SWA buying SunCountry

[SWA/FO]

How did they become the highest paid? They tore everyone else down. Legacy 737 pilots were earning more five years ago than what swa is today. What has legacy management been saying constantly the last 5 years? I'll tell you...they have been saying "we must cut our costs and become an LCC and compete with swa and jb".

CLIFF NOTE VERSION:

:bawling: "I'm on the wrong team" "I'm going to cry until things change back to the way they use to be"

 

[big_al]

they didnt tear everyone else down, they had intelligent executives build a sucessfull business model that doesnt try to dominate all aspects of the industry like the legacies have always tried to do, and by paying their employees a good part of that success.

I think of the success of southwest as evolution in action. The strong survive, right?

 

[ivauir]

.... you ask the question is to merely gather information you can use to belittle me while making yourself feel better about your lot in life. .

He wouldn't do that - that appears to be your schtick. Is it working?

 

[jball2]

Well, I am willing to bet SWA has more millionaire pilots than any other airline because of how SWA does it's business.

Pipe-really, what's your beef? You are seriously bitter.

Edited to say- except the UPS guys that made out on the IPO a few years bAck!

 

[ThisistheDream]

The rumor of Sun Country being bought by SWA has been going around for years!!!!!!!! yeah they have 737-800 and new terminal etc. SWA doesnt need to buy and SCA, SCA leases the planes, and gates. SWA could come into MSP and get 5 plus gates tommorrow with there own planes, ground personel etc.

 

[HalinTexas]

I think they may be circling for assets a la ATA. Probably gates and ground equipment to make a big move into MSP or MEM as NWA shrinks to profitability.

 

[pipejockey]

Seriously though, what is a "living wage" for a 3rd year F.O. We have a section 6 coming up and I want to know where to start bargaining. Last year (year 2) I scraped by on just over 100k. Not sure how I made it.

I'm sorry to keep taking this thread off topic, but I just want to respond to a misconception. I don't believe I ever said that swa doesn't pay a living wage. As far as a 737 size aircraft goes, the pay is adequate. Although, I feel you guys work too many days each month for that pay. Plus no A or B fund is ashame. My "living wage" statement was in reference to my personal decision not to fly for a living if I can't earn a "living wage". And the only way to earn a living wage in this industry is to have 1000's and 1000's and 1000's, and did I mention 1000's of hours of PIC turbine time, which I don't have. I'm too old to continue to receive crap pay while hoping to get some left seat time that never comes to fruition.

CLIFF NOTE VERSION:

:bawling: "I'm on the wrong team" "I'm going to cry until things change back to the way they use to be"

Sure, I'll buy that!!

Pipe-really, what's your beef? You are seriously bitter.

Well this industry has a way of bringing that to the surface of it's labor workforce.

 

[Bake]

Pipe, did you start flying late in your life? If so, I understand it is tough to start late and expect any kind of decent retirement.

 

[Dane Bramage]

PipeJockey: Three thoughts...

1. Timing is everything

2. Fares (and profits) are now rising industrywide...as our hedging profits decline we are raising fares (and allowing others to, as well). It's called a "business plan."

3. As of the end of July, my earnings are ~ $140,000 for 85 work days. That averages to $20,000/month for working 12.14 days/month. I'm not feeling very exhausted!

 

[jball2]

I have only worked more than 15 days one month in my4 1/2 years at SWA and that's because I messed up my training bid. AS of my last paycheck I have made $84000 as a 5th year FO.

 

[Mgmt1Pilot]

I have only worked more than 15 days one month in my4 1/2 years at SWA and that's because I messed up my training bid. AS of my last paycheck I have made $84000 as a 5th year FO.

I'm only a 2nd year FO at airline X and my last paycheck showed that I have made so far $120,000. Eat me and get a life instead of bragging about your salaries. Pathetic..uke:

 

[pipejockey]

I'm only a 2nd year FO at airline X and my last paycheck showed that I have made so far $120,000. Eat me and get a life instead of bragging about your salaries. Pathetic..uke:

Well It is my fault. I previously posted about how I think the swa pilots work too many days for what they earn. I actually thought they would have to work over 20 days a month for that kind of pay.

Pipe, did you start flying late in your life? If so, I understand it is tough to start late and expect any kind of decent retirement.

Yes, I graduated High School in the early 90s when Pan Am and Eastern were going down and didn't dare get in this industry at that time. So I got involved in all this in the late 90s when everything indicated that this would be a career with a future and be somewhat in demand. But I actually have been flying since 1992.

Some people live and learn the easy way, and others the hard way. I chose the hard way I suppose. But at least there is one positive to this, and that is I don't have to go the rest of my life wondering what if? What if I gave it a shot? You win some, you lose some!

All I ask, is that you let me be bitter, I think I somewhat enjoy it!

 

[Dane Bramage]

Good grief, pipe! You're still a young pup!! I once flew with a gal who didn't start flying till she was 36. She was a pharmacist, but decided flying was her true calling, albeit at that relatively late starting age. She was at SWA within five years and never looked back.

Never, never give up on your dream. Always do what you love for a living and you will never have any regrets.

