SWA rumors confirmed..

[MLBWINGBORN]

Hey guys and gals..

Im told there will be a FA class in Oct..

Everybody saw the numbers of 1100 pilots over the next three years..

SWAPA has posted numbers of 430 for 04,470 for 05,and 500 for 06..

The second set of numbers are correct unless something changes..The 1100 over three years is the min that WAS PLANNED some time ago..

Several sources confirmed that the numbers will be much higher than 1100 due to a variety of reasons..

There seems to be a big debate in the GO as to when classes should start and how many per class..

Two different sources confirmed that right now the plan was two classes per month starting in Jan through at least Sept of each year..Class size should be between 20 to 24 per..I guess a "how goes it "some time in the summer of each year will decide how the later part of the year will go..

If you do the math at 24 per that is 432 for the year if they were to stop at the end of Sept..Thats pretty close to the SWAPA number..

As always..You milage may very due to tire wear and under/over inflation..

Mike

 

[AJWick]

Mike,

as always, great news for us poolies.

Any truth to a previous thread about classes starting in Feb?

Just curious.

aj

 

[Icebergclub]

Thanks Mike!

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Man..
Thats what you guys pay me the big bucks for..LOL.

AJ..

Everybody ive talked with has said no later than Jan..Ive heard Jan 5th a few times but ive not checked the date to see if it makes sense..

Mike

 

[SWA/FO]

Just got back from Big D...

I heard they asked the instructors if they could train 1000 pilots next year? Answer was No.

They were interviewing more instructors at the schoolhouse. Looking to add more?

I heard 1400 pilots over the next 3 years.

Lastly, I ran over to DFW to jumpseat home. It worked great. While, I was running to the gate an AA pilot pointed at me and told me to take off my tie? I wear one of those American Flag ties. Its too bad I didn't understand what he said until he was 30 feet away. I would have told him to go @#&% himself. Then I was reminded of what somebody told me a few days ago, I guess there are some people that think wearing an American Flag tie is disrespectful -what gives? Anybody heard this?

Funny, because about 10 minutes later an AA pax told me "Man, thats a great tie!" I said "I think so too"

 

[typhoonpilot]

Flag Etiquette

Just to answer your question and not get too far off the thread subject, proper flag etiquette prohibits the wearing of the flag.

I wonder if Santa Claus has the same rule


Typhoonpilot

 

[PTinbound]

Geez, it's a good thing the interview team doesn't know that - it's what I wore on that fateful day .

Besides, it's not actually a flag around your neck that you are wearing. It's a tie with the flag design, right?

 

[SWAlifter]

Off the subject, but I'm in the Reserves and I wear a flag on my shoulder, and so does every other military member. Come to think of it so does the president (on his lapel). The list could go on. The previous reply was correct. It is poor etiquette to wear an actual flag as clothing. Wear your flag tie with pride!

 

[Redtails]

I kinda like the Stars and Stripe bikinis here in FL-- man, women here are patriotic!!!

 

[typhoonpilot]

Now I'm guilty of full blown thread creep. I happen to have a couple of really nice flag ties and a few Christmas ones as well, alas, I got my application into Southwest a little too late for the last round of interviews.

The previous answer is from a yahoo search on flag etiquette, not necessarily my personal opinion.


Typhoonpilot

 

[Helmsmen]

SWA/FO

I may have an explanation for the AA pilots comment. Apparently there has recently been some messages from AA Chief pilots to the line pilots to discontinue wearing American Flag Ties. Some of the AA pilots feel that it does not look professional. If you were in your SWA uniform at a full run he might have thought you were a AA pilot (God Forbid). I believe the uniforms are somewhat similar. Keep wearing your tie proudly and thank God each morning that you are in a SWA uniform and not an AA one.

Helmsmen

 

[SWA/FO]

that must have been it..... our uniforms are similar with exception to the hat (optional at swa).

 

[de727ups]

Uniform police

Sounds like your lucky the guy didn't tell you to put your hat on, too. I hate guys who think their the uniform police.

 

[chase]

More good news from the financial sector

Market Report -- Story Stocks (LUV, JBLU)
September 10, 2003 10:58:00 AM ET

Ratings Briefing - LUV : Calling all patient, longer-term growth investors... calling all patient, longer-term growth investors. Morgan Stanley has a stock for you and it goes by the name of Southwest Airlines (LUV 18.14 +0.62). Some readers, naturally, may be asking, "don't you mean JetBlue (JBLU)?" Well, there is certainly a growth story there, and Morgan Stanley even said as much, but there is no misprint. In a research note today, Morgan Stanley upgraded LUV to Overweight from Equal Weight based on a belief that it will outperform as the company's growth potential becomes clearer.

Four key reasons drove the upgrade and they included: (1) a recognition that LUV is the fastest growing airline (in absolute terms) in the firm's coverage universe (2) a sense that LUV's growth rate may be understated (3) the fact that LUV still has the lowest costs in a commodity business and (4) a belief that the time has come to focus on the highest quality names in the industry given the recent outperformance of the most levered airline stocks.

One of the more compelling arguments for growth in the note is that LUV will add 76 jets to its fleet in 2004-05, which is more than the rest of the industry combined. The firm points out, too, that the fleet plan does not reflect potential growth opportunities from further downsizing by the majors. Therefore, Morgan Stanley believes LUV is in the early stages of a new cycle of growth and is predicting an earnings compounded annual growth rate for the company of 28% through 2008. The latter is similar to JBLU, yet LUV trades at a discount to the upstart carrier despite having the strongest balance sheet in the industry.

Morgan Stanley's one-year price target of $22 represents 25% upside from yesterday's closing level, but it feels its upgrade will play out over the next 12-18 months, and has urged that its price target and valuation work be viewed as indicative of stock price direction rather than in absolute terms given the leverage of the airline business model. To that end, it stressed that its call is not for deep value investors nor for the short-term trading-oriented crowd.

Ironically, LUV is now viewed as an established player in the airline industry and is certainly seen as the patriarch of discount operators. Such a perception implies that LUV is a plugger in terms of growth. That is a misconception, however, and Morgan Stanley has done an admirable job of bringing LUV's growth prospects to light. Briefing.com, for its part, noted in July that we would recommend Southwest as one of the few, true investment opportunities in the airline industry and concur with Morgan Stanley's upbeat assessment of LUV's prospects.-- Patrick J. O'Hare, Briefing.com

 

[AA717driver]

At AA, I guess it's more important to look professional than BE professional...

Maybe they think the more uptight and anal you are, the more professional you are...

Desperately trying to get out.TC

 

[Mugs]

Therefore, Morgan Stanley believes LUV is in the early stages of a new cycle of growth and is predicting an earnings compounded annual growth rate for the company of 28% through 2008.

Reuters
Southwest seeks mediator in flight attendant talks
Wednesday September 10, 4:55 pm ET




CHICAGO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - News) said on Wednesday that it has asked the National Mediation Board to appoint a federal mediator to complete talks with the air carrier's 7,200 flight attendants.
The flight attendants are the last major union at Southwest with an open contract. The group, represented by the Transport Workers Union Local 556, is looking for better pay.

Southwest, the No. 6 U.S. air carrier, said it no longer appeared likely that it would be able to reach a new agreement without mediation. The two sides have been in negotiations for 16 months.


---And SWA needs mediation to resolve this?

 

[flywest]

Sounds like your lucky the guy didn't tell you to put your hat on, too. I hate guys who think their the uniform police.

Are you sure the guy that told you to take off the tie wasn't LXApilot? He has probably policed his way to DFW by now.

Regards,
FlyWest

 

[Helmsmen]

Hey TC;

Just got notified that I am interviewing at JetBlue on the 14th of October. If they hire me I am not ever going back. How are things going for you?

Duncan

 

[Neubyfly]

Hey TC;

Just got notified that I am interviewing at JetBlue on the 14th of October. If they hire me I am not ever going back. How are things going for you?

Duncan

Duncan:

Congrats! Keep us informed on your progress!

Mark