LUV posts 4th quarter/full year profit.

[Hamburger]

Pay to Play as they say.

Yes. That is exactly what they say.

It's just an $8000 pitcher of Kool-Aid.
Initiation ritual as it were.

Think about all the Chumps that dished out the cash and didn't get the job.

 

[MILPILOT17]

Yes. That is exactly what they say.

It's just an $8000 pitcher of Kool-Aid.
Initiation ritual as it were.

Think about all the Chumps that dished out the cash and didn't get the job.

Think about all the people that "dished out" the cash and got hired; it's called risk! I know plenty of people who got the conditional hire prior to having the type. It then becomes a no-brainer! Take all the emotion out and look at it from an investment stand-point. You'll make that money back in one month on second year pay. Plain and simple, it's an investment in a good financial future. By the way, as with most things in life the kool-aid comes unsweetened; add as much sugar as you like?

 

[FlyinGuy]

Just think about all the guys that could care less if you think SWA is a PFT outfit!!!!

 

[MILPILOT17]

Just think about all the guys that could care less if you think SWA is a PFT outfit!!!!

That's a valid point as well

 

[Whataburger]

Back in the day when I was doing the airline application, a requirement was that I had a 4-year degree. I paid for that!

Next question?

My app. said I had to read, speak, and understand the English language. I had to pay for that.

 

[mt2]

Nice work SWA. IIRC less than 6 months ago Gary was saying a Q4 loss was a no-brainer. Hopefully the positive momentum continues into 2010 and growth returns so us poolies can quit treading water !!

 

[Hamburger]

Just think about all the guys that could care less if you think SWA is a PFT outfit!!!!

True. Just about the same as number of Gulfstreamers that care about what I think of their "investment", I reckon.

 

[Skyboy722]

Think about all the Chumps that dished out the cash and didn't get the job.

Oh, OK. You're one of them. I get it.

 

[StopNTSing]

Nice work SWA. IIRC less than 6 months ago Gary was saying a Q4 loss was a no-brainer. Hopefully the positive momentum continues into 2010 and growth returns so us poolies can quit treading water !!

I'm sure all the labor groups having since ratified new contracts has nothing whatsoever to do with the new outlook. That said, growth would certainly be a good thing. Hope you can get the rest of the way on board soon.

 

[StaySeated]

Yea, that's it! SWA actually lost money and just found a way to report a profit so they could pay some more taxes.

Alright that was funny.

Congrats to the SWA folks. When will at least one other airline management team realize the benefit of having happy employees. Divide and conquer has not worked one time in this industry.

 

[DX Jake]

I'm sure all the labor groups having since ratified new contracts has nothing whatsoever to do with the new outlook. That said, growth would certainly be a good thing. Hope you can get the rest of the way on board soon.

Not all of them. imp:

 

[StopNTSing]

Not all of them. imp:

You're right. I stand corrected. Best of luck with your negotiations.

 

[DX Jake]

You're right. I stand corrected. Best of luck with your negotiations.

Tanks :beer:

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

I am a proud SWA pilot who wishes the type requirement would go away. Ive seen to many good guys get turned down (many have seen this). With an interview process as imperfect as it is, its not fair to ask someone to shell that out.

If we took the type question off the application, eliminated it from how interviewees are chosen, and disallowed interviewers from considering the possession of the type in the selection process, I have not much problem with requiring the type AFTER the job offer. Its easily paid back when 1st year pay is compared to peer airlines. It needs to be removed from the selection process.

Sending guys out to drop 8K so they have a "better chance" is wrong in my opinion.

For the record, I bought mine before the interview and was hired the first time around. It takes MANY guys 2 or 3 tries. Too many. In most cases, it is more likely that SWA is mistakenly over looking them on their first attempt, rather than them "changing for the better" and becoming "worthy" before their subsequent interviews. This wastes our time and money, and theirs.

 

[rajflyboy]

I am a proud SWA pilot who wishes the type requirement would go away. Ive seen to many good guys get turned down (many have seen this). With an interview process as imperfect as it is, its not fair to ask someone to shell that out.

If we took the type question off the application, eliminated it from how interviewees are chosen, and disallowed interviewers from considering the possession of the type in the selection process, I have not much problem with requiring the type AFTER the job offer. Its easily paid back when 1st year pay is compared to peer airlines. It needs to be removed from the selection process.

Sending guys out to drop 8K so they have a "better chance" is wrong in my opinion.

For the record, I bought mine before the interview and was hired the first time around. It takes MANY guys 2 or 3 tries. Too many. In most cases, it is more likely that SWA is mistakenly over looking them on their first attempt, rather than them "changing for the better" and becoming "worthy" before their subsequent interviews. This wastes our time and money, and theirs.

Thanks for posting what I really believe is the truth! If "Buying" a type is required for the job SWA should at least interview and hire BEFORE the pilot goes and spends this money. I'd have a lot less heartburn if they did it this way.

 

[BlueandWhite]

Thanks for posting what I really believe is the truth! If "Buying" a type is required for the job SWA should at least interview and hire BEFORE the pilot goes and spends this money. I'd have a lot less heartburn if they did it this way.

