SW Pilots

[Skybus]

I have been a long term lurker here choosing not to participate in such a useless waste of energy. Why I even bother to lurk?? Bored in a hotel room I suppose. I have now decided to come out of the shadows for just a moment to share just a little of my insight to some of my fellow aviators.

Get a friggin life.

Stop being such assholes on here. A few of you have managed to give all of us a bad name in the community. Yes we are on top of the mountain NOW for the moment. It is NOT because of any of you assholes that insist of displaying your arrogance to the aviation community. We used to be a small little airline that people used to make fun of. Through hard work and a little humility we managed to become the 800lb gorilla. It is obvious that most of the people I am addressing had NOTHING to do with our long assent rather you will be the reason for our slow descent into airline oblivian

For the rest of you folks, these fools represent a VERY small percent of our fabulous work force.

Heres to a brighter future to us ALL.

Now I shall return to the shadows.

 

[ATA For Now!]

Thanks Sky....most of the people at ATA and the rest of the industry know that. It does suck when a few can give so many a bad name. There is that 10% that slips through the cracks everywhere. It's nice to see people very proud of where they work. Even nicer when they can be proud without being an a-hole.

I was that proud once.

As far as too much time on your hands, two words of advice....booze and porn!

Have fun!

 

[SWA/FO]

I have now decided to come out of the shadows for just a moment to share just a little of my insight to some of my fellow aviators. Now I shall return to the shadows.

Why don't you try working out - go run. Some of our hotels have some great workout rooms. Or stay in your shadow. Why don't you pick up some VJA they need people this weekend leave us flightinfo folks alone.

 

[CaptSeth]

A case in point.

If you look at the stats, though, the SWA pilots come out pretty reasonable on here. Just a couple of turds in the punchbowl, which isn't too bad..

 

[capt. megadeth]

Ha ha ha.....as I was reading the first post I am thinking.....SWA/HOMO, SWA/HOMO, SWA/HOMO.......and then guess who shows up?

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Get a friggin life.

Stop being such assholes on here. A few of you have managed to give all of us a bad name in the community. Yes we are on top of the mountain NOW for the moment. It is NOT because of any of you assholes that insist of displaying your arrogance to the aviation community. We used to be a small little airline that people used to make fun of. Through hard work and a little humility we managed to become the 800lb gorilla. It is obvious that most of the people I am addressing had NOTHING to do with our long assent rather you will be the reason for our slow descent into airline oblivian

For the rest of you folks, these fools represent a VERY small percent of our fabulous work force.

Heres to a brighter future to us ALL.

Sorry if my comments are viewed as arrogant or inflammatory. That is not intended or preferred.

But I do like to bust myths and call out those who make incorrect statements or assumptions.

First and foremost I look at this site as a chance at gathering and sharing information and insight. Sometimes the truth hurts, but I wish it didn't.

For those who offer information, I thank you. I try to do the same. I will tone down my opinion which is not worth as much as many others I have read here.

BTW, I don't view SWA as invincible.

 

[FN FAL]

It is obvious that most of the people I am addressing had NOTHING to do with our long assent rather you will be the reason for our slow descent into airline oblivian

You don't want to make an assent into oblivian, "It's unbelievable, it's just tube city."

MIKE
"That's a fantastic peak. "

KILGORE
"Peak ?"

MIKE
"About six feet. It got both the long right with left slide.
It's unbelieveable, it's just Tube City..."

KILGORE
" Well why the hell didn't you tell me that before ? There aren't any
good peaks in this whole, shooty country. It's all goddang beach break."

MIKE
"It's really hairy in there,sir. That's where we lost McDonnel
- they shot the hell out of us. That's Charlie's point."

WILLARD
"Sir, we can go there tomorrow at dawn. There's always
a good off-shore breeze in the morning."

 

[SWA/FO]

BTW, I don't view SWA as invincible.

Yeah, but CaptMega's potty mouth is.

imp: the SWA/FO (gfy)

 

[sclark161]

You don't want to make an assent into oblivian, "It's unbelievable, it's just tube city."

Did i just download a malicious virus when I clicked on 'oblivian'?

 

[pylut]

SW is definitely one of the better airlines to work for at the present time. The sad truth, however is that it has become no more better job then it was 5 years ago. QOL and pay everywhere else has just declined to the point that SW looks great by comparison. This is not intended as a slam against the SW folks. They have done a good job at holding the quality of their job in this period of sliding wages and QOL. It will sure be nice to see the halt of this constant decline of the pilot career and see the trend start the other way. Hard to say if that will ever happen again.

 

[chase]

A slightly different opinion....

The sad truth, however is that it (SWA) has become no more better job then it was 5 years ago. QOL and pay everywhere else has just declined to the point that SW looks great by comparison.

