? SWA or CAL

[Flopgut]

FWIW,

I was furloughed from CAL in '01....I've found a much nicer home at LUV. In an industry of apples and oranges LUV is a chocolate milkshake. The sky is bluer, the grass is greener and my food tastes better No $hit !!!

FWIW, I just barfed.

 

[miles otoole]

FWIW, I just barfed.

Throw up when the neighbor drives by with the hot wife in the Bentley, do ya?

 

[Boeingman]

The airline you get hired with in your youth will most likely not resemble the airline you retire with at 60. Ask any senior legacy pilot today how they felt about the corndog airline 25 (ish) years ago and if they would of left or applied.

SWA F/O, your comment was quite transparent but shall I remind you sir that many turned down your airline in times past with the same thoughts in mind.
Dare I suggest that had it not been for a gamble with fuel hedge's your company would also of been losing money? This industry is a pendulum and the tides of good fortune eventually always shift. Should you be lucky enough to ride this crest of success for your entire career, all I say is more power to you and your fellow employees.

As far as airlines themselves go who knows. The thought of flying a 737 on multiple legs every day for my entire career is not in the least appealing to me.

 

[G4G5]

I have to agree with Boeingman.

The only thing that you really have at your contol right now is your commute. Pick the airline that has the base in the town in which you want to live in. Someway, somehow we all wind up commuting but commuting to reserve on probation blows.

 

[Wingsweep]

Go where other workers are happiest

Work where others around you are happy. If you go where your coworkers bitch about everything (and I do mean everything) then you will likely do it, too. Five, ten, or twenty years of bitching is a long bitch... Also, never turn down an interview, ya more on. Respectfully (somewhat), Wing

 

[Super Monkey]

So, what's the word with CAL in regards to re-opening the HNL crew base in the near future????

 

[foofighter145]

Your question will have to be decided by yourself...as everyone here will give you a different opinion based on their perceptions be it a commute, airline bias, schedule, financial future, expectations, and most importantly - the type of flying you wish to do you career...

You are the only one that can answer the question...

Go where YOU will be happy - end of story....If you like what you see at CAL and it's everything you hoped for, don't look a gifthorse...blah blah blah...on the other hand if you stll have an unfulfilled question check in your mind check out SWA if you have time between the interviews and no offer intrudes on the SWA decision timeframe.

But if you really want a biased opinion - go to CAL

 

[ExAF]

Swa

Go SWA

 

[Flopgut]

Throw up when the neighbor drives by with the hot wife in the Bentley, do ya?

I like cool cars and hot women just fine. I like SWA just fine for that matter. I think the poster should let nothing preclude him from exhausting every possibility of working for SWA as a first choice.

What I can't stand is the awkward bravado we all have to suffer through with these SWA guys! O-KAY, we get the picture!....Your airline makes a profit!

You would all do well to ease up a little bit; doing so at the top of the wave makes life easier when your at the bottom of the wave.

 

[Swann757]

As for how long it takes to hear from CAL, mine was that same evening. Lately, they are doing fingerprints and urine samples the same day. By law, you have to be hired withing 30 days (that is in class) of the urine sample given. I interviewed on July 14th and will be in the August 9th class.

 

[fastone]

got an offer -- still contemplating though -- give up fortune 10 corp. job for CAL -- very tempting... Any input?

 

[inthewind]

Fastone:
Stay at your Corp 10 job or go to SWA that leaves one more spot at CAL for me!

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Fastone:
Stay at your Corp 10 job or go to SWA that leaves one more spot at CAL for me!

Two deep cutting furloughs in the past 15 yrs? One, almost two, bankruptcies in about the same time?

Why are you asking this question?

 

[debo007]

Lets see..Newark, Houston, Cleveland, Guam. Tough choice. Those are all great bases....FOR ME TO POOP ON!

 

[inthewind]

Two deep cutting furloughs in the past 15 yrs? One, almost two, bankruptcies in about the same time?

Why are you asking this question?

Hose a.
Fastone was asking the question. I want to fly long haul international, not seven legs a day. Been there done that. I can't figure out why I haven't gotten a call at UPS even though I've got mil/121/135 time, been updating my reume' every single month for the last five(yes i said five) years. I've got letters from 12 pilots, ten of them senior captains and Pat O'leary even handed my resume' to Paige. Still not one peep. WTFO!
So I give up, not paying for training ie. swa type so I'll take a spot at CAL, if Fastone leaves it for me. LOL

 

[miles otoole]

I want to fly long haul international, not seven legs a day. Been there done that. I can't figure out why I haven't gotten a call at UPS

Why do you know you want want to fly this profile? Have you ever done it? Do you really know what you are getting into? Sorry to sound like an interviewer, but I might just be one.

