JB v/s SWA

[canyonblue]

All of our engine gauges go to 11.

 

[oldxfr8dog]

Take it easy champ. You're going to hurt someone with that boldfaced type.



I was just saying that it's possible to get more than 12 days off on reserve (most people do) and that my QOL is pretty good. I'm sure they do paid drops at SWA and have the ability to take vacation time, which is "paid for" by the employee.

Also I upgraded in the Bus in less than 3 years, which isn't going to be the case for a newhire anymore. But Captain > FO in the QOL discussion. Get it? This place isn't perfect but I've been treated decently for the most part. Your mileage may vary.

How is it that you've sat reserve for 30 months here? Are you based in LGB or FLL?

It's possible to get more than 12 days off, but you are using your vacation/sick time to do it. That's not exactly "off" is it?
The fact is, if you are a 3 year SWA f/o flying at least 85 hours, you will make the same pay as a JB reserve capt. You will have more days off, unless (oops, sorry! The bold slipped) you take vacation every month.
I am based in LGB and I have never bid reserve.
Please don't throw the "Well, it's your choice to be based there", bomb.

I'm glad you're happy.

Would a SWA person tell me if it's true that SWA reserves get 15 days off (and I don't mean using vacation/sick time) a month?

 

[Fly-diver]

Would a SWA person tell me if it's true that SWA reserves get 15 days off (and I don't mean using vacation/sick time) a month?

SWA F/O lines for July in MCO - 19 reserve lines, all have 16 days off, all pay 90 trips for pay. There may be some variation among the different domiciles, but not much.

 

[elag777]

It's possible to get more than 12 days off, but you are using your vacation/sick time to do it. That's not exactly "off" is it?
The fact is, if you are a 3 year SWA f/o flying at least 85 hours, you will make the same pay as a JB reserve capt. You will have more days off, unless (oops, sorry! The bold slipped) you take vacation every month.
I am based in LGB and I have never bid reserve.
Please don't throw the "Well, it's your choice to be based there", bomb.

I'm glad you're happy.

Would a SWA person tell me if it's true that SWA reserves get 15 days off (and I don't mean using vacation/sick time) a month?

Commute to JFK and I am sure your QOL will improve 100% but that is your choice right? and at WN its more like 95hrs at 3rd yr FO to match the 70hrs plus the 5 at premium on rsv at B6 as a 3yr junior capt on rsv. Sorry but with the option not many will feel your pain. "Bombs away!" You should also be pushing 5yr pay too?

 

[Bavarian Chef]

30 months reserve in LGB? Wow. If you live in base, I guess that's alright. Had a dude in my class from US Air, I think he was on reserve for something like 15 years.

New rumor: Oakland will be a new base, LGB will go away. Same thing will happen to FLL when we open Orlando.

Also, the 20 or so going to Virgin America is true. Heard one talking about how he was hired as a check airman. 95k a year for off the street captains, and thus the limbo bar is lowered again.

 

[oldxfr8dog]

Commute to JFK and I am sure your QOL will improve 100% but that is your choice right? and at WN its more like 95hrs at 3rd yr FO to match the 70hrs plus the 5 at premium on rsv at B6 as a 3yr junior capt on rsv. Sorry but with the option not many will feel your pain. "Bombs away!" You should also be pushing 5yr pay too?

My figures may be in error, but I believe SWA 3rd year f/o pay is $104 an hour. 3rd year JB Capt pay is $114. 70 x $114= $7980. 5 hours premium = $855. $7980 + $855 = $8835. $8835 / $104 = 84.95 hours
I know I shouldn't do math in public, but where's my error?

 

[ivauir]

Not busting on the JB pay system but all of this talk of premium pay and "PTO" confuses the issue. Try to compare apples to apples. Remember, that 3rd year SWA FO has options with his schedule too.

As an eample, I (a forth year FO) do a lot of my flying at time and a half. It lets me average over 120 TFP and at least 15 days off a month. I live in domidile and am willing to have some uncertainty in my schedule. Your milage may vary.

On the other hand I think the time to upgrade at SWA is under stated. "Real" Captain (disregard the lance program) takes at least 6 years and I am counting on 8 to 8 in PHX.

My point is simply that if you are trying to compare pay and QOL keep it as simple as possible, both companies seems to have systems that enable pilots to optimize the pay/QOL equation to best suit their needs, but throwing those variables into the mix make it impossible to compare pay rates.

 

[clickclickboom]

no i didnt

Uh, did we misplace a decimal point there bud?

Actually approximately $40,000,000 has already been put into action..

On top of that we currently have approx 93 employees per plane. Airtran has like 65 and SWest has approx 80

Our goal as more new aircraft deliveries come online is to get our number to 83 employees per plane.

From the mouth of Dave and Dave that will save us $100,000,000 per year

 

[oldxfr8dog]

30 months reserve in LGB? Wow. If you live in base, I guess that's alright. Had a dude in my class from US Air, I think he was on reserve for something like 15 years.

New rumor: Oakland will be a new base, LGB will go away. Same thing will happen to FLL when we open Orlando.

Also, the 20 or so going to Virgin America is true. Heard one talking about how he was hired as a check airman. 95k a year for off the street captains, and thus the limbo bar is lowered again.

Agreed. Rsv at home would be great. I don't live in cal.
OAK should have been the base in the first place, but I think we were keeping our distance from SWA. Also, I think DN thought we would water LGB's eyes with our service and they would increase the slots. Despite the fact that the UPS 767 makes more noise than our whole fleet, the hairy-legged, sandal wearers (and those are the women) continue to limit our growth in LGB.
What kind of incentive is VA offering? Why leave JB to take such a big paycut?

 

[elag777]

My figures may be in error, but I believe SWA 3rd year f/o pay is $104 an hour. 3rd year JB Capt pay is $114. 70 x $114= $7980. 5 hours premium = $855. $7980 + $855 = $8835. $8835 / $104 = 84.95 hours
I know I shouldn't do math in public, but where's my error?

Hey you know you may be right, I had $94hr/3rd yr at WN so I may be out of date. I am not knocking you situation either. Living in base is a luxury that 80% of the industry don't have and commuting is a strain to say the least, especially a trans con.

 

[Spectre]

Teamwork is just another cute term for getting someone to do something for free. But when you are at the point of dumping aircraft due to heavy check costs, every pillow you place will be one less thing that minimum wage foreign national has to do.

I think SWA flight attendants clean their planes just like JB flight attendants. JB pilots have the time to help their crews because they don't have 20 minute turns. If SWA didn't have 20 minute turns, I think their good pilots, except you, would actually help out for free.

As for selling A320s, it's a great idea to sell what is worth more on the used market today to generate cash and limit liabilities. JB is still buying new airplanes (although fewer) and growing at a 20% growth rate. Will be at a SWA city near you soon with a better product.

 

[mdf]

Deep Thought

One pays cash for new airplanes..........The other sells new airplanes for cash.

 

[elag777]

One pays cash for new airplanes..........The other sells new airplanes for cash.

I think you will see the average fleet rotation of around six years. Not only is it smart, it drastically reduces maintenance costs and keeps the average fleet age low. Lufthansa does this and they seem to be doing just fine. 35000 plus cycles on the first few a320's and in the deal I hear we recouped the original expenditure thus using them for next to nothing over the last six years or so. Smart I think.:erm: I am sure WN has never returned a lease or sold an older a/c though right

 

[VVJM265]

All of our engine gauges go to 11.

LOL...Beautiful!

 

[Dogwood]

all pay 90 trips for pay.

Well there's the problem. I only do four trips per month.

That was a joke ...