SWA or CAL, Humor Me

[johnsonrod]

I think my FO put it best yesterday when we were discussing this exact thing.

It's been both of our collective experiences when talking with friends who are at CAL and friends at SW that when you ask them "how they like the job", the two groups answer very similarly but with one small difference:

New CAL pilots seem to always say, "I like it, but....."

New SW pilots seem to always say, "I love it."

Note the slight difference in how they answer, that to me says a lot.

The novelty will wear off. How many of your friends have been doing quick turns for the last 10 years at SWA?

Have fun!

 

[MJG]

That's just the thing. All of my friends over there have been doing quick turns their whole airline careers. They don't know any other way. These are not lazy individuals. Started at the commuters/regionals and continues to this day. Now they do the same exact thing in a bigger airplane, for a better company, for more pay and a better quality of life. And they still love it. Go figure.

Certainly the answer to the original question is: To each his own.

 

[SteelerMan]

Its all about quality of life, you will get more days off with SWA without question so if you have to commute with either, then I would go SWA. But if you happen to live near EWR, then CAL is for you. I know a few people have left CAL for SWA, but only because it improved their QOL by eliminating a commute, I don't know of anyone who has left SWA for CAL. I know I wouldn't.

 

[Furloughed80]

What about the 777 line holders that get 20 days off a month or 777 reserve pilots that never work? If you could deal with living around EWR, CAL could be the best place.

I have talked to pilots that were hired in late 2005 that are holding lines on the 777; but as stated "to each his own".

 

[Charlie Brown]

The novelty will wear off. How many of your friends have been doing quick turns for the last 10 years at SWA?

Have fun!

I bet the novelty of sitting around IAH or EWR on the last turn of a four-day for 4 hours would never get old.

Rotting in the food court? Have fun!

 

[Pocono Pilot]

This is exactly what I thinking.

Kinda reminds me of a story, back to my younger years: A Friend of mine, Adam (who now works in the adult film industry) and I were hired to pull weeds at this old man's house.

I estimated that we could have it done (all the weeds pulled) by lunch time and been on our way. Adam said "no dude, we can make this last all day and get 8 hours out of it". I replied, you're f*cking nuts, I'm not going to stay here all day milkin' the job to get paid for 8 hours, I've got better $hit to do. I'd rather pull the weeds and be on our way.


the SWA/FO

That's the stupidest analogy I have ever heard in my life. :cartman:

 

[tmac3333]

Wow...Pocono Pilot actually had a post that didn't slam CAL. I can't believe it. Maybe someone stole her wallet that had her flightinfo username and password in it or something.

 

[scoreboard]

at least he can spell

This from an *** who doesn't use punctuation...

 

[SWA/FO]

That's the stupidest analogy I have ever heard in my life. :cartman:

Thats what I get for reaching out? I'm trying to be nice.

 

[737 Pylt]

Exactly, who wants to work anyway. Why even move out of Mom & Dad's house?

Yeah, but yours live in trailer!:laugh: :laugh:

737

 

[SteelerMan]

Well you might be able to get 20 days off on the 777, but that is the minority of pilots at CAL. Or you could get 18-19 days off at SWA and make more money than a CAL 777 pilot, at least now you can. Like I said if you live near EWR and can bid 777 reserve, CAL is for you, but most CAL pilots I know are on the 737 and get 12-15 days off, and make alot less than they would if they were at SWA, alot less. Just the facts.

 

[ivauir]

Well you might be able to get 20 days off on the 777, but that is the minority of pilots at CAL. Or you could get 18-19 days off at SWA and make more money than a CAL 777 pilot, at least now you can. Like I said if you live near EWR and can bid 777 reserve, CAL is for you, but most CAL pilots I know are on the 737 and get 12-15 days off, and make alot less than they would if they were at SWA, alot less. Just the facts.

I do think QOL at SWA is pretty great, but don't come here expecint 18-19 days off and any kind of exciting paycheck. You can have one or the other, but not both.

15 days off can still bring in some good bank IMHO.

 

[Palomino]

This from an ass who doesn't use punctuation...

sounds like someone needs to go enjoy their 1/2/3 rule. then maybe you can play nice with others.

