Just a little observation

[turn&pull]

Of course when I talk balance sheet I mean pax carriers. I wasn't interested in flying freight.

 

[Captain Overs]

D-Bo,


I don't want to work for SWA. My point is I'm tired of people with their head up SWA's butt acting like they've wanted to work there since they were in the womb. Be realistic. They are one of the few major's hiring, fine. Apply and see what happens. Quit getting on a soapbox about how they were the only airline you ever wanted to work for. Read the posts on the board objectively and you'll see it.

 

[canyonblue]

My point is I'm tired of people with their head up SWA's butt acting like they've wanted to work there since they were in the womb. Be realistic.

I only applied to 2 airlines, the only two I would ever want to work at and one of them called me first, Southwest. I did not want to work here since I was in the womb, nor did I think that any airline was a "must have" for me. I did know a few pilots that wanted to work at Delta, Northwest, American and even Southwest since they were a kid. Some had family ties, ie: Dad worked there, and some grew up with the airline, like Southwest (try getting a Texas kid to live in NYC). I guess I don't really understand your post, do you believe that all these people that work for Southwest wanted to work somewhere else, if so I believe you have no idea why most of us applied to Southwest.

 

[Captain Overs]

There are people that have wanted to work at SWA since birth (father works there ect.) My point was it seems like everyone on this board tries to come across that way. I guess I've seen it with friends of mine who have interviewed at SWA. They act like if they don't go to the interview bleeding "Canyonblue" then they don't have a chance. It's almost like the kid in school who brown noses the teacher.

I just felt it it's phony to be that way. Apply to the airlines you want to work and see what happens. Like a post above mentioned, if you look at the posts before 9-11 it was dealing with the legacy carriers and SWA was not a top 3. I don't think everyone who applies to SWA is that way, although most on this board seem that way.

 

[TIGV]

I want to suck-syphen the blue juice out of anything that doesn't have Southwest written on the side, for a job, including any other low fare,

I'm in it for the travel bennies, want to go see the world and eat decent meal while I'm doing it.

DOH ! Looks like I'm gonna have to buy a row-boat, some binoculars and take my ramen noodles with me.......

Just another day of livin' the Dream......

 

[Dizel8]

Can I join you, it might be fun, maybe the "Bearded One" will finance it?

 

[mnboyev]

Anybody try that new Diet Coke with Lime... just a little bitter...

 

[thebluto]

I guess I'll chime in on this one and face ridicule:

After finally having enough hours to meet mins at SWA, I sent Higher Power Aviaiton a $1500 check for my deposit on a 737 type rating. That was in August of 2001.

Many of my friends said I was an idiot. Why pay all that money for a type rating, when it's not required to interview anyway, and American, United, Delta, etc. are all hiring...One job's just as good as another.

My response was that I only wanted to work for SWA, and I wanted to go into the interview holding all the cards I could. Also, I predicted that one day, the economy was going to turn around and all their "dream job" carriers were going to lay people off in droves. They all told me I was smoking crack.

Three weeks after I got my books and started studying, 9/11 hit. Within days, what I'd known to be true all along was coming to pass. Plus, I foresaw, at that point, that my dream job at SWA was now going to be everyone else's dream job, because the cat was out of the bag.

What I figured then is now true. I got interviewed last year, didn't get the job and I'm now waiting for my second chance. (Tuesday marked my one-year point of waiting to reapply/reinterview).

Yes, it's true that many post-9/11 "converts" have attained the job that I've always wanted. But, there's nothing I can do about that. I can't get jealous, kick and scream, pull a Tonya Harding, etc.

It's just not the right attitude to take. It won't solve anything. Times are tough and that's just the way it is. And, as hard as it is to sit back and watch others get what I've always wanted, I'm happy for them. I hope I'll join them, soon. No hard feelings.

I've wanted to work for SWA pretty much since 1998, when a good friend of mine was getting ready to interview with them and he let me read his copy of the book "Nuts" and some AirInc articles about the company. I was sold then and haven't changed my mind.

I'm just going to keep waiting and keep trying to get on with SWA. There's not a thing else I can do about it. Keeping the faith...

 

[canyonblue]

They act like if they don't go to the interview bleeding "Canyonblue" then they don't have a chance. It's almost like the kid in school who brown noses the teacher.

I just felt it it's phony to be that way.

I agree with you there. And it will come out in the interview. It is too bad the other airlines are not hiring right now. I know there are some people out there that felt they made a bad choice by going to a Legacy carrier before 9/11, only to get furloughed and cast aside by the company they held in high regard. I would rather see those pilots employed here then the one that feels they will have to "settle" for SWA. If you only apply because we are one of the few hiring right now, do both of us a favor and delete your application. Out of the 8,000 on file, we should find a few that really want to work at Southwest. And I know a few of them.

 

[seefive]

Why would Southwest have been many people's first choice before 9/11. Most other carriers paid more, flew less, and had a better retirement plan. No type required at the others.
Obviously those things changed and people who want to continue to fly as their profession, will obviously reevaluate and pursue what's best for them.
You're suprised by this? It's absolutely normal. The fact that you are bitter about it amuses most of those guys.

