Whoooaa... easy there, killer. Have some decaf, let me clarify for you, then re-read what I wrote.
I have just shy of a dozen good friends at Southwest, guys I worked with before, guys I go to church with, etc. I see their schedules from time to time and, here's the kicker,
I DON'T LIKE DOING 6 LEGS, 50 MINUTES TO 1:20 PER LEG, 20-25 MINUTE TURNS, 4 DAYS IN A ROW.
I am well aware that not ALL the pairings are like that, but at least half of their pairings are, and I'd be wanting to trade out of those LIKE THE PLAGUE.
2nd point you misunderstood. I don't do unproductive either. Neither does airTran. My ideal trip is to jumpseat in on day 1 about 9:00 in the morning, noon report, do a 2 hour leg, 40 minute turn, 2 hour leg 40 minute turn (grab dinner), 1-2 hour leg, duty off around 8:30, and go to the hotel for 14 hours.
Get up, work out, get breakfast, report at 10:30 or so, do one 2 hour leg back into base, 40-50 minute turn, leisurely grab a little lunch, 3 hour flight out, get in about 7:00, 14 hour overnight, get a nice dinner and have fun with crew. Get up the next day, 3 hour flight back in, then a 2 hour out-and-back, get in about 7:00, grab the 8:00 flight home, get home about 9:00 p.m.
3 days, worth 18 hours, 6 hours of block per day, turns quick enough to be productive but slow enough to grab some food if you want and not have to swallow it hold or eat it at altitude cold, 4 days off. Throw one 4 day in the middle with 5 days off afterwards, you have about 80 hours credit, 17 days off, and the easiest flying I have ever done anywhere else, average 6 hours of flight time per day.
That doesn't sound all that inefficient to me, and certainly not one 2 hour leg to the outstation for 5 hours of credit (although I've picked those up from time to time for the free money, they've eliminated most of them).
3rd: They're not 11+ hour days, they're about 9. Somehow, I don't think you're flying more than 6 hours of block without more than 8-9 hours of duty, either, including duty on and duty off times.
Now, before you go off again, I'm well aware of how Southwest's pay works on the trips for pay method, that you'd credit more time than straight block like us, that shorter trips still credit higher, and that you guys make more money than straight block, which is why some guys like the higher-frequency days.
That's GREAT! Good for you. I'd like the higher pay, too, just not at the expense of flying a lot more legs. It's called "different strokes for different folks". The only thing I'd change for airTran to be like Southwest is to match your hourly pay rates, hotel policy, and have your management team's outlook on how to treat your employees and teach our guys the best way to hedge fuel (I can dream, right?)
I'm not bashing you, I hope you guys continue to do great. Why do you feel the need to bash us, Canyon?
We can all coexist. Just sit back, realize you make almost double what our pilots make by seat and longevity, that your management realizes your valuable addition to your company and treats you accordingly, and that you don't have to worry whether anyone else likes your setup or not, and all will be OK... I promise.
:beer:
