Southwest Airlines schedules its first flights in Memphis

[fr8doggie]

I guess i am new to this. Would you please tell me the difference between a turn and a day trip ?

At FDX we call them "out and backs"


Regards,
Fr8-

 

[Phlintstone]

Turn = ATL BWI ATL
Day Trip = ATL BWI TPA ATL

Phred

 

[SWA Bubba]

Turn = ATL BWI ATL
Day Trip = ATL BWI TPA ATL

Phred

At Southwest generally a "turn" can be either of those two scenarios. First turn definition: "When we get back to PHX, we still have to do a Vegas turn before we go home." Second turn definition: "I got my first choice line for next month: two two-days and nine turns. Sweet!"*

Bubba

* Sweet, because you can easily give away turns (the one day trip kind) and pick up on the days you really want to fly. Or score premium time.

 

[waveflyer]

It's still weird to me that SWA calls ANY day trip a turn-

Every other airline I've worked at (all hub and spoke) a turn just described two legs from the hub and back.

It doesn't really make sense as a term if you're not turning around and coming right back

We would even describe them in the middle or end of a bigger trip-
'What are you doing today?' '2 Boston turns, end up up in Raleigh'

"Just a turn" here at southwest can be a long f-ing day

That's about the one thing I miss about hub and spoke- living in base, pilots would often give away their first or last "turn"- it was often an easy way to add to the coffers without ruining your day.

 

[Ty Webb]

Just a thought....could PCL and General Lee be the same person? That would explain a lot.

Phred

Hmmmmmm, now that you mention it . . . . Have you ever seen them together, in the same place?

Nah . . . . . The General's been posting since PCL was in Grade School.

 

[canyonblue]

It's still weird to me that SWA calls ANY day trip a turn-

I agree, I never really understood that one either. Also, I'll take the lobby time in local time. I own a cell phone that gives me the local time, I really don't care what time it is in Dallas.

 

[Patriot328]

I don't know how any of you fly more than one leg a day....

 

[waveflyer]

I agree, I never really understood that one either. Also, I'll take the lobby time in local time. I own a cell phone that gives me the local time, I really don't care what time it is in Dallas.

Thank you-(!)
We can find another way to remember Herb w/o disrespecting him with "herb time"

That said - not the only airline that does this-

Usair east I believe still runs every schedule on east coast time whether they're in Charlotte, SFO, or Athens

 

[waveflyer]

I don't know how any of you fly more than one leg a day....

Pretty sure that dornier flew more than 1/day

To me, 2 is perfect, 3 is great, and 4 is good if the weathers good- it's not til 5 that I get annoyed-- I don't actually like just 1- if I'm going to go to work- let me fly and land the big toy

All preference though

 

[humveedriver]

Pretty sure that dornier flew more than 1/day

To me, 2 is perfect, 3 is great, and 4 is good if the weathers good- it's not til 5 that I get annoyed-- I don't actually like just 1- if I'm going to go to work- let me fly and land the big toy

All preference though

Day one of IOE. 6 legs (tx 2 step), 5am report, in a -500, wind not less than 25 knots at any airport. Like most sane people, I thought I must be out of my mind for doing this! After that everything is easy.

 

[Patriot328]

Pretty sure that dornier flew more than 1/day

To me, 2 is perfect, 3 is great, and 4 is good if the weathers good- it's not til 5 that I get annoyed-- I don't actually like just 1- if I'm going to go to work- let me fly and land the big toy

All preference though

It was tough to get a dojet to do more than one flight a day. Couldn't go 10hrs without an engine change it seemed.

I was joking in my previous post, however I haven't done more than one flight a day in years and I enjoy it. I love flying, but I love being home with my kids more at this particular stage in the game. The way to do that at my company is doing two long legs a trip. 59hrs start to finish, 2 legs, 32hrs of block, 15 hrs of that in the bunk and done.

I think that's what the good ol' general tries to point out in his oh so special way. One thing that is nice about the "traditional" major airlines is the variety of flying. You want to do 2-3-4 legs a day? You can do that. You want to stay in the US? You can do that. You want to do two leg turns and be home every night? You can do that. You want to do the long haul and ultra long haul flying? You can do that. You want to do good overnights at the expense of efficient trips? You can do that. You want good overnights and efficient trips? Those exist, as well.

 

[General Lee]

Day one of IOE. 6 legs (tx 2 step), 5am report, in a -500, wind not less than 25 knots at any airport. Like most sane people, I thought I must be out of my mind for doing this! After that everything is easy.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaat??? A six leg day? But, Red and Canyonblue and ScorecardIV say that you don't have any of those......

