SWA expected upgrade times?

[redflyer65]

Single fleet type is a massive cost difference. Not just the huge number of parts that are need to keep on-hand, but just as the General states above, the training cost are exorbitant. (remember there are eleven training events for one retirement).

 

[jball2]

However, our single fleet type poses some risks too!

 

[General Lee]

Well you can't have it both ways can General. I will gladly take SWA approach to single fleet at the expense of pilot movement. Especially when the fleet is transport category. We actually wanted Boeing to add a aux tank and a fuselage plug to the 717 so we could stay single fleet. But there just weren't any other buyers. Plus the 800 and 900 open some doors too. It seems to be working for Alaska too. I get what your saying, but profitability is way more important to me than flying twin aisle.

Wait, what do you mean you can't have it both ways? My airline has been very profitable the last few years, with single and twin aisle jets. The CEO is saying about a $1.25 billion profit this year, even with high oil. It's all about putting the right sized plane on the correct routes. Yes, there is more training involved if you have a fleet with multiple planes, but if those multiple planes bring in large profits, then great. That's just an expense worth having. As far as what is important for you to fly, you just have to look at your options. I am glad you are happy.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Single fleet type is a massive cost difference. Not just the huge number of parts that are need to keep on-hand, but just as the General states above, the training cost are exorbitant. (remember there are eleven training events for one retirement).

True, and it is the cost of doing business. It is up to management to decide which planes it wants where. If it brings in 4 times the profit than domestic airlines, then great. A lot of it is figuring out where the planes should go to make money. Right now Asia is hot, but Europe isn't doing great lately due to the economic mess. Luckily, some of the planes that go there can be moved to Asia or South America. That is what is good about having the right sized fleet. During the Summer the A330s do a lot of Europe out of our biggest hub, ATL. After the loads drop off a bit in September, those A330s start to switch to other regions, and 767ERs replace them. The 744s and 777s usually do trunk routes that have a lot of cargo and have pretty good loads year round, like LAX to SYD. If you had 100 744s, and economies tanked all around the World, that might be really bad.


Sorry about the thread creep. Hopefully your SWA upgrades continue at a fast pace...


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[PCL_128]

General, I'm not sure that either of our carriers are doing it exactly right. We should probably end up with another aircraft type or two when we start expanding internationally, but you should probably scale back to fewer aircraft types. There really isn't any need for an airline to operate the DC-9, the MD-88, the MD-90, the 737, and the A319/320. I mean, seriously? On the other hand, flying to Europe or South America in a stretch 737 isn't really an appealing idea, either. There should be a happy middle ground in there somewhere.

 

[jonjuan]

General, I'm not sure that either of our carriers are doing it exactly right. We should probably end up with another aircraft type or two when we start expanding internationally, but you should probably scale back to fewer aircraft types. There really isn't any need for an airline to operate the DC-9, the MD-88, the MD-90, the 737, and the A319/320. I mean, seriously? On the other hand, flying to Europe or South America in a stretch 737 isn't really an appealing idea, either. There should be a happy middle ground in there somewhere.

Hey numbnuts, it was called a merger. "I mean, seriously?" (are you a sorority girl?) According to GL, those old aircraft are paid for and make big $$$ (and they apparently will be leaving soon). swa flying internationally? LOL.....Have fun in Cancun.

 

[redflyer65]

Your right Juan, I'm sure Southwest is just ordering the 800's with rafts and Satcom to go to Omaha and Lubbock.

Long range international? Will come with a second fleet type after the 717 is gone. Two fleet types...total. Upgrades to follow.

 

[scoreboardII]

However, our single fleet type poses some risks too!

Not really. Even though we have an all 737 fleet, they consist of different blocks of 300, 500, 700, and now 800. Example, when the convertible option became a problem in the 300, we only had to look at 100 or so airframes 300's, not every 300 and not any 5's or 7's.

