SWA (phx or las)

[flybynav1965]

Hey guys,

thanks for all the replies. anyone else from SWA have any comments about the questions on page 1?

cheers,
Nav

 

[califlyer]

Great post! Thank you for acknowledging the fact that there is a very good chance that someday at SWA you will have to fly to LBB. (With 13 flights a day there) Man alive, NO THANKS.

Bye Bye--General Lee

I was only acknowledging the fact that there cannot be a post about SWA without you making your stupid comments about LBB overnights.

 

[General Lee]

That literally makes no sense. We have been out of Chap 11 for a while now, and the upgrades and movement has been swift, actually increasing pay. And, you keep forgetting that thanks to BK I got about $240,000 in a claim sale, which came out to $88,000 in my 401K(06 and 07 contributions), and after taxes an additional $85,000. Even our bottom guy who was furloughed the whole time got $180-200,000. Not bad. We also just got contributions to our pension dump, which gave me an additional $50,000. That is in addition to our DC plan in our names now. You seem to keep forgetting that. That's ok, you are rotting away in LBB, MAF, AMA, or HRL I bet.


If Ch 11 is such a good deal then why doesn't everyone go through it. You sure talked a good game as Delta was trying to stay out of it.

I still don't think you ever answered my question about Song. Do they or don't they overnight in LBB?

By the way, I have 3 friends that are in new hire classes at Delta right now that are also in the pool for SWA. They are looking forward to walking on Delta for one of those beautiful LBB overnights. (That can't be good for the bottom line...but then again, maybe if times get tough Delta can go back and hide out in Ch 11).

I wonder if they'll have to share a crew bus with guys from Song?

You are hillarious. First off, Song doesn't exist anymore, and that is actually a good thing. We had 757s flying to cities with too many seats and not enough high paying pax. Guess what? Now we have MD88s flying some of those routes and the yeilds are up. Leo Mullin made a lot of those decisions, and even though Song was a better idea than Delta Express and the 737-200s, the planes didn't fit the routes. Now they do, thank gawd.

And, we stopped flying to LBB years ago, thank gawd again. Wow, that place is a hole, and I am so glad SWA guys love it. Enjoy it, I will enjoy Vienna or Rio.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

I was only acknowledging the fact that there cannot be a post about SWA without you making your stupid comments about LBB overnights.

You started this whole mess again. Expect 7 or 8 pages.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Yea, that was the cheap route for the company. Would have been worth 3 times that if your MEC didn't sell you out. But, that's another thread. You got bought.

Just to be clear, your saying that your payout is worth more than if everything would have stayed status quo and you fought to keep it? Just want to make sure I'm hearing you right?

The USAir guys got a $4400 XMAS bonus. A USAir guy came up to me bragging about his Xmas bonus and that he was going to buy a large wide screen TV. I then told him I would be getting $280,000 and that our Captains would be getting over $400K. It seemed like he took an immediate dump. You have to remember that a pension is just a promise, and now we have money in our pockets that we have already invested (both 401K allottments for 06 and 07 were filled to the max, and 08 is next with our penion allottment we just were informed about last week), and more cash on the side. The new DC plan is better too since it is in our name. How is your pension doing? Wait, your senior guys sold you out with that 10 year deal, and they got all of the stock. Do you ever get mad at them?

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

In an attempt at being as fair as possible, here are links to the various recreational activities available to crews overnighting in LBB and Lagos,

Direct from the Nigerian Government website under "Beaches and resorts" I particularly like the "Fun seekers at the Eleko Beach" picture. What a happening time in Lagos.

http://www.lagosstate.gov.ng/SitesScenes/SiteScenes2.htm


Now for your typical LBB entertainment. I've done a lot of serious academic work at this particular library.

http://www.librarybars.com/lubbock/gallery.php

Southwest has 13 or so flights a day into LBB, while we might have 4 or 5 a week total into LOS starting in late Fall. I can guarantee you our hotel will be nicer (for security reasons too), and if you want to go to the LBB bowling ally and get it on with some "winners", then go for it. Sounds super fun!

