Kelly: SWA costs too high

[JT12345]

Hey General,

I thought you guys were going to get 20% raises in your next contract.

After all you guys gave up 50% and your pensions to turn that company around. There are less airlines to compete with now, and with oil high no one is starting any new ones.

Sounds like a good time for a raise over there. Or have u guys become pussies since bankruptcy?

 

[waveflyer]

Hey General,

I thought you guys were going to get 20% raises in your next contract.

After all you guys gave up 50% and your pensions to turn that company around. There are less airlines to compete with now, and with oil high no one is starting any new ones.

Sounds like a good time for a raise over there. Or have u guys become pussies since bankruptcy?

This^^^

It's a good question- but I'm not saying you aren't on it- just want an update before the accountants figure out how to show you as losing $(!)

 

[pilotyip]

I notice when I log in to check ticket prices on SWA, they no longer have the ability to look at an entire month for the lowest priced tickets. You have to search day by day, makes it much harder to find the lowest fare. That was a nice SWA feature, I hope this not part of their revenue enhancement program.

 

[texman]

Hey just noticed on our Swapa site, we are still the most productive pilot group. That's makes me feel good and Delta was last. Looks like no pay raise for gen nuts and oys.

 

[pilotyip]

I notice when I log in to check ticket prices on SWA, they no longer have the ability to look at an entire month for the lowest priced tickets. You have to search day by day, makes it much harder to find the lowest fare. That was a nice SWA feature, I hope this not part of their revenue enhancement program.

now it works, maybe a glich

 

[CaptWidgeon]

honestly, our IT dept really sucks.

 

[jester757]

Hey just noticed on our Swapa site, we are still the most productive pilot group. That's makes me feel good and Delta was last. Looks like no pay raise for gen nuts and oys.

And you were prob the dweeb at the flight school offering "free dual" just so you could get the flight time. Have you had your ass kicked behind a hangar lately?

When will pilots learn that we are our own worst enemies??

If GK comes asking for cuts in your hourly wages - enjoy it - it sucks, but this was a mess discount carries started and now it has come full circle.

 

[The Prussian]

Feeling better now??...

BTW...in the real world, productivity talks...so you decide if any pay raises are warranted...

 

[slaquer5]

And you were prob the dweeb at the flight school offering "free dual" just so you could get the flight time. Have you had your ass kicked behind a hangar lately?

When will pilots learn that we are our own worst enemies??

If GK comes asking for cuts in your hourly wages - enjoy it - it sucks, but this was a mess discount carries started and now it has come full circle.

Dude you have some Serious issues . Why do you Delta pilots hate SWA so much?

 

[texman]

And you were prob the dweeb at the flight school offering "free dual" just so you could get the flight time. Have you had your ass kicked behind a hangar lately?

When will pilots learn that we are our own worst enemies??

If GK comes asking for cuts in your hourly wages - enjoy it - it sucks, but this was a mess discount carries started and now it has come full circle.

LOL! Ok I will play. Yea we are own worst enemies! Like you deltoids. UA pay +1 or 2 or 3, crap lets just bankrupt the company.

Behind the hanger thing. I don't think so my nerdy little friend!

 

[Fubijaakr]

Sorry but YOU are the ones always bragging about your pay rate. Who's bankrupting the economy today? Can you even grasp how moronic your comment was.

 

[Whataburger]

This^^^

It's a good question- but I'm not saying you aren't on it- just want an update before the accountants figure out how to show you as losing $(!)

Speaking of GENERAL CHEESE'S wife.....Does she think DAL will get 23% raise?

 

[On Your Six]

Hey just noticed on our Swapa site, we are still the most productive pilot group. That's makes me feel good and Delta was last. Looks like no pay raise for gen nuts and oys.

The more plane types your airline flies, the more unproductive the group is because of the training involved moving from fleet to fleet, especially with retirements. That is something you won't see yourselves, mainly mass retirements and movement up your list, which won't be good for your group. Did SWAPA show on their site how much more profitable Delta is now compared to your airline? You guys are really having a bad year, especially when you lost that famous culture to your SLI antics. Stagnation and a sinking culture........sad. The $800 million profit for the year means profit sharing for us, and a great excuse for negotiating for a raise coming up. Your own 717 pilots now get less than their 737 counterparts (nice move btw), and planned block hours will decrease for them too according to the other thread. With your losses last quarter and less hours for some, I'd think you wouldn't be bringing this up at all. Some never learn, including you.



Godspeed!


The OYSter

 

[On Your Six]

Speaking of GENERAL CHEESE'S wife.....Does she think DAL will get 23% raise?

Don't know about GL or his wife, but if he moves or anyone moves up an aircraft size, it's not hard to raise your current pay by 23%, especially with a pay raise. With huge profits, I'd say it's on it's way. You constantly bringing this up makes you look like you don't understand how people move up to larger planes. Oh wait, you don't do that anyway at your airline. You wait and wait, and then your senior guys try for age 70. Got it.


