Swa Pool

[Chest Rockwell]

March class is likely to be mostly the returning 60+ guys and girls. Same new hire training as anyone off the street, but may not have first 100 hour landing restrictions.

 

[obadie]

I thought the returning guys had to wait until SWA started interviewing again.

 

[AuburnAviator]

March class will probably not be the 60+ guys because that process is just now getting started and they still have to go through the hiring process. Not all obviously will be hired. Flt Ops just had the meeting yesterday about this subject.....

 

[GFunk20]

Well thats a good way to weed the bad ones out, but what a slap in the face! Work at SWA for 30 years and now you can't get rehired to be an FO. Ouch.

 

[captain dad]

Well thats a good way to weed the bad ones out, but what a slap in the face! Work at SWA for 30 years and now you can't get rehired to be an FO. Ouch.

Each his own and God love'em, but why would someone work say 20 plus years, be realtively high in seniority and pay, be forced to retire (age 60), and then come back at the bottom of the list in pay and seniority, in a slow, if not stagnant hiring situation?
I mean I love to fly, but I really don't understand that one. Is there a hidden benefit that I am missing? Do you get to keep seniority or pay? What reason and Why?

 

[vikesfanIV]

Each his own and God love'em, but why would someone work say 20 plus years, be realtively high in seniority and pay, be forced to retire (age 60), and then come back at the bottom of the list in pay and seniority, in a slow, if not stagnant hiring situation?
I mean I love to fly, but I really don't understand that one. Is there a hidden benefit that I am missing? Do you get to keep seniority or pay? What reason and Why?

I had the exact same question. From what I've heard there was a lot of interest from the 60+ crowd initially but once they found out they would be an FO sitting reserve in Oakland/Vegas for the next year not that many are interested. I've heard no more than 20 but who knows for sure. That being said, I can't believe it's even that many. The only benefit I can see is the great health plan and maybe the 401k for a few more years, but they should be multi-millionares if they've been flying with SWA for the past 20 years. The other answer is that they ARE multi-millionares, love the company and just want to stay active for a few more years before they start golfing every day.

 

[GFunk20]

I guess they figure a couple more years of 50k-100k earnings is that much less they have to drain out of their retirement.

Who knows. My friend who is a 16 year Capt says he only personally knows of one guy who is reapplying.

 

[vixin]

Because they have no life. Or they think they will weasal their way into the GO and get a huge raise. Who knows I am sure we now have 20 new VP's in the future.

 

[GuppyWN]

Just because I'm a smartass I can't wait to fly with one of these guys so I can give him some "techniques" on how to fly the mighty 737.

The real question is...... why would the company even want these guys back? They are going to be here for 4.5 years max. Look at what it'll cost to train them vs. years of return.

I thought this place hired "captains", not career FO's.

Gup

 

[huronip]

Well thats a good way to weed the bad ones out, but what a slap in the face! Work at SWA for 30 years and now you can't get rehired to be an FO. Ouch.

I think the hiring standards at SWA have changed a little over the past 30 years. Just because you met the standard 30 years ago doesn't mean you meet today's standards. Just because you have worked somewhere for 30 years doesn't mean that you should have. Obviously SWA management realizes this, or they would take all of the guys/gals back.

 

[AlbieF15]

Sounds like LUV is going to import some HATE into the mix.

What do you think a poolie will do when faced with a class date that keeps sliding right as older guys jump in front of the line? At what point would a number 300 guy tear up that lottery ticket?

Tough times. Great people on all sides--but a nasty situation. I wish all the poolies the very best...

 

[THEPRFCT10]

Has anyone heard on a Mar date? PD told me to call them next week, but I was just wondering. Hang in there, guys!

 

[Chest Rockwell]

Between 40-50 +60 guys.girls. They can be interviewed in a week (probably no LOI). Background check will be very quick. Posing their names for comment will take more time than anything else. They will be given a good picture of what their seniority/advancement will be over the next 4-5 years. Anyone's guess as to how many will reconsider if offered a class.

 

[FlyinGuy]

I still think some of these guys think that somehow they will slide over to the left seat...They will find out that the company that they retired from is not the same one that they reapplied to. It is different when you get to chose your capt line vs. commuting to OAK to sit reserve. Remember, no one picks up that weekend trash that they will be getting!

 

[jke406]

From another forum...looks like Tanker Clown was right again.

Dear Southwest Airlines Pilot Poolie,
We recently mailed you a copy of the December issue of LUVLines, and we hope you’re
enjoying it and that it’s helped you to learn more about the Southwest operation, Culture, and
Family. As you know, we have committed to keeping you informed of your status in our hiring
pool, and of any events that might effect your potential class dates. I’m sure that you are aware
of the recent passing of H.R. 4343, The Fair Treatment of Experienced Pilots Act. As a
Company, we are pleased to be able to keep some of our most experienced and capable Pilots
flying for us, and since the signing of the bill, we have had a Team working on the process
involved in the rehiring of our retired Captains who are interested in returning to Southwest.
The goal of this Team has been to do the right thing for everyone involved: our current Pilots,
our retired Pilots, and you, our future Southwest Pilot Candidates. We know that this particular
issue evokes a wide range of emotions in Pilots, but we wanted to personally share with you
what decisions we have made, and our hope is that you will see the reasons for, and value in,
our choices.
We are excited to be able to offer the opportunity for our interested, retired Pilots (who
meet all of our current requirements) to interview for a First Officer position, pursuant to the
terms of H.R. 4343. Those retired Pilots who wish to apply will be interviewing with us in
February, and if they successfully complete the selection process, they will be placed in the first
available class. We do understand that this could affect your potential class date, and we ask
for your understanding and patience in reaching your goal of becoming a part of our outstanding
group of professional aviators. As soon as we know how many Pilots will be rehired, we will
advise you as to if and how this affects your potential class date.
We know this news might be disappointing for you, but we suspect that it won’t come as
too great a surprise to those who have a good understanding of our commitment to taking care
of our Family, and we hope you’ll keep in mind that this same level of commitment and concern
will also be afforded to you when you become a member of the Southwest Family. Meanwhile,
we want you to know that throughout this process, we have given very careful consideration to
how this unprecedented set of circumstances could affect your future, and we have done our
best to do the right thing. We truly appreciate your continued interest in becoming a part of the
Southwest Family, and we thank you for your patience as we bring Pilots onboard this year to
meet the hiring needs of the Company. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you
have.
Sincerely,
The People and Flight Operations Departments