts straight as to how/ why your airline gained so much ground over the past 10 yrs... because the growth of the next 10 isn't going to come as easily. Unless, of course, your hedging guys roll the dice and win the that gamble again. And on that note, I know you think your fuel hedgers are so skilled at their job (they are better than ours but that's not saying much since ours suck so bad), but where where they in 2009 when oil reached $32 a barrel? Or even last year when they could've hedged at $65? The point is, the hedging game assisted your trajectory and that game is a gamble at best.

But I will acknowledge that your management's philosophy of taking care of employees (something DAL isn't that far from now, certainly they're light years ahead of CAL/ UAL) is part of the success equation.

 

[GuppyWN]

I disagree.

SWA corporate success is solely because of the awesomeness of the pilot group. We **** fuel hedges on 10 minutes turns.

Gup

 

[whymeworry?]

I'm glad you think so. Because I lecture our mgmt types all the time that they more the alienate the pilot group, the father they get away from sustainable profitability.

But the fact remains, SWA's profitability has dropped significantly and since fuel hedging advantages went away.

Most Legacy carriers were more profitable that SWA last year, except for maybe AA.

I don't really give a hoot, who is more profitable. I think we're all underpaid (even SWA/ FDX pilots) and we all deserve more. My point is you guys got lucky over the past 10 yrs (hedges) and ought to be keenly aware of how to maintain that top-dog status over the next 10.

As far as aircraft turn times.... that's a relative value. A lot of our turn times are identical to SWA, but some take longer depending on the mission of the aircraft that day (international, etc).