 

[humveedriver]

Point well taken GL. Continental started the ball rolling in the 1990's trying to simplify their fleet types. It was 777, 757 and 737 for a while. USair followed suit by going all Airbus. Then merger mania kinda threw things for a loop and the mad dog series has been hanging on through thick and thin. You can't just say single fleet is the answer to every airline; it has cost advantages and route limitations. As far a thread creep go's, this topic is way less depressing than the thought of a 20 year upgrade for a SWA new hire. I hear SWA is a good company to work though. Ask me in two years I should be working for them by then.

 

[LearLove]

Take a look at www.myseniority.com

I wouldn't mess around with those things, they are bad juju.

 

[dicko]

I wouldn't mess around with those things, they are bad juju.

I disagree.

When I'm recovering from a particularly nasty Ether binge I like to play with the growth numbers. If I put a large enough number in the calculator it shows me being senior to myself and upgrading again thirty years ago.

 

[The Victors]

Is the fourth stripe really all that important? An FO at SWA is still making a wheelbarrow full of money. I'd think that a nice paycheck with some decent seniority would be a helluva lot more valuable than the extra stripe.

Flying the same plane to the same places for 10+ years with some Dbag giving his "advice" on how to fly does get old. I'm looking forward to that fourth stripe. Don't get me wrong, though, the money is awesome and we(Swa pilots) are very fortunate!

 

[Whataburger]

I just checked out the "Projected Upgrade Program." Mine said, "Eleventy Billion more years."

I have trained my left ear to turn off when someone with 4 stripes or my wife is talking. There are FO D-bags with sage advice too.

I just worked for 4 straight days and never broke a sweat.

I have a company that has not missed a paycheck, I have not been displaced, and my job is not in jeopardy - at this time.. I consider myself fortunate.

5th and 20th.

 

[humveedriver]

This ^^^^ ! Just when you think, man I'm safe, I finally upgraded and get to fly with favorite you know what every week. You discover that it ain't the number of stripes. But who is wearing them!

 

[ASADFW7]

Upgrade can be a sore subject, so can mergers and acquisitions. So can getting poked with a sharp stick in the eye. I am happy at Swa, even with upgrading after whataburger.

 

[redflyer65]

Ditto!

 

[BillJBrake]

True, and it is the cost of doing business. It is up to management to decide which planes it wants where. If it brings in 4 times the profit than domestic airlines, then great. A lot of it is figuring out where the planes should go to make money. Right now Asia is hot, but Europe isn't doing great lately due to the economic mess. Luckily, some of the planes that go there can be moved to Asia or South America. That is what is good about having the right sized fleet. During the Summer the A330s do a lot of Europe out of our biggest hub, ATL. After the loads drop off a bit in September, those A330s start to switch to other regions, and 767ERs replace them. The 744s and 777s usually do trunk routes that have a lot of cargo and have pretty good loads year round, like LAX to SYD. If you had 100 744s, and economies tanked all around the World, that might be really bad.


Sorry about the thread creep. Hopefully your SWA upgrades continue at a fast pace...


Bye Bye---General Lee

So speaking of upgrades, when are you wearing the 4stripes in the B777 or B744, GL?

 

[General Lee]

So speaking of upgrades, when are you wearing the 4stripes in the B777 or B744, GL?

On those planes? Probably 10 years from now, after a lot of the guys have retired. In the meantime, we are still supposedly getting 787s (although rumor has it they will be the larger version, the -900, when they probably will come in 2020), and we are getting a lot more 737s--the -900ERs start coming next year. We are getting 21 MD90s this year and 8 next year, but I never have wanted to fly one of those. I could hold the MD88 as a Capt in ATL now, and I instead will wait for the 737 as a lineholder. Most of those guys are around 91 hires or a bit earlier, and I am a 96. We only have 36 total 744s/777s, so it is tougher to hold those as a Captain, but we do have plenty of 757/767s. So, in a perfect world, I will go to 737 Capt in the next year or two, and then a few more after that the 757/767 if it is still around, and then 787 after that. All 11 fingers are crossed! In the meantime, I am enjoying Asia flying, something our airline didn't do much of prior to our merger.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[outerlimits]

GL


So u are saying as 96 hire u can hold captain in ATL ?

 

[jonjuan]

GL


So u are saying as 96 hire u can hold captain in ATL ?

Do you have a reading comprehension problem?