I don't have the perspective of 10-30 year airline pilot....my comparison only goes back to late '99 when I was hired. However, the statement above is not quite accurate in my opinion. I'm not comparing what SWA received in benefits to other carriers but to what has occurred within SWA during these 6.5 years I have worked at SWA.

1999 - Approximately $40 an hour FO pay
2006 - Capt upgrade at 6.6 years, in excess of 4 times that hourly rate with another increase due in Sept.

In 1999 the % of reserves for SWA (generally viewed as less than a good deal most places) was 10.65% of hard lines.

In 2006 it is 9.5%...a nice decrease in the costs to the company & inconvenience to some (not all pilots).

My average number of workdays per month in the last 5 years has decreased .33% to an average of only 13.53 days per month.

My block hours per day flown have increased 2.7% to an average 6.15 hrs per day. I only get paid when I'm flying so I like working when I'm away from home. That results in more money in my pocket.

I realize other carriers and pilots/families have suffered. While not everyone will agree but to many folks at SWA it was & isn't about the money. Yes we all like getting paid well but when most of folks were hired at SWA, SWA wasn't the highest paying job out there. It isn't yet across the board but will probably be so among passenger carriers soon. Most of us realize the good fortune we've all experienced but it requires a lot of effort on the part of everyone. This wasn't meant to rub the facts into anyone's face so please don't take my post as that. SWA pilots have paid their dues in the past & will continue to do with hard work & creative thinking by its employees. I'm just a fortunate slug who someone had pity for & hired...for that I will be eternally grateful. Happy Mother's day to all "mothers".

 

[vv100]

leave it to SWA\FO to jump right on it
He must have some webcrawler scanning the net for anything related to the Co.

And he was SO humble just a few years ago when he was on here trying to glean any info on how to get through the interview...

It's OK buddy, I'm glad your enthusiastic....just tired of you pissing everyone off

 

[SWA/FO]

vv100,

And he was SO humble just a few years ago when he was on here trying to glean any info on how to get through the interview...

I was never humble, its been more then a few years since I looked for a job pal.

I never got anything from this site about Southwest when I was looking. It was all talk about the big 3 then.. However, I have learn that you can't or shouldn't believe everything you hear on flightinfo.com. That includes the good, the bad and the CaptMagets of the World.

Why would you even waste a post on me? What did I do on this thread titled "SW Pilots" that makes you say the things you did in your post?

It's OK buddy, I'm glad your enthusiastic....just tired of you pissing everyone off

I'm glad your OK with it, I was worried that you didn't agree with my above posts, in fact next to waking up all night with my young Daughter this was the second most troubling thing on my mind. I have more supporters then you think, pal. I probably make more people happy then sad on flightinfo.com. Most people angery with me on flightinfo.com, usually aren't 5 star super senior members (like myself), are CFI's or have under 20 posts. You might be all the above.

Now, lets all use our brains, the SWA/FO speaks for himself, this is not Southwest Airlines policy nor have I been an approved spokesperson for Southwest Airlines.


imp:
the SWA/FO (ngfy)

 

[pylut]

I don't have the perspective of 10-30 year airline pilot....my comparison only goes back to late '99 when I was hired. However, the statement above is not quite accurate in my opinion. I'm not comparing what SWA received in benefits to other carriers but to what has occurred within SWA during these 6.5 years I have worked at SWA.

1999 - Approximately $40 an hour FO pay
2006 - Capt upgrade at 6.6 years, in excess of 4 times that hourly rate with another increase due in Sept.

In 1999 the % of reserves for SWA (generally viewed as less than a good deal most places) was 10.65% of hard lines.

In 2006 it is 9.5%...a nice decrease in the costs to the company & inconvenience to some (not all pilots).

My average number of workdays per month in the last 5 years has decreased .33% to an average of only 13.53 days per month.

My block hours per day flown have increased 2.7% to an average 6.15 hrs per day. I only get paid when I'm flying so I like working when I'm away from home. That results in more money in my pocket.

I realize other carriers and pilots/families have suffered. While not everyone will agree but to many folks at SWA it was & isn't about the money. Yes we all like getting paid well but when most of folks were hired at SWA, SWA wasn't the highest paying job out there. It isn't yet across the board but will probably be so among passenger carriers soon. Most of us realize the good fortune we've all experienced but it requires a lot of effort on the part of everyone. This wasn't meant to rub the facts into anyone's face so please don't take my post as that. SWA pilots have paid their dues in the past & will continue to do with hard work & creative thinking by its employees. I'm just a fortunate slug who someone had pity for & hired...for that I will be eternally grateful. Happy Mother's day to all "mothers".

Chase-
Over the 6.5 period you outlined at SW it looks remarkably unchanged:
-About 1% change in the number of reserves
-A change of 1/3 of 1% in days off
-less than a 3% change in the number of hours worked per day

Of course your schedule and payscale wil have gotten better due to seniority progression as it should.

