Letter from Southwest

[Bill C Rapper]

Got a letter from Jennifer today, this is what it said -

We appreciate your patience, and thank you for your continued interest in a career with Southwest Airlines.

At this time Southwest Airlines is not scheduling any Pilot new hire classes past April 2002. We will periodically re-evaluate the situation, and do our best to keep you informed of any changes. Even though we must take a temporary pause, plans for future growth are still promising, perhaps even later this year.

Remember that the pre-employment process is ongoing and as time goes by, it may be necessary to update existing paperwork. All acutal offers of employment are contingent on the results of final background and record reviews, which have yet to be finalized.

Please keep us informed of any changes to your phone number, mailing address, or level of interest in joining our Team. If you have any questions, please call me at (214) 792-5186.

We appreciate your continued interest in Southwest Airlines.

Jennifer Bauer

So, does anybody have any comments regarding Southwests future classes? Looks like expansion is on the backburner for right now. If you are still reading, interviewed August, typed November, am on the poolie list as pegasus (can't remember my password!)

 

[airlinepilot]

Pool letter

Join the club....you must be in the pool.....standard letter...got one today also

 

[OakRBust]

Did you all get the copy of LUV lines as well??? The letter is like the congratulations letter for the pool (but don't quit your day job) which really doesn't give anyone the warm fuzzies... but I did think that it was really cool that they took the effort to update us oficially. Not that this isn't an official site or anything.





I have several friends on furlough from NWA and UAL that would love any letter letting them know what was going at their respective companies.


The pool seems deep but SWA rocks. Hang in there everybody. Once the pool boy figures out how to get the pool drain unplugged I bet things are going to happen pretty quick.

Let all your livers recover now while you can.

 

[wnt2fly4swa]

Did either of you guys recieve any other info, (letter or phone call), prior to this letter regarding passing your DB or starting background checks?

 

[airlinepilot]

Info before/after DB

Before my DB I knew they called my last 3 bosses....one military and 2 CP's. I also got copies of background training records that I requested....so I knew they were checking. Then the day after the DB JB called and said "your DB met yesterday and you did very well but we still need a drug test"......5 days later after that when they got the drug test results, JB called and said they had everything and she would be sending me a letter..congrats...the same letter that is mentioned above about saying don't quit your present job....blah blah....and she also told me to keep checking in every 4 weeks or so...because you just never know when classes might start again....

 

[wnt2fly4swa]

Thanks, and when did you interview/type?

 

[airlinepilot]

Interview/Type

Interviewed on 19 Feb 02
Typed 10 Nov 01

 

[w8n4swa]

Hi airlinepilot,

How about if I add your name to the poolie list? I didn't see you listed and it sure would help those below you to know your waiting in line. Also, are you available for class "Now"?

Thanks,

W8n4swa

 

[CoopDog]

Letter from Southwest (plus LUV lines)

Pegasus, airlinepilot, OakRbust,

At least it was exciting to see a 9x12 envelope from SWA in the mailbox for a few seconds.

The content of the letter and the date don't quite jive though. If my memory serves me correctly (hardly ever does), they annouced new long-haul service AND delivery of 4 more airplanes on the same day that the letter was written. There then followed a few postings about more pilots and new class-dates.

As stated in the letter, "At this time Southwest Airlines is not scheduling any Pilot new hire classes past April 2002."

What happened to August (as previously stated and posted) or even June (as previously rumored and posted)? Could it be that the people dept was unaware of the additional airplane announcement, and the letter was just a standard update to us all?

And what of the final background/record check reviews? If they've all been 100% completed for all of us (most likely), then why put the offer contingincy disclaimer in the letter? Just curious.

Any thoughts from anyone who knows?

 

[airlinepilot]

class dates

I just looked the date thing (saying no classes in April) as a way for them to say"we are still not ruling out May, June or July"!!!

 

[T1bubba]

Coop,

When JB was writing the letter, I doubt she knew about the new service. From what I've seen the People department is always the last to find out about new classes and the hiring plan. Now throw into the mix the fact that JB will always be extremely conservative with her predictions. Basically she's not going to give you any good news about your position in the pool until she has a slot for you. Don't count on JB ever acknowledging the rumors from this board (ie the June class rumor)

As far the final record checks, that's basically a lawyer's way of saying if you get a DUI or some other equally stupid thing while in the pool don't count on them still hiring you.

Of course that's all just my opinion. I'm guessing classes start again in July to cover the new September service, hopefully JB will start calling folks in late June.

T1bubba

 

[CoopDog]

Records need to be finalized.....

Hey Bubba,

I have to agree with you on the verbage of the final analysis on the record check/background thing. After I got the update letter from JB yesterday, my wife and I were discussing it over a nice plate of spaghetti. She used to work in Personel for a company several years ago, and said that it definitely looks like an out for them in the event that anything bad happens in the next few months, especially anything that would cause SWA much embarrassment.

DUI's, FAA vio's, accidents, crimes and misdemenors, etc.... don't look good in the 'ole employee file, especially after the interview.

So let's keep our noses clean guys!

 

[wnt2fly4swa]

Any of you guys that got this letter, did you ever get a letter or phone call stating that you are actualy are in a pool, or do we just assume we are after passing the DB.
Just wondering,

Dave

 

[pigpen]

Same ole stuff

I spoke with the OAK CP 3 days ago (Saturday, to be exact) and what he said was pretty much what is being passed here:

The company considers itself to be about where it thinks it should be in terms of pilot manning. As a result, no new classes are scheduled as of right now. There *may* be Aug classes (his emphasis, not mine) or there may not, or they may get into the summer crunch, JA a whole bunch, and turn the spigot back on.

I realize that this does not give you any new info, but it does at least confirm that what little you know seems to be accurate.

Good luck.

 

[JayhawkDude]

No news

I spoke with JB today. She said the letter was nothing negative, just the standard "lawyer stuff" about the hiring process is ongoing. It will be until we are sitting in training at DAL. I also asked her about classes. She said nothing's scheduled, but things could change anytime... So basically, what she always says- keep waiting, they'll call- when they're ready. I don't mind- I'll wait as long as it takes!

 

[BeeVee]

I talked to Lindsey Lang at the People Department 10 minutes ago (this is Wednesday, 15 May 02) and she said the next class will be in August. No other specifics. For what its worth.........

BeeVee

 

[Mooseman]

August?.........wade, wade, paddle, paddle, Gulp!..more water in my darn mouth. Still glad to be here though.