 

[Captain Overs]

I'm not surprised by this at all. My point was don't come on the board all "High and Mighty" on SWA when otherwise they weren't even on your radar.

 

[canyonblue]

Why would Southwest have been many people's first choice before 9/11. Most other carriers paid more, flew less, and had a better retirement plan.

If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand it. These are exactly the kind of people we do not need at Southwest. If you are in this for the Pay, Retirement and to get paid a lot to work a little, stop now and find another profession. Outside of the Cargo Airlines this industry will never see those pay packages again. Southwest is a great place to work without a doubt. I interviewed before 9/11 and my top priority was work environment. After all, they can always take away the money, retirement and make you work more, but the culture is what will last. And to have to work at some of those carriers now at almost half the pay would be the closest thing to a living hell. I thank god I wasn't as short sighted to only look at pay.

 

[Yank McCobb]

Honestly, who cares? Everyone has to do what they have to do. If SWA is hiring and you need a job and are fortunate enough to get picked up there, then I think that's great.

Captain Overs, I'm pretty sure you do what you believe is best for yourself and your situation. Why would you begrudge anyone else for doing the same? Actually, I think that simply reflects what kind of individual you are. One I wouldn't care to associate with on any level.

 

[seefive]

canyon,

I interviewed with Southwest in July of 2001 and was extremely impressed with the culture there. Most didn't or don't know what that culture is (at least not an up close look at the company from an interviewee perspective). I didn't.
Every person I came in contact with that day seemed to really enjoy working at Southwest. That definitely said something to me and placed them higher on my list than maybe I thought they would be before the process. Before that interview, I was looking at a number of different things (pay, benefits, retirement, upgrades, commutability, schedules, time away from home, work rules, etc.) to help (rank) my choices of employers. At that time, prior to my interview, several other carriers looked like they might be better options.
In the end, I was very lucky to have options after 9/11. It was an easy choice to end up a FedEx only because when the time came, SWA wasn't starting new hire classes, I was in the pool, and I didn't have my type yet (no military leave was granted after 9/11 so I couldn't get the type). At that point, I was equally excited about both opportunities and felt both were great options.
People have different reasons for wanting to work for certain airlines versus others. Pay, benefits, and (now more than ever) job security are huge factors. To think otherwise is naive. Pilots don't have the chance now to be picky. They choose the best company, with the best personal benefits to them, that offers them a job.

 

[TIGV]

Are we back to bashing one another again ? Sweet ! Oh and I'm still in denial, don't you dare shatter my illusion of the big pay coming back !!!
Freight is freight, I prefer the self-loading variety but if they can't pay a sufficient amount to cover my bills then it's Greyhound for them and real freight for me, you hear that UPS ?
I'm headed your way......pleeeeeease !!!

 

[Captain Overs]

Yank,


You don't want to associate with me on any level? Then shut your piehole! No one made you respond on this site to me.

 

[Yank McCobb]

Actually, someone did. You, with your asinine way of thinking.

My "piehole" will shut when I say it does. Sorry to disappoint you but you have absolutely NO control over what I do, what I say, or when I say it.

So, good day "Captain". (You must really be something. Calling yourself "Captain" on a message board, just to make sure everyone knows how important you think you are. )

 

[SWA GUY]

I'm a pre 911 WN pilot and I wanted to work for WN after a couple of my very good buddies came to work here. They called me and told me what a great place it was to work and how much I would enjoy they people I would be working with if I got hired.

Well...they were right, and WN was the right place for me. I passed on a legacy carrier to work at a place where I can have loads of fun, enjoy what I do, and count on my paychecks not to bounce.

31 years of profits with no furloughs speaks volumes.

---OUT

 

[Captain Overs]

Actually, someone did. You, with your asinine way of thinking.

My "piehole" will shut when I say it does. Sorry to disappoint you but you have absolutely NO control over what I do, what I say, or when I say it.

So, good day "Captain". (You must really be something. Calling yourself "Captain" on a message board, just to make sure everyone knows how important you think you are. )

To set the record straight genius, Captain Over was who I wanted to be. That name was taken so I made it with an "s". Do you even know who Captain Over was? Obviously not or you wouldn't make that comment about wanting people to know how important I think I am. If you knew you would find your statement ironic.

I'm glad you can shut your mouth when you want. Mommy must be proud of you.

 

[Skyrunner]

Hmmm

Here is my top three choices of careers that I want:

1. Trust fund baby - Didn't work out, darn!!!

2. Maj Anthony Nelson - Astronaut who lived in FL and lived with a cool genie. - Very much a fantasy!!!

3. Dude/Dudette who runs the manual scoreboard at Wrigley - I'm sure you can tip a few while hiding behind that board. - Go Cubs!!!

But Southwest will work out. It should be fun and rewarding.

Adios. Take care and fly safe,

CB