I know this has been said before, but SWA does not require a type to interview. It may have been a hard requirement sometime in the past, but not now. I interviewed without a type, and was "invited to continue the hiring process." I had to get my type before entering the pool for a training class. Admittedly, you could argue the "hire" point as that technically doesn't happen after you have been offered a training date.

The problem is that there have been so many guys/gals looking to interview that they were willing to shell out the $$ to get the type in order to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Unfortunately, when everyone else does the same, it becomes a de-facto requirement to have a type.

This "de-facto requirement" waxes and wanes depending on the hiring cycle. When the People Dept starts looking at resumes, they will naturally go to the stack of folks meeting all the qualifications AND with a type. When that stack gets light, they will pull more from the "no type" stack. Given that it will be a while before hiring starts, you can imagine how big the "with B737 type" stack will be.

I do tend to agree that having a type should not influence how someone is picked for an interview.

 

[FlyinGuy]

Raj, I'll say it again......most people do not care if you have "heartburn" over the type. If you don't like it....don't get it.

 

[waveflyer]

As PD said
"we do not care what others think about how we do business"

I personally like the type requirement- I don't want just anyone to get the job- I want the pilots hired to want to be here for more than just the $$. To get it into their head that it's not just about what you can take from the company- but what you can give. We have the happiest pilots in the world - I think the reason for that is that we are a part of something- invested in- that's bigger than us. I don't want it to be easier AKA "fairer" - I don't want someone who feels they are 'entitled' bc they shelled out cash for the type- I want pilots who are willing to interview 2-3 times and keep at it- this business plan only works bc everyone in it cares a LOT-
if you think that's corny- I don't care-
I passed my first try- but I was sincere when I said I'd be re-applying if I didn't get it- asap.
I believe pilots who continue to show up and work for corrupt managements are selling out much more than anyone who buys a type to have a chance at southwest. Before you go badgering wn's interview process- maybe you ought to question day to day life at most other airlines. And why such a huge majority of us are so unhappy and keep showing up for it.

 

[desolo]

well said waveflyer....

 

[Whine Lover]

Let's just shut this down...

In the 1960'-70's-80's MANY ( if not all ) of the top tier majors had a hard requirement of a 4 year college degree.

No sheepskin...NO interview. Period.

Guess what? Many aspiring airline pilots went out and forked out many more thousands of dollars on a B.S. or B.A. than anyone has ever been spent on a 737 type rating.

There is no difference whatsoever, and this PFT/SWA idiocy is a fool's argument perpetrated by those whose grapes went sour.

End.


YKW

 

[satpak77]

how did this turn into PFT. Lets re-congratulate SW for turning great profits.

Good job guys

 

[Dash Power]

I got a four degree just to be in the airline pilot business. That cost me tens of thousands of dollars.

I had to pay for my private, instrument, commercial, multi, CFI, CFII, CFIMEI, ATP and the FE written tests (three times) just to qualify for a job with a major airlines in the late 70's to early 80's.

The 737 type easily beats the price of all the other ratings airlines required for application.

 

[GFunk20]

Agreed. It's definitely a brotherhood here. Everyone went through the type process and is enjoying the many benefits of LUV life.

 

[Whataburger]

FE written tests (three times) just to qualify for a job with a major airlines in the late 70's to early 80's.

.

Three times to pass it once, or three times you passed it???

 

[Flybet3]

ok ok ok, I will say... riding on southwest is like riding on a redneck bus, like a damn sardine! not very comfortable. Buuuuuuut! It's cheap, 98% of everyone is professional and friendly and that's what sells. And just about every flight is fu***ng jammed packed!!!

 

[StopNTSing]

ok ok ok, I will say... riding on southwest is like riding on a redneck bus, like a damn sardine! not very comfortable. Buuuuuuut! It's cheap, 98% of everyone is professional and friendly and that's what sells. And just about every flight is fu***ng jammed packed!!!

Let's see...our seat pitch is among the most generous of any airline coach cabin and our system load factor is the lowest of any major airline. Are you sure you've actually rode on Southwest Airlines before?

 

[Flybet3]

Let's see...our seat pitch is among the most generous of any airline coach cabin and our system load factor is the lowest of any major airline. Are you sure you've actually rode on Southwest Airlines before?

huh, interesting. I guess American are just fatter than ever, cuz that place was cramped and looked like a claustrophobics nightmare.

 

[canyonblue]

ok ok ok, I will say... riding on southwest is like riding on a redneck bus, like a damn sardine! not very comfortable.

It's not as bad as Delta, American or United yet. Now those fares are really CHEAP, and it sure is drawing the redneck crowd.

 

[redflyer65]

If you think SW is cramped, ride on the same exact model with Airtran. A 737-700.

Nothing against AirTran but they hold the same number of passengers (137) with a first class section. Guess where the difference is...

Seat pitch.

 

[ATLplt]

True, 137 with business class. We took out the closet and rear galley though to accommodate the two class config. That freed up a little space for leg room (emphasis on little). You've got to see the circus at the gate though...pax boarding + catering trying to do their job on both sides of the entrance + stews and pilots = clusterf*ck

BTW, congrats to SWA. Good to see at least some airlines making a little $$.