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[waveflyer]

gen please- HIJACK - delta's great- way different than SWA- we get it. Everyone agrees...

What bases do you think will be junior by the time the LAS base shakes out? And how's MCO seniority wise?

 

[SWA/FO]

Enjoy it, I will enjoy Vienna or Rio.

Yeah, enjoy Chapter 7, next time... then they will write you a check for 0 and no lube.

As far as junior bases for SWA (junior to senior): BWI, MDW, MCO, OAK, LAS, PHX, HOU & DAL in that order. Look for LAS to stay somewhat senior, people want to live in the southwest it seems at this company, go figure.

 

[FlyinGuy]

General, I am glad that you had such a windfall in your BK. I am sure all the guys that lost their jobs for 5+ years are really excited about the company that stuck it to them. I am also sure they appriceated the longer time on the street because you were sucking up all the extra flying while they were getting their unemployment checks.


It is getting harder for you to hide your envy of SWA. We know you want to fly the corndog....but you can't so get over it!!!

 

[RedDogC130]

As far as junior bases for SWA (junior to senior): BWI, MDW, MCO, OAK, LAS, PHX, HOU & DAL in that order. Look for LAS to stay somewhat senior, people want to live in the southwest it seems at this company, go figure.

You are a little off on that. I say it goes LAS,OAK, PHX, MCO , BWI/MDW, HOU, DAL. At least on the FO side.

It may change, but not for awhile. Look at how many they pulled from BWI/MDW. They all went south.

 

[SWA/FO]

I was thinkin' Capt. side of the fence. Since that is the only list I look at nowadays.

 

[General Lee]

General, I am glad that you had such a windfall in your BK. I am sure all the guys that lost their jobs for 5+ years are really excited about the company that stuck it to them. I am also sure they appriceated the longer time on the street because you were sucking up all the extra flying while they were getting their unemployment checks.


It is getting harder for you to hide your envy of SWA. We know you want to fly the corndog....but you can't so get over it!!!

Envy? Huh? I just don't like LBB, MAF, AMA, or HRL. That's it. Everytime I say something about them, which I am allowed to do, I get slammed by dorks like SWA/FO that say we will go Chap 7 next time. Well, so will SWA thanks to a Mars invasion.

And, our bottom furloughed guy got over $200,000 from the claim sale, and he never even really flew at DL prior to getting furloughed. How did the USAir or United guys do while furloughed? How about those AA or TWA guys still out? You need to get your facts straight, lest you sound ignorant. Also, while we had furloughs on the street we had a cap on the hours we could be paid for each month--75. We were also parking L1011s, MD11s, 727s, 737-200s, etc. Not as much open time out there as you would think.

I am allowed to dislike LBB. If you want to keep this going, keep stating ignorant facts. I check them regularly. Really. And, I have no desire to fly the same plane (737) for the rest of my life, with multiple leg days, and 25 min turns. No thanks. No envy in that statement at all.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[SWA/FO]

give it up - you bipolar freak.

 

[General Lee]

give it up - you bipolar freak.

Great one there. You still studying for your upcoming Lance Captain slot? Riiight. You must be covering for some major inadequecies. (your Ego is huge) That is what she said. And, have fun with LBB, AMA, MAF, and HRL. I will never have to go there. Feels sooo good.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[GuppyWN]

General, you're telling me that a guy hired in July of 2001 and furloughed 4 months later got $200K plus in settlement? I find that VERY difficult to believe. Plus, what did he make in the past 6 years from Delta?

Dude. We get it. Delta is king and we are your bitch.

Gup

 

[General Lee]

General, you're telling me that a guy hired in July of 2001 and furloughed 4 months later got $200K plus in settlement? I find that VERY difficult to believe. Plus, what did he make in the past 6 years from Delta?