Godspeed!


The OYSter

 

[GIZMONC]

http://pulse.alacra.com/analyst-comments/Southwest_Airlines_Company-C1015643

Chief Pulse Comment by Laura H Wright
Not Seeking Concessions. Kelly's message was in response to questions from employees about how Fort Worth, Texas bases American's bankruptcy would affect Southwest and wasn't a call for concessions from workers, Chief Financial Officer Laura Wright said at a Rodman & Renshaw airlines conference today in Boston. The CEO's memo lays out "how important it is for us to retain our spot at the top in terms of low costs," she said. "That was really kind of the battle cry.

 

[redflyer65]

The more plane types your airline flies, the more unproductive the group is because of the training involved moving from fleet to fleet, especially with retirements. That is something you won't see yourselves,

Your absolute right OYS. Your productivity blows. Like when you and Genital pound your chest about how there will be 11 training events for each retirement. Do you comprehend what a massive drag that is on Delta's bottom line? And your proud of that? Good luck...

The best I see DALPA getting is a minor adjustment for cost of living...anything more and you guys are dreaming. It will be Fablous!

RF

 

[On Your Six]

Your absolute right OYS. Your productivity blows. Like when you and Genital pound your chest about how there will be 11 training events for each retirement. Do you comprehend what a massive drag that is on Delta's bottom line? And your proud of that? Good luck...

The best I see DALPA getting is a minor adjustment for cost of living...anything more and you guys are dreaming. It will be Fablous!

RF

When you make 4 times the revenue of SWA, it doesn't matter much. This is the cost of doing business. We don't decide how many planes types there are, they do. Being a "Worldwide" carrier, a 737 doesn't fit all routes. You may try to use a 737 on all of your routes, but that isn't the path DL chose. Remember, if DL is making this much profit it BAD economic times, how will it do in BETTER economic times? Debt is being paid down, profit sharing checks are going out, new contracts are coming up, things are moving here. You guys need to repair your culture and GK is already looking at ways to pare your costs down, he stated that himself.

As far as Dalpa goes, they have external pressures now in the form of an independant union drive. They know more is involved now, and they don't have much room for error. I personally hope they come through and get us significant improvements. But, everyday I don't have to go through ELP on the way to Houston is a great day for me.


Godspeed!


The OYSter

 

[chase]

Increases in productivity are tougher to obtain these days but so is finding oil that the US needs....creative solutions to these challenges are resulting in more and more resources being found.

There are finite hours in a workday and finite calendar days but to say there can't be creative and innovative methods of improving productivity is not true. SWAPA and SWA has some pretty creative thinkers.

The second biggest cost to SWA is fuel; reducing that demand would increase the bottom line. Comments below show that our fuel burn will be reduced in the future with the addition of the "max" to our inventory. Plus we can still pay for airplanes instead of leasing them which is the acceptable and more expensive method operating a large fleet of airplanes.

Analyst Comment by Michael Derchin at CRT Capital Group

Van de Ven said Southwest would spend an average of $1.2 billion a year from 2012 through 2022 on the new planes, which would top $13 billion. Michael Derchin, an analyst with CRT Capital Group, said Southwest generates enough cash that, together with its cash on hand of $1 billion, can pay for the aircraft while maintaining its investment grade credit rating. "They needed to do this,'' Derchin said. "Their labor costs are on the high side because they're prosperous, so when you look at how they can reduce unit costs further, you have to look at more fuel efficient aircraft.''

This doesn't mean employees can ask for the moon during negotiations but if combined with meaningful tweaks to productivity, benefits are not expected to decline but increases will be tied to profitability which at the end of the day is what generates growth.

 

[redflyer65]

Increases in productivity are tougher to obtain these days but so is finding oil that the US needs....creative solutions to these challenges are resulting in more and more resources being found.

There are finite hours in a workday and finite calendar days but to say there can't be creative and innovative methods of improving productivity is not true. SWAPA and SWA has some pretty creative thinkers.

The second biggest cost to SWA is fuel; reducing that demand would increase the bottom line. Comments below show that our fuel burn will be reduced in the future with the addition of the "max" to our inventory. Plus we can still pay for airplanes instead of leasing them which is the acceptable and more expensive method operating a large fleet of airplanes.



This doesn't mean employees can ask for the moon during negotiations but if combined with meaningful tweaks to productivity, benefits are not expected to decline but increases will be tied to profitability which at the end of the day is what generates growth.

Chase,

Your exactly right. OYS doesn't understand that, nor does he really care...he only owns 5 shares of DL stock. It's someone elses problem.

This is were that massive debt to equity ratio between DL and SW come into play. Over 85% of Southwest planes are owned outright. An oddity in the industry. I think it keeps things profitable. With most other airlines, every single peice of equipment is leased, including the planes.

RF