Mgmtplt: No braggin' here. Just felt like some facts might straighten out some bad info posted on the thread. Airline pilot pay at the major level is above the national average salary, but not nearly like it was in the 70's. There are a lot of ways to make more money than an airline Captain now, and millions of Americans are doing it every year. But most of them are probably working harder than we are...and perhaps having less fun...

 

[HighSpeedClimb]

I'm only a 2nd year FO at airline X and my last paycheck showed that I have made so far $120,000. Eat me and get a life instead of bragging about your salaries. Pathetic..uke:

While I agree it's no fun reading about how much SWA pilots make on this forum, it is something to shoot for with our own airlines as profits start coming in.

 

[SWA/FO]

I'm only a 2nd year FO at airline X and my last paycheck showed that I have made so far $120,000. Eat me and get a life instead of bragging about your salaries. Pathetic..uke:

exactly.... keep it up and they will be calling you names, too.

 

[jball2]

Mgmtplt-You posted yours so your doing the same! Talk about bragging! We were just posting fact for those with incorrect info on how much we work versus how much we make. One Captain and one FO so folks could get a clear picture. Congrats on raising the bar!

BTW- Who do you work for ?

 

[jball2]

I see you're at DELTA. There are no 2 year FO's there are there? I saw you bragging on another thread about your 767-300. Yours is bigger than mine. Yep!

 

[Dane Bramage]

jball:

He was just mocking us because he thought we had our chests puffed out with our tail feathers raised.

It appears at least one FlightInfo poster doesn't understand using facts to support or rebut incorrect info. Oh well....back to PPRuNe...

 

[schafjet]

Back to the original subject. I think Air Tran was more interested in Sun Country than Southwest. Sun Country was up for sale and Air Tran was rumored to be interested. Sun Country's CEO was down in Atlanta talking with them, but was also talking with the Petters Worldwide group. Petters who owns Polaroid, Sunbeam and Fingerhut is a local MSP guy. He finally came to terms with other investors at Sun Country to purchase Sun Country and take 100 percent ownership. Rumor was that majority ownership was the sticking point in getting the deal done. Some original investors still don't want to give up their interest in Sun Country and want to block the deal, they want to put up a competing bid for the company. It sure is nice to be loved and fought over!! I think.

 

[JAM-BRO]

I'd rather drive a truck than work for a company that has created a workforce of underpaid pilots.

PIPEJOCKEY

PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE PIPE DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SWA is a THE carrier to work for...

Jam-Bro

 

[Skeptic]

Hey Shafjet,

Have they recalled everone on furlough? I would love to work for SC, but do not know if they will be hiring soon?!

Skeptic

 

[schafjet]

Not everyone is recalled yet. They might get down to the bottom this fall and then have to go in reverse order. So it still may be a year or so until they hire off the street.

 

[Skeptic]

Thanks schafjet,

I hope it happens sooner than later.

Skeptic

 

[canyonblue]

Yes, I graduated High School in the early 90s...

And after that most people go to college. This explains most of your posts.

 

[tracearabians]

Who in hell gives a rat's ass about any of this ? WOW!​

 

[jhill]

I'd rather drive a truck than work for a company that has created a workforce of underpaid pilots.

Good. Enjoy drivin' that big rig

 

[tpaYankee]

Back to the original subject. I think Air Tran was more interested in Sun Country than Southwest. Sun Country was up for sale and Air Tran was rumored to be interested. Sun Country's CEO was down in Atlanta talking with them, but was also talking with the Petters Worldwide group. Petters who owns Polaroid, Sunbeam and Fingerhut is a local MSP guy. He finally came to terms with other investors at Sun Country to purchase Sun Country and take 100 percent ownership. Rumor was that majority ownership was the sticking point in getting the deal done. Some original investors still don't want to give up their interest in Sun Country and want to block the deal, they want to put up a competing bid for the company. It sure is nice to be loved and fought over!! I think.

I heard this one as well as the repeating rumor of AirTran and Midwest hooking up also.

 

[pipejockey]

And after that most people go to college. This explains most of your posts.

And your statement shows just how ignorant a human being can be. So in your fcuked up world when one states the year they graduated from highschool, they must also state what year they graduated from college? Heres a newsflash for ya brain dead...everyone graduates highschool at the same age give or take a year, but due to many circumstances beyond ones control, people graduate from college at all different ages for many different reasons. We all are not pathetic, lazy, half men like you who never had to take responsibility for themselves and their loved ones. Are you able to wrap your limited intellect around what I have just tried to explain to you?

I would love to meet you in person. I wish I could tell you why, but the moderators would ban me if I explained myself because you'd go running to them like the sissy that you are whining and crying about how I wished you harm. Now take your sniveling sorry self and go tune in to "queer eye for the straight guy" and watch your kind of people give out fashion tips. You could also try tuning in to the Logo channel 263 on Directv, you will feel at home.

 

[scoreboard]

Actually pipe i dont want to put words in Canyons mouth but i think he meant to say your of the me generation, a SNAP. Sensitive, new age pilot.

 

[pipejockey]

If he meant it in that way then fine! I won't argue with you that I'm a SNAP, which is a new one to me. But if he meant it in that way he wouldn't have brought up college. And I do have a degree which I EARNED, while working 12 hours a day and going to school nights and Saturdays. Something canyon probably doesn't know about since he reminds me of one of those punks who makes it big in aviation off of mommy and daddy's dollar.