Dude. We get it. Delta is king and we are your bitch.

Gup

That is absolutely correct. He was awarded a claim (in new stock, which was sold prior to him getting it) for close to $200,000. The only cavet for those guys was they had to be back on the property to get it. Ask any other DL guy on this board. Of that claim money, up to $88,000 was put into a 401K to hide from the tax man (for 06 and 07) and the rest was taxed. ANd, being furloughed he obviously didn't make anything from Delta, and that is a part of this business. But, when he came back he came back to 7th year pay, not 2nd year pay that many United guys came back to.

And, thanks for admitting the rest. You may relax now. Also, I don't dislike Southwest or it's pilots (well, maybe a few a holes), I just would not like some of the routes, the 25 min turns, mostly multiple leg days, or flying one plane type for the rest of my career. Other than those things, I think you guys are fabulous.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Murphy]

Hey General. I'm normally a fan of yours but your presence on this thread is really getting aggravating.

Some of us may be actually interested in the original intent of this thread that was rudely hijacked and don't want to continue to listen to your constant dribble that Delta's penis is bigger than Southwest's penis in your not so humble opinion.

P.S. May daughter was born in Lubbock and my wife got her Master's from Texas Tech so I am well aware of the Lubbuttocks jokes.

 

[SWA/FO]

General Leigh,

I could care less what you think of LBB or any West Texas city that we serve.

I think you're a tool. I don't care about you and I care less about Delta. I think you're trying to take the high road about your a$$ pounding you took from Leo and his boys - which is fine.

None of this affects me or Southwest Airlines, since it was your a$$ being worked and not mine. How did you get that stuff off of your black, double brested coat? You must have a good dry cleaner.

So stay off the Southwest Airlines threads and I'll stay off the 2 sorry-a$$ Delta threads.

 

[flybynav1965]

Hey guys,

Can we please get back to the original purpose of this thread?? I honestly want to know about the pluses and minuses of Vegas and Phoenix. Thanks for letting it go.

cheers,
Nav

 

[firstthird]

LAS went sort of mid road senior during the first bid, but if they really grow it as much as they have said they will (eventually will be the biggest base) then most people expect it will become junior very fast.

the first bid included everyone who lives there whereas from here on out it will have to be people who want to go for seniority or get displaced, thus it will probably end up junior along the lines of BWI/MDW.

PHX is next to DAL/HOU in terms of captain seniority and that doesn't seem likely to change significantly in the next 5 or 10 years.

the wild card is all of the people on the west coast that currently commute to OAK that went to LAS or are considering it. OAK has traditionally been the most junior base for the first class or two out of the school house but not so much for senior FOs or in the CAPT ranks, since so many people commute there from west coast cities.

Some west coasters have put forth the view that LAS will be their BWI/MDW, since for years now all of the growth has been on the east coast and west coast guys saw their seniority stagnate relative to commuting to BWI.

I'd run a list of pros and cons with the wife (including PRO of LAS as a junior base = better QOL sooner) and go rent an apartment in either PHX or LAS for a year or so to see what you think. If it is the place for you, buy a house after the market has finished correcting, which no one will know till it is on the way back up. But, if you are planning on staying 5 or 10 years, who cares if you buy right at the bottom of the market, since you've already missed buying at the top in both these places.

Not sure I'd jump and buy a house prior to starting class or checking out the city for a while first. shoot, maybe even rent a furnished apt and leave all your stuff in storage besides what you can fit in your two cars, could lessen the moving expense if you will be ready to buy in 6 months or less. Although, the tightening of the mortgage market could put a crimp in your house buying plans if you are thinking 300,000+ on 1st year salary, 2nd year I think you'd be fine, depending on down payment size, etc. Some guys buy the house based on their current military salary before they get out, and if that is your plan, it puts way more pressure on to get it right the first time I guess.