SWA/AAI and the flight deck jumpseat

[scoreboardII]

Greed is good.

Gordon Gecko.

 

[dicko]

As for the APA comment- Are you saying that the APA is responsible for the culture at AA??

I was referring to the attitude the APA had towards the TWA pilots. I believe they compared them to Wall Mart. We both know how they treated them in the SLI.

They were arrogant and Karma hasn't treated them well.

I understand there were other forces at work also. They'll be in front of a judge shortly.

 

[RLAblows]

Greed is good.

Gordon Gecko.

Then he went to prison. Worked out pretty good for Gecko.

 

[scoreboardII]

I guess you didn't see the next movie...

 

[Tripower455]

That doesn't make any sense.

All I keep hearing is money money money, it really makes one believe that if it were a 1999, 2000 environment in the industry you guys would all be trying to get on at United and Delta, and not giving a rip about your "culture." All I hear is greed on this message board.

I very briefly considered leaving SW for DL in '98, but couldn't afford to risk a furlough, besides, I didn't meet their hiring qualifications with 10K+ hours, 5 type ratings, 12 years in the 121 world.

I wake up every day firmly believing that it's far better to be lucky than good!

 

[RLAblows]

I very briefly considered leaving SW for DL in '98, but couldn't afford to risk a furlough, besides, I didn't meet their hiring qualifications with 10K+ hours, 5 type ratings, 12 years in the 121 world.

I wake up every day firmly believing that it's far better to be lucky than good!

I appreciate your honesty. Very true about this industry when it comes to luck and timing. I've been pretty lucky so far.

 

[Tripower455]

I appreciate your honesty. Very true about this industry when it comes to luck and timing. I've been pretty lucky so far.

I am so lucky I never finished my 4 year degree...... I might have actually gone to Delta.

Oh, and I was not actively looking to leave SW. My old man was a Pan Amer that went to DL with with the Atlantic routes (that really started DL in the international business). A contemporary of his that got an office job after he turned 60 worked in some capacity in hiring. They were actually having a hard time finding qualified applicants at that time, and the guy knew I was a pilot. He called my old man and asked him if I were interested in a job at DL. I hadn't really considered leaving SW, as I really liked the company, but the pay and retirement numbers were a bit better over at DL. The nagging issue was losing my seniority, and the very real risk of a furlough ( the country was showing signs of the coming recession). It was really a tough decision, so I decided to fill out the UPAS app, and then, make the decision if I got the job. Before I filled out the flight time grid (I hadn't totalled my logbook in over 3 years at that point), I decided to check the minimum requirements. When I read that a 4 year degree was one of the requirements (the only one I didn't meet in spades, BTW), I called my old man, and he called his friend to ask. The guy didn't think it would be a big deal, considering my other quals, but he made a call, and was exasperated that they wouldn't waive that considering my experience. I was actually relieved that I wouldn't have to make a tough decision (a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush), and obviously, I am far better off than had I gone over.

I never looked at going anywhere else after getting hired at SW. After having an active application on file for over 8 years, UAL finally called me for an interview about 6 months after I got hired, and I never even responded, although I did consider going to the interview wearing a pair of jeans, a SW tee shirt, leather jacket and ropers just to see their reaction to my total disdain I have/had for their hiring practices.

 

[RLAblows]

I never looked at going anywhere else after getting hired at SW. After having an active application on file for over 8 years, UAL finally called me for an interview about 6 months after I got hired, and I never even responded, although I did consider going to the interview wearing a pair of jeans, a SW tee shirt, leather jacket and ropers just to see their reaction to my total disdain I have/had for their hiring practices.

Good story. I particularly like the last part. I think we all have the same sentiment when it came down to UAL and their hiring practices. It probably helped contribute to the sinking of the USS United in training costs alone. When/if I get over to the SWA side beers are on me.

 

[SWA/FO]

just to see their reaction to my total disdain I have/had for their hiring practices.

Yep... they were tough.

RLAblows.... get over here! I like free Beers!!

 

[Lear70]

JT,

Sure be interesting to know what year you were hired at Airtran......... I'm thinking you're one of the Captains that's junior to our senior FO's.

He's not.

You have been bought by a company that pays and treats its pilots better than your old one. Start at the bottom like everyone else or stay fenced at your old pay/benefits and seat...don't scoff at the money that just makes you look greedy...

I thought we talked about that... a staple just isn't going to happen, nor is fencing off the operation. So why do you keep insisting on talking about it and deliberately irritating us?

It'll all work out, my friend. Just gotta have a little faith. Enjoy your weekend... :beer:

 

[Lear70]

I never looked at going anywhere else after getting hired at SW. After having an active application on file for over 8 years, UAL finally called me for an interview about 6 months after I got hired, and I never even responded, although I did consider going to the interview wearing a pair of jeans, a SW tee shirt, leather jacket and ropers just to see their reaction to my total disdain I have/had for their hiring practices.

I'd have like to have been a fly on the wall for that interview...

 

[JT12345]

JT12345,

But you need to come to terms that you will still have a job, a good one at that.

That's the point. Well done. What is the point of the money if you are on the street.

Seniority is gold bullion. Everything else is fleeting.


I like all the guys hired the last 12-15 years acting like SWA is the world to them. The only place. Really the word was out about how great SWA was after the early 90s. I think they whethered that storm very well after the Iraq war and raised eyebrows. Those hired before that are the ones with the ghonas like Gup. They took the risk. Made it the place it is... or maybe was... from what I am reading on here.

Seems like most of the guys and girls hired in this decade at SWA have not faced a lot of adversity in their careers prior to being hired and during their tenure there. Sorry to wake you up to the dynamics and unstablity of the industry. I know you had your caeer planned out for the next 30 years, but you should not be doing that unless you want to be disappointed.

We all need to pull together on this because the second you let up someone else will take advantage of it in this business.

 

[SWA/FO]

I thought we do this for money? It is about money. Balance is good, but money pays for things and helps you not work - someday in the future (age 72).

 

[JT12345]

I thought we do this for money? It is about money. Balance is good, but money pays for things and helps you not work - someday in the future (age 72).

Your expectations are way to high thinking you will be able to retire. Period.

The way things are going in this country plan on working till you drop. Even if things get better don't listen to some double breasted suit type financial dumb arse tell you what you need to be happy in those gold years. Their job is to collect the bread crumbs along the way to that golden parachute nonsense then rob you of it all in the end.

Retirement is subjective and if you love what you do you already are. If you don't love this why wait to you retire to do something else. If you are just in it for the money you are setting yourself up for even more dissapointment.

 

[RLAblows]

Yep... they were tough.

RLAblows.... get over here! I like free Beers!!

I'm trying! :beer: