Swa Pool

[Tanker Clown]

Good points there, however SWA isn't one of those dumpy airlines that cut pay, award ridiculous bonuses to execs, or furlough.

What I meant was what loyalty do you have to some other airline while you are waiting on SWA. It's not wrong to work at DAL, UAL, or whoever while waiting on SWA. You don't sell your soul to work for them. Do what you have to do to keep food on the table until SWA calls. Then you can decide if walking away right after getting off probation is worth it to go to SWA.

 

[Benhuntn]

Well written Albie. Now let me set the record straight. Like I said earlier in this post, I was in the pool for 2 yrs and 2 months. They never reinterviewed anyone in the pool. Second, When I was 4-5 months from a class date they called and asked if I was currently flying. I wasn't as I had retired from the AF durning my swim. I thought this was going to be a problem but nope they were just keeping track of who was flying so they could plan extra sims for those of us that weren't. How many companys would do that? Other than the begining middle and end your post was right on.

 

[AlbieF15]

Hope you are right Ben...again...no malice intented.

That said...can I bet you Whataburger with everthing that any poolies brought on in 2009 will have some kind of mini-interview before coming onboard?

 

[BlueandWhite]

The impression I get from some of you guys is that all the poolies are living in a fantasy world thinking that all will be fine as long as we don't give up hope (or as JKE would say, "keep drinking the Kool-aid").

I can't speak for everyone, but for myself, I knew from the the time I got my "phone call" back last spring that nothing was guaranteed, and that I needed to have a back-up plan in place should it not work out.

While it's not my first choice, I have a decent job now that I can continue for the time being. I continue to throw out resumes to other jobs that look promising, and am ready to switch to another job if the opportunity is right.

Until that time, I'm waiting in the pool. No guarantees for how long... SWA may be my first choice, but not my only choice.

 

[Falconjet]

Good points there, however SWA isn't one of those dumpy airlines that cut pay, award ridiculous bonuses to execs, or furlough.

Nor WERE they the kind of company to do this type of thing to prospective employees either. I have to say that I too am amazed that they would do this. Not that they owe the poolies anything, they don't.

I knew that going in when I was in the pool. I made an offer on a house in Orlando when I was "continued in the hiring process" and then came home from the house hunting trip to find that hiring had ceased and they didn't know when/if they would hire again. I pulled the offer on the house and hunkered down.

SW treated me great while I was in the pool, sending me luvlines and updates, and they knew that I had been hired by FedEx in the interim. I very much wanted to work for SW. I agonized over the decision to decline the class date, my family saying that if I moved to a SW city I would do so on my own didn't help. I really appreciated and respected everybody there that I interacted with.

Had they done something like this to me back then, however, the decision would have been very simple and easy. Its purely business, and evidently they think this is a good business decision for them, so if you have to make the choice you owe it to your family and yourself to do the same.

I know they don't want people to swim for 2+ years and I could tell by the way they treated my decision that there was no ill will on their part (at least that I could detect) when I declined. They seemed to understand that your life must move forward and there are going to be poolies "lost" to them after certain lengths of time.

They must feel that they are getting something in return for the potential loss of poolies, and that should tell even the most die hard poolie (I considered myself pretty smitten by the corndog coolaid) something about the company and your standing with them prior to actually getting hired.

I hate to beat a dead horse but the age change and its ramifications will haunt the junior guys and potential employees for years to come. Keep the back up plans active and don't be afraid to move on to greener/different pastures.

FJ

 

[Ky.BrownBourbn]

The impression I get from some of you guys is that all the poolies are living in a fantasy world thinking that all will be fine as long as we don't give up hope (or as JKE would say, "keep drinking the Kool-aid").

I can't speak for everyone, but for myself, I knew from the the time I got my "phone call" back last spring that nothing was guaranteed, and that I needed to have a back-up plan in place should it not work out.

While it's not my first choice, I have a decent job now that I can continue for the time being. I continue to throw out resumes to other jobs that look promising, and am ready to switch to another job if the opportunity is right.

Until that time, I'm waiting in the pool. No guarantees for how long... SWA may be my first choice, but not my only choice.

Smart of you, there are no guarantees in Life, I'm still in the UPS pool, since Spring of 05...It means nothing, luckily my Back up flying the "CornDawgs" worked out Actually met a Captain for SW last week who lives in SDF and was placed in the pool at Brown and was Never called (which will probably be my case and I'm not going if they do!)

Take anything you can get at this point, this merger thing could get ugly...then decide when they call.

And as mentioned before, returning guys are not going to want to start at the bottom, commuting to LAS or OAK two legs from DAL or the East Coast to sit reserve. PHX may have been easier but with the latest Vacancy, shifting a bunch of guys from PHX to LAS, commuting probably just got worse!

Hang in there,
KBB

 

[huronip]

From the company website this morning the old guys have until the 8th of February to apply.

Any of these guys contacted you for interview prep Albie?

 

[Benhuntn]

None taken Albie

 

[AlbieF15]

Any of these guys contacted you for interview prep Albie?

No. I've helped a few guys get prepped at other places that fit that demographic, but no SWA guys...

I don't think thing an over-60 guy at SWA needs an interview coach. What he needs is a good rep with the guys he's flown with the last 10/20 years. Can you imagine the sting of getting blackballed by your own crew force?

On a side note--a client I helped a few years back get successfully hired at SWA was an over 50 US Air guy. If there is any salve in this law change, its the idea that great guy like him will get some benefit. I try to focus on the guys I am pullling for when I think about age 60. There are a bunch of good former Eastern/Pan Am/US Air guys at my company (and a few at SWA) that could use a good break or two...