Prior to the major decline of the industry very few pilots would have left CAL,DAL,aa,NW or UAL for SW.
That is because what SW offers is not all that remarkable with one huge exception - Stability. SW has been the 1 airline in this turbulent time to maintain what they had and not go backwards. Everyone else has gone backward to the point that SW now appears exceptional as an employer. It is sad to think for the pilots that we have let it slide so far. Will it stop soon? Who knows maybe the industry will continue to slide and SW will have to join in the erosion as well. I hope not.


By the way...I'm glad to say that I have no idea what a 5 star super duper senior member is....
You must be so proud.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

...the SWA/FO speaks for himself, this is not Southwest Airlines policy nor have I been an approved spokesperson for Southwest Airlines.

You can say that again!!

 

[Deacon]

I have lots of friends that are SWA pilots all good guys. However one of my friends has this huge chip on his shoulder about working for SWA. Why? Don't know but he always wanted to work for a major (AA or UAL) back in the day and fly big jets and go international. I guess he feels he settled.......not a bad place though at all I tell him...

 

[Mugs]

I'm glad your OK with it, I was worried that you didn't agree with my above posts, in fact next to waking up all night with my young Daughter this was the second most troubling thing on my mind. I have more supporters then you think, pal. I probably make more people happy then sad on flightinfo.com. Most people angery with me on flightinfo.com, usually aren't 5 star super senior members (like myself), are CFI's or have under 20 posts. You might be all the above.

Now, lets all use our brains, the SWA/FO speaks for himself, this is not Southwest Airlines policy nor have I been an approved spokesperson for Southwest Airlines.


imp:
the SWA/FO (ngfy)

"5 star super senior members like myself" ---blah, blah, blah. A low life CFI surely could not have such a status like yours. Your brain needs to be re-wired, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with Soutwest Airlines.

 

[SWA/FO]

Mugs = you don't understand humor, do you?

It as nothing to do with Soutwest Airlines.

Exactly, we have a winner!!

 

[Mugs]

Mugs = you don't understand humor, do you?



Exactly, we have a winner!!

Please don't try and make us all believe that you think your funny. Is that why you post as much nonsense as you do?

 

[SWA/FO]

I do think I'm funny therefore I post. Where did you come from anyway? I wasn't typing in your direction. Did your CFI friends call out to you for backup?

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Prior to the major decline of the industry very few pilots would have left CAL,DAL,aa,NW or UAL for SW.
That is because what SW offers is not all that remarkable with one huge exception - Stability. SW has been the 1 airline in this turbulent time to maintain what they had and not go backwards. Everyone else has gone backward to the point that SW now appears exceptional as an employer. It is sad to think for the pilots that we have let it slide so far. Will it stop soon? Who knows maybe the industry will continue to slide and SW will have to join in the erosion as well. I hope not.

Pylut,

I know former AA folks that joined SWA in the early to mid '90s when they were furloughed from AA. They didn't accept recall to AA in the late '90s. They said they liked the people better.

I'm not BSing here. They were recalled at the start of the big hiring wave, knew it, and said no thanks even after bypassing awhile. Before you heard stories of SWA folks interviewing at AA in 2000 and leaving to go "fly the big iron on international" you had many stay put at SWA. You gotta ask yourself why.

You can say it was better at the legacies before 2001. I agree totally. Sitting reserve and working 8 days a month with high per hour guarantee and pay. Great retirement and benefits. But there was a minority (not me, I wasn't that smart) that saw it for what it was. A moment in time with change in the air. Some wondered how AA, DAL and UAL were so different from Eastern, Pan Am, Braniff and the others that went ch 7 before (again, not me, I thought it was a new paradigm and DAL, AA and UAL would mercilously dominate forever). Ticket prices ballooned during the internet boom as businessmen couldn't pay too much for a ticket. That fueled the crazy legacy expansions. ALPA went crazy and asked for huge pay and benefits with no provisions to correct back down with unexpected falls in revenue that were, historically, likely to happen.

SWA may have helped the erosion, but it was only becuase SWA was the first to do so. Now we have Airtran, JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit and USAir leading the charge with SWA toward a LCC dominated world.

I only to point this out to paint the future. The future is competitive fares forever with a squeeze on international revenue a very real possibility.

 

[pylut]

Boeing jets-
I'm sure there are many exceptions, and many people happy to stay put rather than take the recall.

I think you're right, though, with so many LCC's I think there will continue to be more undercutting and an overall decrease in QOL. I am hopeful to see someone come along and start to drag "up" the industry for a change. Until then I will continue in a non aviation plan b, which sadly or luckily depending how you look at it is several times more lucrative than flying at the present time.