SWA Commuting

[FliptheDuck]

All SWA pilots (and any others with commuting lessons learned) please PM or answer on this thread.

I'm expecting a SWA class date in late Feb or early March. Is the following scenario friendly/realistic with continued employment (especially during the 1st year at SWA).

Live in Syracuse, NY (guard job). Commute from either Syracuse (non-SWA) or Albany (SWA) to BWI to fly a reserve line until Lord knows when.

Would this entail a crash pad lifestyle? Is it even doable? Obviously SWA will be the biggest chip in the pile, so I'm unwilling to do anything to jeapordize this once in a lifetime opportunity. Chase, Swadude, SWA/FO, et al, PLEASE answer.

Thanks in advance,

Flip

 

[YellowLab]

Along the same lines, what are Denver SWA pilots doing for intitial and recurrent training. Do they buy there own ticket? Thanks in advance.

Could any SWA guys who live in Denver PM me. Thanks again.

 

[shootr]

Being in Syacuse kind of puts you half-way between Albany and Buffalo, both with SWA flights to BWI, maybe a 2 hour drive either way? MDW might be the junior base by then and I think getting there from either airport should be no problem. That's the way I'd do it, online with the 2 hour drive, and use whichever airport gives you the best flight for each particular trip. At the rate we'll be hiring you'll be on reserve for 1 or 2 months, max, out of BWI or MDW. Very do-able.

For initial training, if not getting there on SWA, you'll have to get yourself to DAL. For recurrent or PC's, you'll be able to jumpseat into DFW and a cheap (about $25) shuttle to DAL.

Hope this helps,
shootr

 

[dcman]

Don't you get an ID soon after beginning training allowing you to jumpseat?

 

[Donald]

Flip and Yellowlab,

I'm a SWA commuter that lives in the Denver area. For Flip, commuting on-line is always easier. Off-line is doable most of the time. You will need some kind of crash pad in BWI. I was never based in BWI but if you go to bwipilotbase.com you should find some very helpful info. Also, guys in your class may have good info. Also, I started class 1 Mar 04 and my last month on reserve was Sept. I got a hard line in May for consolidation so I was on reserve only June - Sept.
Yellowlab, I've been commuting from DEN since I started in Mar. I chose to drive to Dallas for class, and bought a ticket for my wife to return. Showing up for initial, you of course won't have your crew badge yet for jumpseating. After you do, you can jumpseat anytime. I have my one year PC in Feb and will jumpseat to DAL. SWA will offer me positive space, on-line of course, to get there. I will probably jumpseat on Frontier to Oaklahoma City, then get on SWA from OAK to DAL where I will have a positive space reservation. I'm currently based in PHX. There are 20 flights per day between PHX and DEN flown by America West, Frontier, and TED. I always call one or two of them the day prior to see what the loads look like. During the holidays, it was a little tough. So I found a cargo lear jet operation out of Centennial (APA) that we have jumpseat privileges on. Its a little tight, but not bad in a pinch. Also, we should get cockpit privileges back with atleast TED in Feb or Mar. That will help a lot. If you guys would like any more info feel free to PM me.

 

[Tripower455]

The best deal would be move to a base, and commute to the guard job. If you must stay in Siberacuse , then drive to BUF or ALB and commute on line. In the end, you'll thank me!

The crash pad lifestyle isn't too bad. It's a lot easier than doing the hotel thing if you are gonna commute long term. Just make sure you get one with your own bed.

MDW is probably easier, crash pad wise, due to the fact that there are a bunch of them within walking distance of MDW. In BWI, they are too far to walk. (I think) they shut down the light rail and the busses only run until certain hours and don't start until after the early check ins, which makes a cab ride necessary.

FWIW, I spent 10 years commuting, primarily offline (when we could still ride in the cockpit), and the absolute easiest/least stress it ever got was driving 100 miles to commute on SWA.

 

[mach zero]

Right now BWI or MDW isn't even an option for newhires. OAK is the junior base and looks like it will be for quite some time. Case in point, I hit the line in November and did not make the Feb. bid out of OAK and crunching the #'s it looks like I won't make the March one either. I am anticipating being in OAK until April. That puts my tenure there at 5 months. I have bids in for the other bases of course but I cannot hold anything else but OAK. So Flip you must ask yourself if commuting from SYR to OAK is acceptable. The problem with moving is the cost of living in OAK is so high, it precludes most pilots from moving there. Good luck.

 

[DH200]

Flip,
I'm a SWA guy who happens to live in SYR. I've done the commute to OAK for a few months, and currently commute to BWI. Drop me an e-mail address and I'd be happy to help you out.
Welcome aboard!

 

[MercuryPilot]

Flip,

You could go SYR-JFK-OAK on JetBlue. If we have room, we're always happy to give you a lift.

MP

 

[FliptheDuck]

All,

Fantastic info so far. Please keep the information train rolling, and thanks for the quick reply's.

Flip

 

[FliptheDuck]

Thread Update

 

[DH200]

Mercury pilot is right. I used JB quite often on my commute to OAK. They treated me great! Thanks again to all the guys who helped me out, your airline rocks!