 

[Rtrell]

For what it is worth. I think the number that actually do come back will be less than 10 and not the 50/60 that I have seen posted on here. Not a sure thing but that is the number I have heard. Wish I had some better info for you guys.

 

[sf34dvr]

Very disappointing and no doubt will extend the time in the pool. My understanding is once you are in the pool at Southwest you are there until such time you are offered a class date or "you" remove your name. Southwest has already determined they want to hire us, unlikely and unprecedented to have poolies reinterview.

I believe it speaks well of Southwest to provide opportunities for pilots who have been part of the Family for many years. Hopefully, the list will be small.

A key sentence of the the letter " ...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". (not if)

 

[Zdriver]

so, anyone know, these guys have to interview in February, do they have to wait for a decision board to meet sometime in March? If that's the case, IF they are planning a March Class(s), would they assign from the current pool (as the 60+ wouldn't be at the top of the pool yet for class assignment)? Next question that I am sure no one can answer yet, do you think we will get a letter at the end of Feb beginning of March telling us that there are X number of 60+ now at the top of the list, plan accordingly?

 

[Whataburger]

Albie15 Challenge

That said...can I bet you Whataburger with everthing that any poolies brought on in 2009 will have some kind of mini-interview before coming onboard?

Are you saying that before Poolies come on in '09, they will need another "mini" interview??

If that's the case, you are out of your mind. You along with many other people here spew sh!t you know very little about. You mentioned you "BET" me this would happen right?

Ok then, i bet you your FI membership you're wrong.

Proposal. If by the end of '09 there have been NO "mini interviews" we will have the moderators permanetly "Retire" your account. If my company choses to "mini" interview poolies as they dry off, I will have the Moderators permanently "Retire" Whataburger.

You lose you're gone.
I lose, I'm gone.

 

[PCL_128]

Honestly, guys, SWA is not your religion. It's just your employer. You don't need to take deep, personal offense every time somebody says something about SWA that you disagree with. Albie has prepped tons of people for SWA interviews and has helped lots of them get hired. I think he's entitled to an opinion about the SWA interview process without being attacked, and he certainly shouldn't retire his account if he's wrong.

 

[On Your Six]

Are you saying that before Poolies come on in '09, they will need another "mini" interview??

If that's the case, you are out of your mind. You along with many other people here spew sh!t you know very little about. You mentioned you "BET" me this would happen right?

Ok then, i bet you your FI membership you're wrong.

Proposal. If by the end of '09 there have been NO "mini interviews" we will have the moderators permanetly "Retire" your account. If my company choses to "mini" interview poolies as they dry off, I will have the Moderators permanently "Retire" Whataburger.

You lose you're gone.
I lose, I'm gone.

Whoa - lay off the caffeine Maverick!!!!!!!! You're cool.

 

[jke406]

Honestly, guys, SWA is not your religion. It's just your employer. You don't need to take deep, personal offense every time somebody says something about SWA that you disagree with.

substitute "ALPA" for "SWA" in your above post, and you just described yourself.

and ALPA isn't even your "employer. " Enough said.

 

[PCL_128]

substitute "ALPA" for "SWA" in your above post, and you just described yourself.


and ALPA isn't even your "employer. " Enough said.

I don't take offense, I just respond with facts. Far too many SWA pilots around here seem to take offense and launch into attacks whenever somebody says something about their airline. How many times have you seen an SWA pilot post something like "you're just a pathetic loser who couldn't get hired here." It's always personal with these guys.

Disclaimer: I know that not all SWA pilots are like this, but it seems like a lot of the ones that post on FI are.

 

[Whataburger]

Whoa - lay off the caffeine Maverick!!!!!!!! You're cool.

Just a little fun challenge. Something to follow next year.

I have been with companies that are dishonest. SWA is not dishonest with us. If they say you're in the pool, you're in the pool. Thats it.

PS. No 5 year extention on this either.

 

[AlbieF15]

Um...ah...I meant I would bet A whataburger (you know--the delightful meal it is...at about 5 bucks), not THE whataburger....

A virtual duel for screen names? Nah...not interested. I'm sometimes wrong, and I like it here. A burger for you? Sure. I'll gladly buy you lunch if I'm wrong.

As for not knowing $hit....well...yes and no. I'm not at SWA, don't claim to be, and certainly am not on the inside with HR. However--I try to keep a pretty good pulse on what is going on around the industry--for my own interest and also to help the folks who are interviewing at the various companies that are hiring. Sometimes in that quest you glean a little SA or info that might have some merit. Sometimes it doesn't. Just consider the source...that's all. And--like other issues--sometimes I'd rather be wrong. I hope this is one of those times.

As PCL mentioned--I've had the good fortune of meeting a lot of great folks who are now employed (or hope to soon be...) at SWA. I don't hate SWA, and I certainly don't hate the folks there. This isn't personal. In fact--as a former F-15 guy, I can say many of the folks I respected the most as officers, fighter pilots, and friends are now at SWA and are very happy.

Cheers...

In short--I LIKE a lot of folks at SWA. I'm pulling for the guys in the pool. I'm not trying to poke you--or anyone else--in the eye. You are at a great company with a great payrate and folks seem to like it there...so good on all of you.

 

[waveflyer]

what makes this tough is that the email addresses of all poolies were made public by Southwest (accidentally)- to make a CONSCIOUS and OPTIONAL choice to delay their class further after making that mistake is not the right decision. IMO.