 

[densoo]

the new contract negotiations are going to be tough... on the company.

You are speaking tongue-in-cheek, aren't you? The company requested pilots to help them out two weekends ago by picking up open time for time and a half (because the company won't hire enough pilots). Schedulers said it was an absolute frenzy, with some pilots actually getting upset that someone had beat them to the phone so they couldn't fly that extra trip above and beyond the 90 hours that PBS gave them already.

Yes, I think the company is very scared (THAT was tongue in cheek).

 

[Jonny Sacko]

Is that true, or did you just hear that?

 

[Palomino]

Is that true, or did you just hear that?

of course it's true. everything on Flightinfo.com is unquestionable fact.

 

[SWA/FO]

Yeah, but yours live in trailer!:laugh: :laugh:

Yeah, Dad is retired DELTA and lost his pension because you're a kitty, what was that bar getting to heavy to hold up with that stick in your ****** Had to drop it and ruin this industry! Now, I live in a double-wide with Mom & Dad. I blame Delta for everything.

 

[737 Pylt]

Yeah, Dad is retired DELTA and lost his pension because you're a kitty,

Oh joy, another internet tough guy. Let me guess, you talk a lot of tough talk behind your keyboard, eh Nancy boy!
So.... Your dad was a Delta pilot? Which means he's educated (DL requires a college degree), and had his pension robbed from crooked management because the legacy carriers had to compete with the walmart types like southwest and had to lower their standard!

what was that bar getting to heavy to hold up with that stick in your ****?

Nope....You see we had to lower the standard to the walmart way of doing things like "southwest, so we lowered our pay and service to meet the competition...

Had to drop it and ruin this industry! Now, I live in a double-wide with Mom & Dad. I blame Delta for everything.

See, this is what happens when your mother and father are brother and sister.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


737

 

[cpierse]

You are speaking tongue-in-cheek, aren't you? The company requested pilots to help them out two weekends ago by picking up open time for time and a half (because the company won't hire enough pilots). Schedulers said it was an absolute frenzy, with some pilots actually getting upset that someone had beat them to the phone so they couldn't fly that extra trip above and beyond the 90 hours that PBS gave them already.

Yes, I think the company is very scared (THAT was tongue in cheek).

I heard that as well, but I'm not buying it. I think that was just crap that came from our illustrious Ministry of Propaganda... there was plenty of open time (for FOs at least) during that period that wasn't being picked up.

We just have to keep spreading the word to pick up only advertisements and not open time.

 

[SWA/FO]

Dad got in when they use to recruit with the trailers at the airport. No degree required.

Just cus you buy into the excuse your management team fed you about having to cut your pay, doesn't mean I or my Company had anything to do with that.

 

[nimtz]

Dad got in when they use to recruit with the trailers at the airport. No degree required.

Just cus you buy into the excuse your management team fed you about having to cut your pay, doesn't mean I or my Company had anything to do with that.

Wow what a pathetic chest pound if I've ever seen it. Guess what, with inflation adjustment you won't even get a taste of what your daddy's career earnings were. At least we have peanut fares though...

 

[SWA/FO]

Wow what a pathetic chest pound if I've ever seen it. Guess what, with inflation adjustment you won't even get a taste of what your daddy's career earnings were. At least we have peanut fares though...

That wasn't chest pounding you heard. I guess, you wont even get a taste of it either.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Just cus you buy into the excuse your management team fed you about having to cut your pay, doesn't mean I or my Company had anything to do with that.

No, they took advantage and f***ed other companies instead.

 

[Captain Overs]

I would choose CAL for reasons mentioned in an earlier post. They have much better bases!

 

[Sedona16]

I'd go with CAL. In my opinion you will see a reverse in trends over the next few years. Southwest has only recently become the flavor of the month since 911. One thing that has remained constant at southwest though is they go out of their way to tell you they dont care what kind of airplane they fly but it always smells of short man complex. Also southwest only has the pay rates they do because they rode the coat tails of the legacies. There are some good pilots there but lately it seems alot of weenies coming out of the woodwork over there. Their model is beyond the harvesting advantage they used to have. On many flights prices are now equal or lower at a legacy. The legacies are actively (as in right now) upgrading interiors and entertainment which the passengers have started looking for now. Lastly I hate the cattle car mentality and the over the top cheeseball flight attendants. I like a good sense of humor but the dog and pony show over there gets old. Oh yeah, nice to have some decent food with the first class entre as well as watch a movie deadheading or comuting. Lots of pluses going forward at the legacies and it will get better from here whereas swa is in the mature to decline phase of their business cycle unless they get busy doing something different very soon.

