The Fate of SWA

[General Lee]

You know what's great? That you like going international, it must be nice for you to finally get that chance. Since I am guessing you have never had that opportunity coming up thru the EM2(whatever that is) and sitting sideways in the 727. As for myself, having flown a 707, 727, 757, 767 and G-IV international not to mention the C-141, I have NO desire to go overseas again, EVER. I have been to every continent, save Antarctica, you can have it. I would rather go where the exchange rate is 1=1 and English is the native language. However, I am glad that you were able to get your daddy's dick out of your a$$(and mouth) and make it out of the trailer park. Happy for you! LOSER!!

Look, enough from you. You don't even fly for Southwest. Your profile says NOTHING about what you supposedly did. So what that you were a crew chief on the C141 and 707? I bet you travelled a lot around the world, and met some great guys (and young boys) along the way. I can see why you probably don't want to go back to some of those places, where you are still a "wanted man." And BTW, an EM2 is a Brasilia or E120. I flew it a long time ago, when you were still dumping lavs and stealing a taste with your fingers.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[chase]

General & Johnson,

The title of the thread is "The Fate of SWA". My caveats for taking my thoughts seriously were up front (drivel). They are opinions from close observation. Not a "rant" but projections, predictions based upon the following:

1. Leadership - GK and our employees. Successful companies have to have that and SWA has had it since its inception.

2. History - doesn't guarantee ANYTHING but having the track record bodes well for "the fate of SWA" to be better than most airlines.

If the thread was "the fate of DAL" or airline X, I wouldn't comment with any degree of authority because:

1. Not being on the inside as an employee one doesn't get the perspective one needs I believe. Its like through the store of a department store, you see what they want you to see but not much else.

2. Flying the line at a company is not like jumpseating on a carrier. Day in, day out, you experience much more than what any outsider can see. I could claim all kinds of knowledge or predictions but they are based on a one dimensional view.

No arrogance on my part or others who work at SWA was intended...again the topic of the thread was "fate of SWA"...did you expect to say SWA was going to shrink or remain the same size? That would naive on anyone's part and history doesn't show that occurring, neither are any analysts predicting it. I never mentioned any negatives toward other airlines except about Volaris based upon comments from folks inside of SWA who have do have more knowledge on the subject than I.

I've been on FI since nearly the beginning and have watched the wishful thinking of others predict SWA's demise; talk of lowering standards, PFT complaints, yada, yada, yada. It has been rather humorous to watch actually as they have all been proven to be wrong. No smugness on my part or others who are SWA pilots who post on here but just the simple satisfaction that the company some of us works for continues to beat the critics by continued growth (8% of domestic market share in '99 to 15% in '09), job security (no furloughes for our employees) and positive prospects for the future during what is inarguable the most traumatic time in the history of airlines.

Neither of you may desire to fly with SWA and that is fine...I suspect it is a good thing for all parties involved.

Just a simple question for you both, when was the last time one, two or any passenger came up to you and said something to the effect, "I love your airline and you guys are the best one out there?" No disrespect meant by the question and if you don't care to answer that is fine but just wondering.

Sorry my original reply struck you both the wrong way...to any others who may have had the same impression, my apologies but was simply replying to the question. Cheers, :0

 

[waveflyer]

It's a long career general- delta was dusting crops in the beginning-

 

[get2flyin]

I have been on FI.com for at least 9 years (moderators, feel free to correct me). For those approx 9 years I have been reading how SWA is just around the corner from BK and total failure. Since that time SWA has hired approx 3000 pilots and purchased over 200 airplanes (low ball guestimates on my part). We do still go to LBB General, and you are right it is no garden spot, but I've been laid a few times in LBB and also overseas and I must say, I can't tell the difference, both were pretty good. Anyway, for how much longer can SWA keep going? We have been predicting their demise for years on here and they still keep humping it like the energizer bunny, much like the ladies of LBB.

Bake

Seeing SWA guys pat themselves on the back never gets old. Yes, we know...you work for a terrific company that pays well and treats employees pretty respectably and my company sucks.

You should feel great pride and bask in the success of your company. But maybe if you didn't try to wield it like a sword to jab your industry counterparts, there would be less "my dick is bigger than yours" posts. But hey, I'm just a rookie. What do I know?

 

[T B O N E]

Chase. Very classy post. Well written and mature retort.

 

[Quimby]

Seeing SWA guys pat themselves on the back never gets old. Yes, we know...you work for a terrific company that pays well and treats employees pretty respectably and my company sucks.