Regardless, I'm glad you are having a good transition. Good luck.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[General Lee]

It was tough to get a dojet to do more than one flight a day. Couldn't go 10hrs without an engine change it seemed.

I was joking in my previous post, however I haven't done more than one flight a day in years and I enjoy it. I love flying, but I love being home with my kids more at this particular stage in the game. The way to do that at my company is doing two long legs a trip. 59hrs start to finish, 2 legs, 32hrs of block, 15 hrs of that in the bunk and done.

I think that's what the good ol' general tries to point out in his oh so special way. One thing that is nice about the "traditional" major airlines is the variety of flying. You want to do 2-3-4 legs a day? You can do that. You want to stay in the US? You can do that. You want to do two leg turns and be home every night? You can do that. You want to do the long haul and ultra long haul flying? You can do that. You want to do good overnights at the expense of efficient trips? You can do that. You want good overnights and efficient trips? Those exist, as well.

Well stated. Wave's problem is he/she doesn't know what do do when confronted with something called "variety." He/she then reverts back to the "sellout" theme, forgetting that some cities are too small for mainline sized planes to operate, like the 17 cities that SWA is dropping after the full absorption of AT. 717s can't profitably go to Valdosta.


But, again you are right about variety in trips and plane types. Long haul isn't for everyone, but it's great to have a choice to bid it or not. If you don't have the choice, you shouldn't slam the choice you lack.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[humveedriver]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaat??? A six leg day? But, Red and Canyonblue and ScorecardIV say that you don't have any of those......

Regardless, I'm glad you are having a good transition. Good luck.



Bye Bye---General Lee

Thanks General. All things considered, the transition hasn't been bad. School house wise they are trying to take care of us. As far as flying goes, well I'm a PM guy. So being a assigned a 5am report was not my cup of tea. But it's only for IOE so that's OK. I got my 3rd choice for lines in June, all PM flying with west coast overnights ( my preference as a former AT 737 guy). The short hop flying does provide opportunity. You can easily add a 6 leg daytrip to your sched for a few extra coins. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but it's no different than when I would add a red eye 3 day at AT for some extra credit. The difference is the 6 leg day trip is more productive for the same level of fatigue. Scheduling vs pay vs equipment isn't unique to SWA or DAL. But it's fun to watch the usual contestants reinvent the wheel each week ;-).

 

[General Lee]

Thanks General. All things considered, the transition hasn't been bad. School house wise they are trying to take care of us. As far as flying goes, well I'm a PM guy. So being a assigned a 5am report was not my cup of tea. But it's only for IOE so that's OK. I got my 3rd choice for lines in June, all PM flying with west coast overnights ( my preference as a former AT 737 guy). The short hop flying does provide opportunity. You can easily add a 6 leg daytrip to your sched for a few extra coins. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but it's no different than when I would add a red eye 3 day at AT for some extra credit. The difference is the 6 leg day trip is more productive for the same level of fatigue. Scheduling vs pay vs equipment isn't unique to SWA or DAL. But it's fun to watch the usual contestants reinvent the wheel each week ;-).

Well, I'm glad you enjoy it, and I'm glad you can pick up some extra coin if you want, even if it is a 6 leg day. Btw, which base are you at now, or do you commute from ATL? Take care.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[humveedriver]

I commuted to ATL. I live in the big D. No more commuting for a while. There will probably be some growth at SWA. How much and when will determine if I want to re-upgrade and start commuting again. If I could get into DEN as a CA, I would consider moving there. That's really the only other base other than DAL that interests me at this point in my life.

 

[canyonblue]

I love flying, but I love being home with my kids more at this particular stage in the game.

Don't let the Delta pilots hear you say that, that's not allowed at the commune.

 

[General Lee]

Don't let the Delta pilots hear you say that, that's not allowed at the commune.

Canyon,

How can you see through all the tears while you type? Do you have Bounty paper towels nearby when you start thinking about your family while in a trip? No doubt family is very important, but hopefully your wife knew you were a pilot before you had kids. Unless you can hold day trips, you will be away on layovers, and if that is the case, hopefully you enjoy them.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[General Lee]

I commuted to ATL. I live in the big D. No more commuting for a while. There will probably be some growth at SWA. How much and when will determine if I want to re-upgrade and start commuting again. If I could get into DEN as a CA, I would consider moving there. That's really the only other base other than DAL that interests me at this point in my life.

Good for you, and no more DFW either. Well done.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Don't let the Delta pilots hear you say that, that's not allowed at the commune.

Sorry the Delta interview didn't work out for ya.....