 

[sf260pilot]

Take-offs and landings are what keep you sharp, not cruising the flight levels with the autopilot on

 

[propjob27]

Deleted. Was drunk at the time.

 

[Swann757]

got an offer -- still contemplating though -- give up fortune 10 corp. job for CAL -- very tempting... Any input?

As everyone has been saying, you have to decide what kind of flying you want to do. I have a lot of military comrads who are favoring CAL and FEDEX over SWA. I guess they see an equally or better package and want a choice of equipment and flying over their careers. All I can offer is pray and decide but an answer from SWA will take to long for you to keep putting CAL off.

 

[#1 Windmilling]

Go to both interviews. We'll assume you get offers at both. Go to CAL training and get the type rating (they type the FOs). Then bail to SWA. Done. Of course, you may end up on a 75 at CAL during initial.


-W

 

[propjob27]

Go to both interviews. We'll assume you get offers at both. Go to CAL training and get the type rating (they type the FOs). Then bail to SWA. Done. Of course, you may end up on a 75 at CAL during initial.

I'm sure CAL would REALLY like that.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

My advice--

Research, Research and more Research.



Look at the competitive landscape and figure out if one is more likely to meet or exceed their growth plans. Look at the revenue stream and likelihood of serious cost issues coming up in the future. Is there a need for a pilot pay cut on the horizon? Does the company want or need to increase productivity? How are management labor relations?

Hedge your bets with a scenario where each makes a mistake or two and how well they can weather it. SWA, for example, has much room for error due to their strong balance sheet. Factor in competitors and their ability to put a squeeze on revenue. Stock analysts and airline forecasters can help but I look at their guesses with a jaundiced eye. I am concerned by CALs debt but their revenue looks good.

SWA is a really good company to work for. It is fun to go to work. I don't think management is out to bilk the company at SWA. That is really important to me. There is no substitute for a trustworthy management team.

What I would not use to make a decision, unless you have no choice, is first year pay. If that really is a factor I would focus on how to make low first year pay work if that company is worth working for.

The highest lifetime earnings is also on my list of what not to look for. I know I don't need to fly international. My goal is narrow body captain.

Schedule is a double edged sword. If you pick one because they are not flying 7 legs a day you have to ask if that is smart. If your productivity is lower at CAL, should your pay be as high? I think that is one reason why ATA guys are getting stuck with low pay right now. Its hard to make them productive with their route structure. For a cargo carrier low productivity is no problem but it is essential in the pax industry. SWA has no problem, IMHO, making pilots productive. This productivity allows higher pay with a smaller dent in the CASM.

Lastly, as others have said, many have played the forecaster game and made the wrong call. Its hard to predict the future. The further out your forecast the less accuracy you will have. I trust a 2-3 year projection oodles more than a 6-10 year projection.

SWA is a great bet, unless JetBlue and Airtran start beating them up. CAL is a great legacy bet, unless legacy mergers make strong rivals.

Finally, pray about it and be happy with your decision. But don't throw away your interview suit.

 

[canyonblue]

....don't throw away your interview suit.

........or stop updating your logbook.

 

[MarylandONE]

Guam hasn't been available for several classes.

Neither has BWI...

 

[MarylandONE]

The question should be....

Do you want to get furloughed in the future? If no, then go to SWA. If yes, CAL.

 

[propjob27]

Gatorade, I'm sorry you didn't get the job but...

Gatorade,

I'm sorry you didn't get the job but the way you expressed you disappointment is a testament to why you didn't get the job. Attitude is everything around here.

Yours sure sounds great.

The question should be....

Do you want to get furloughed in the future? If no, then go to SWA. If yes, CAL.

Not to mention helpful...

 

[GogglesPisano]

Three numbers ...... 7 7 7

 

[foofighter145]

The question should be....

Do you want to get furloughed in the future? If no, then go to SWA. If yes, CAL.

Very myopic, naive comment ! But just in case you can predict the future, care to tell me what the Big Game Lottery numbers will be?

 

[TAZ MAN]

The question should be....

Do you want to get furloughed in the future? If no, then go to SWA. If yes, CAL.

Careful big guy. This must be your first airline. Don't think there has never been the consideration at some time that the management at SWA has considered a furlough that you just haven't known about.

If I were you I would knock on wood right now.

 

[propjob27]

This must be your first airline.

I'm guessing it is, based on the information he provided:

Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5


Aircraft Experience: Only the 737-300/-700 matters
Flight Experience: SWA
Ratings: 737s
Total Time: LOTS

He probably doesn't even work there, with a line like "Only the 737-300/-700 matters". The Southwest guys I drink with at Mr. C's aren't lame enough to say that.