You should feel great pride and bask in the success of your company. But maybe if you didn't try to wield it like a sword to jab your industry counterparts, there would be less "my dick is bigger than yours" posts. But hey, I'm just a rookie. What do I know?

The General is the King of the "patting of the back manuever".

Proceed.

 

[waveflyer]

It says something when you say that post is patting himself on the back-

How many at united in 1999 would have predicted what their career would turn into? If history means anything, if you find yourself junior at the top job- you ought to be very humble and saving your money- I for one am very humble and grateful being at southwest- a LOT still has to go right and a lot of battles won for me to have half the career that those hired 10 years ago will have - though I'm nervous about mergers, I think it's a company worth fighting for, who have earned my best- and I'm more in chase's camp than anyone else in the glass half full/empty debate.

I'm also not the pilot that thinks southwest isn't affected by the rest of the industry- so I support and wish all pilot unions the best of luck and will buy the beers when you get a contract better than swa's. It will be well deserved and well earned when it happens.

 

[jetflier]

I remember when, TWA was the airline of Hollywood, Pan Am was,....well the nation's flag carrier, Eastern was the dominant airline along the east coast. People Express was the "new" low cost monster, that was going to take over the airways. United was waiting plying the pacific only as far as Hawaii. Northwest was called Northwest Orient. Delta was a down home airline, and Continental was the proud bird with the golden tail.

Pan Am and TWA were the giants of the industry, making history...even when they shut down.

Sooo, even the giants can fail, no matter how big.

Ultimately, it's up to management and how and why they adjust their numbers.

 

[chase]

Jetflyer,

You are exactly right, well said...SWA isn't guaranteed anything and shouldn't be for its past.

It is about the future and how the company tweeks its business model to adjust to the shifts in economics, demographics and responds to internal and external challenges from legitimate competitors whether they be legacy carriers or innovative new airlines like Allegiant.

It is also about not forgetting about the employees and the employees not forgetting about the customer.

Get2flyin,

GK knows as well as my fellow employees that if we follow the path of other carriers that failed (bad management to run the airline, failing to serve and motivate internal customers/employees and ignoring the feedback of the customer) then SWA is doomed.

I don't see that happening but it could, just as it could be at other airlines but why would I wish or predict that for my own airline if I don't wish or predict it for my fellow pilots on here? Again, the thread title was "The Fate of SWA".

All of us at SWA are blessed to be at SWA and stating it publicly is not viewed among my peers with the negative connotation that some on here seem to have for it.

It may not be something that is found in the lexicon of most other airline employees but making the point isn't out of line but simply made (on this forum) for those poolies and others who may like to know what to expect and what the current state of the culture is, at least from one pilot's perspective.

I started coming on to FI in the late 90's to learn about my future employer and once hired to help those...i.e. the title of the room, "Interview Board".... who may wish to work here...BTW, the talk on here many years ago use to be nearly exclusively interview gauge on all the airlines and the tone was slightly different vs. the tone that seems to be prevelant these days.:smash: I wish others feel that way about their airline but if not, I'm not critical or judgmental on their choice of employment or have opinions about the future of their company.

I never worked anywhere else other than SWA and I'm fortunate to fly with some of the best former employees of other airlines around. It is their insight and appreciation as well as the simple old lady from LBB that cooks a cherry pie for the entire crew that says "I love SWA, thanks for flying into little 'ole LBB" or the twin elderly CLE sisters that say "thanks to SWA's low prices, we get to visit our family twice a year vs. just once every two year" that is the source of my comments.

If my pride is showing then please don't take it as arrogance or patting myself on the back...the persons who deserve the accolades are the 2,3 & 4 digit numbers (employees) who started the airline and set the standard. The current generation of employees are simply trying to keep a good thing going. If it comes across any other way than as intended, then my apologies. SWA has its flaws, both internally and externally, as well as challenges in the future.

Again, it is all drivel and bits and bites of air in cyberspace...it means absolutely nothing in the world of business. Cheers,

 

[Scope out RJ's]

You know what's great? That you like going international, it must be nice for you to finally get that chance. Since I am guessing you have never had that opportunity coming up thru the EM2(whatever that is) and sitting sideways in the 727. As for myself, having flown a 707, 727, 757, 767 and G-IV international not to mention the C-141, I have NO desire to go overseas again, EVER. I have been to every continent, save Antarctica, you can have it. I would rather go where the exchange rate is 1=1 and English is the native language. However, I am glad that you were able to get your daddy's dick out of your a$$(and mouth) and make it out of the trailer park. Happy for you! LOSER!!

And now you're just some pissed off azzwipe who bought his job with southwest and got TURNED DOWN!!!:laugh::laugh::laugh: