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SWA expected upgrade times?

  • Thread starter Thread starter CDub
  • Start date Start date
  • Watchers Watchers 25

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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.
 
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.

This is FI, please stop using logic!

Thanks,
KBB
 
I have been here ten years and now I am staring upgrade in the face. All of the sudden I don't care like I used to. I made a boat load of money last year and I am having a great time working what ever schedule I want. I just changed my vacancy bid because a friend of mine 2 months senior to me just got Captain in OAK. I don't really want to go to OAK. I think things will speed up when the "Head Shed" figures out what it really wants to do. Also, retirements start in December so that kick in the balls won't hurt as bad. This is a great place to be no matter what seat you are in. Good Luck!
 
It's a bubble right now, everyone everywhere is stagnant. SWA is 11 yrs and gaining, probably will hit 19-20 years in 5-7 years. However, once that bubble hits the end of age 65, it will fall back to an industry standard of around 15 years. If you are a late 20 something, you'll do fine, if you are a mil retiree, you will never see captain anywhere.
 
It's a bubble right now, everyone everywhere is stagnant. SWA is 11 yrs and gaining, probably will hit 19-20 years in 5-7 years. However, once that bubble hits the end of age 65, it will fall back to an industry standard of around 15 years. If you are a late 20 something, you'll do fine, if you are a mil retiree, you will never see captain anywhere.

Lists at AA, LCC, UAL, and DAL will hit 50% in 11 years due to age 65. 50% at SWA is 19 years today.
 
Lists at AA, LCC, UAL, and DAL will hit 50% in 11 years due to age 65. 50% at SWA is 19 years today.

A lot of those Airtran guys are really young. How many age 65 retirements do you have over the next 5-10 years?


Godspeed!


The OYSter
 
Unless growth radically speeds up, the indications are that upgrades for a NEW HIRE today are upwards of 20 years.

I have about 1,200 people below me on the list, 6 years of seniority, and it still looks like I won't upgrade for another 14-15 years according to the program that was put together for SWA and AAI pilots, which takes age 65 retirements into account along with aircraft delivery schedules and scheduled aircraft retirement, along with a growth percentage you can plug in. Using 2% yearly growth, the numbers aren't stellar. Using that 2% and about 200-250 retirements per year average (give or take), the junior plug on the list won't upgrade for 20-21 years.

As Scoreboard said, if you're a military retiree, or a regional guy/gal in your mid-40's, there's a risk you might not upgrade at Southwest. That said, the airline industry is a crap shoot. Today's darling can often be tomorrow's dog, and vice-versa. Targeting only one specific airline in this industry is betting on 13 black on a roulette wheel; not great odds. You're better off going after EVERY good job, then taking the one that hires you. If you're one of the lucky 1% who has a CHOICE of carriers, pick the one that suits your personality. Being happy at work is much more important than the left seat (although the pay bump helps). ;)
 

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