SWA or DAL

[ACL65PILOT]

I have had an interesting development.
I have been hired by DAL and am waiting for a class. I just received an e-mail inviting me to a SWA interview in April. What are your thoughts on this. We would love to get back to TX, but is SWA a good move for someone who has a job at DAL and is one of the first 30 or so hired.


Anyone?

 

[Hutchman]

Go interview, SWA many make the decision for you. If you get hired by SWA, take it. Delta is far from out of the woods. It dosen't matter if you were the first 30 hired, you will be the first to go.

 

[737 Pylt]

Take the interview. If the worst thing in your career is that you have to decide between the 2, you're doing ok. Besides, if SW offers you a job, take it. The only places better than that are Fed Ex/ UPS.
Good luck

 

[capt. megadeth]

Definitely go to the interview. Don't worry about which one to pick unless you are hired but definitely go to the interview.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Funny thing is I will be in a early April class at DAL, and I do not have the type. Of course I will not know till May, and if I get the SWA job I will have to find the two weeks off to get the type during my first year at DAL.

 

[McNugget]

One lucky SOB

 

[capt. megadeth]

Funny thing is I will be in a early April class at DAL, and I do not have the type. Of course I will not know till May, and if I get the SWA job I will have to find the two weeks off to get the type during my first year at DAL.

Remember too that if you get hired, you will have 6 months to get the type. Don't put the cart before the horse.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I know that. All I was saying was that it will be difficult at best.

 

[densoo]

Remember too that if you get hired, you will have 6 months to get the type. Don't put the cart before the horse.

Isn't the junior equipment at DAL the 737?

Get the type at DAL and then go to SWA.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I do not think that they type the f/o's at DAL.

 

[Howard Hughes]

Congrats! These are some of the decisions one likes to have to make. Hey on a side note did I see you mention somewhere that DAL is now looking to hire in excess of 350 this year? Do you ever aspire for international or that wont matter to you? Cant argue with the pay at SWA right now thats for sure. I wonder if and when the larger equipment at DAL could have more earning power. Something to think about.

 

[slapstick]

i'd go to whoever has a base where you want to live. commuting for your next 30 years will suck hard. then again, if you go to SWA, 16 or 17 days off a month ain't bad for anyone...

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Those are my thought exactly. DAL is just coming out of a very dark time, but six years ago SWA could not beg pilots to come there. One wonders if that my be the case in the next six years.
I have always wanted to do Int'l flying, but the Mrs. is from Ft Worth and really would like to move back.
It is a nice place to be, but also one that keeps you up at night.

 

[Murphy]

Nice dilemma to be in. You need to go to the SWA interview. If you don't, you'll always be wondering "what if?" If offered a job by SWA, it sounds like you might go in that direction since you mentioned wanting to move back to Texas. There's nothing like working and flying where you want to live. Congrats on the offer from Delta.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

It is funny. When it rains it pours. I got hired by DAL and World, turned down an interview for Cathay and Jet Blue, and now I get offered this. It sure is a lot different than a few years ago.

 

[General Lee]

Isn't the junior equipment at DAL the 737?

Get the type at DAL and then go to SWA.

Nope, he will most likely get the MD88.

As far as choosing which airline to fly for, it is really all about options. If you want to fly 4-5 legs a day in one airplane type for the rest of your life, being paid well in the process, then choose SWA. If you want an airline that gives you options, like which type of flying you want to do (INTL vs Domestic), a choice of planes and pay scales, and eventual good pay (it will go up eventually), then pick DL. Do you want to be a corndog or a deltoid? SWA has great job security, and DL will get stronger and may merge---but probably for the better if we do. A combination DL/NW could be a solid airline for a long time. Job security and boredom (SWA) or options with a little risk(DAL). Take a pick.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I could not say it better myself General.
I do think that the picture of this industry will change in the next five years.
Cargo and SWA will no be as attractive as they are now.
I feel that all the majors will have to raise their rates to match SWA and FDX and UPS. If not they will have an attrition issue.

 

[General Lee]

I could not say it better myself General.
I do think that the picture of this industry will change in the next five years.
Cargo and SWA will no be as attractive as they are now.
I feel that all the majors will have to raise their rates to match SWA and FDX and UPS. If not they will have an attrition issue.

In the late 90's SWA captains were leaving for UAL, and they were promptly furloughed after 9-11. That type of flying is not for everyone. Yes, they do have very productive trips. Some of their 3 days are over 20 hours, which is great for a home life. We have INTL 3 days that are over 20 hours, and instead of Lubbuck or Islip, you are in Venice or Rome. The only thing with that is that it takes a while to get there, although NYC 767-300ER INTL might only take a couple years. Those NYC trips are great because they duty in late (4pm etc) and finish early in the afternoon (1-2pm)--but you may have to commute to JFK which can be tough. But, if you want to try something different, you could stay on the 738 in SLC and do transcons, or on the MD90 in SLC and do mainly west coast stuff. You could go junior and fly big equipment early on and make more money but be on reserve, or you could stay put on one plane and be senior for the schedule. Options.

I did talk to a friend at Southwest that said after the first few months he did not know if he could handle the pace of SWA (25 min turns and 5-6 legs a day most trips) for another 20 years. But, I have also seen friends get furloughed at DL. Even if we do merge in the future, I believe it will be a beneficial merger because as the last try showed, if one partner doesn't want it and has Congress on it's side, it probably won't happen. Only a real solid merger that would benefit both sides with minimal job loss would probably occur. It is good to have choices, though.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Heck I figured I fly with you and do the Caribbean turns out of ATL. It is where we live now. The wife is the one that wants to move back to TX not me. DAL has been a long term goal of mine, but some would say I am crazy not to go to SWA or one of the cargo companies.
I think that a merger may happen, but as you say, with minimal job loss. DAL will be a good place to work the question is will it be a great place again?

 

[General Lee]

Heck I figured I fly with you and do the Caribbean turns out of ATL. It is where we live now. The wife is the one that wants to move back to TX not me. DAL has been a long term goal of mine, but some would say I am crazy not to go to SWA or one of the cargo companies.
I think that a merger may happen, but as you say, with minimal job loss. DAL will be a good place to work the question is will it be a great place again?

I figure it can only get better than what is has been in the last 5 years. We had very low moral and times were tough. I would not wish BK on anyone. But, the USAir thing has rallied us a bit, hiring is commencing for stews and pilots, we are expanding with new airplanes and routes, and this is the beginning of a hiring wave. It is ALWAYS better to be hired in the beginning of a wave. There are always ups and downs, and it seems like every 1st or 2nd year of a new decade there seems to be a downturn, but that is expected. Before 9-11, we never had gone BK, and there was NEVER a furlough as big as we saw after 9-11, of 1310 pilots. That was ridiculous. We now have lower debt and are leaner and meaner. I think it can only get better, and the pay will be there again, although maybe not as high as it got. I still enjoy this job, and hope it does get better. It was fun before, and it will be fun again. Hey, if it got too much fun like SWA, you might be caught with your pants down in the cockpit, and your wife wouldn't like that !!!

Bye Bye--General Lee