 

[SWA/FO]

No, they took advantage and f***ed other companies instead.

doggie style.

Yeah, mega...next we are going to DO UPS. We need a Cargo notch in our belt. We are going to run them out of SDF. Actually we never ran anybody out of business, they can do that themselves.

He are a few key words that come to mind:

ACCOUNTABILITY
RESPONSIBILITY
LUBRICANT

Also southwest only has the pay rates they do because they rode the coat tails of the legacies.

I guess the legacy carriers have been paying our bills, maybe... instead of their own? If we were riding anybodies coat tails, why the 10 year contract? If we wanted to be a legacy carrier, then why are we so different? Why do we do TFP instead of hourly?Not good at copying, I guess.

Just go to CAL......

 

[The Victors]

Oh joy, another internet tough guy. Let me guess, you talk a lot of tough talk behind your keyboard, eh Nancy boy!
So.... Your dad was a Delta pilot? Which means he's educated (DL requires a college degree), and had his pension robbed from crooked management because the legacy carriers had to compete with the walmart types like southwest and had to lower their standard!


Nope....You see we had to lower the standard to the walmart way of doing things like "southwest, so we lowered our pay and service to meet the competition...



See, this is what happens when your mother and father are brother and sister.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


737

This is one of the more stupid posts lately. Nice try though. The legacy carriers do an excellent job of screwing themselves and their employees. They dont need help from anyone else. Especially swa.

 

[Captain X]

neither... go to fedex or ups period. pax side flying faces many threats with increased competition, too much capacity, not much room to grow. open skies, and age 65. SWA or CAL will eventually come not to a screeching halt but WILL slow in the next 24 mos.
IMHO

Does age 65 not apply at cargo carriers?

 

[The Victors]

I'd go with CAL. In my opinion you will see a reverse in trends over the next few years. Southwest has only recently become the flavor of the month since 911. One thing that has remained constant at southwest though is they go out of their way to tell you they dont care what kind of airplane they fly but it always smells of short man complex. Also southwest only has the pay rates they do because they rode the coat tails of the legacies. There are some good pilots there but lately it seems alot of weenies coming out of the woodwork over there. Their model is beyond the harvesting advantage they used to have. On many flights prices are now equal or lower at a legacy. The legacies are actively (as in right now) upgrading interiors and entertainment which the passengers have started looking for now. Lastly I hate the cattle car mentality and the over the top cheeseball flight attendants. I like a good sense of humor but the dog and pony show over there gets old. Oh yeah, nice to have some decent food with the first class entre as well as watch a movie deadheading or comuting. Lots of pluses going forward at the legacies and it will get better from here whereas swa is in the mature to decline phase of their business cycle unless they get busy doing something different very soon.

oh where to start? I guess if your career choice depends on the inflight meal potential or a possible movie, then CAL it is. Swa pay and benefits are the best right now, but thats not the issue. It's the culture of the airline. The people you work with are happy and enjoy the job. Management likes you and considers you an asset. Everyone in the company works together for the success of the company. That's the difference. The excellent pay and bennies are just bonus. Some of you obviously didn't pass math. swa costs are, RIGHT NOW TODAY, lower than ALL the legacy carriers. I wonder what's going to happen to the legacies cost structure as they "upgrade interiors and entertainment" and maybe paint the planes, again. Oh, and unless you legacy guys want to continue to work for "walmart wages", the new contracts might add a little to the bottom line too. And before you start, fuel is going up for everyone, and the hedges are not part of the CASM that we are talking about. I think swa will be just fine.

 

[pilotyip]

The first job offered is the best place to go between SWA and CAL. If you don't like your choice you can always go to the other place.