Vacancy Bidding at SWA

[chase]

Many folks have questions about "how long will it take me to get to xxx pilot base?", "what is a vacancy bid & how often do they have one?", etc. My apologies to the old heads but to those who are smarter than I when I started but who still may not (I only learned last week )understand what a vacancy bid is & how it works I'll outline the process & provide some insight (dim as it may be) into what to expect at Southwest.



Near the end of each month a "proposed" vacancy bid is released by flt ops that gives every pilot the rough expansion/contraction plans for the company three months from now, the 1 July bids are out now. This is only the "proposed" vacancy bid and an updated one is released later in the month as the July schedule becomes more firm at it relates to building the lines (the schedule is pretty much set from a public flying standpoint) that pilots will be flying. The charts below were sent to the pilots in Feb & are for the May 1 vacancy bids.



Pilots can then enter into the "maestro" computer system & put in their bids for the 7 bases....normally one puts the base you want to go to first as your top priority, 2nd preference & down the line....this basically means that when their is sufficient seniority at the base you most desire AND there is a vacancy there (as determined by the vacancy bid) you will be awarded that base assuming there are vacancies there & no one senior to you has taken the last slot there! In that case you're in. For the military types, assume you competed on your next assignment with everyone of your rank but it was based upon DOR & not qualifications, preferences by incoming commanders, etc. It would make for a slightly different assignment process. Seniority number makes it a black & white issue in the airline business.

ALL PILOTS MUST BID IN THE MAESTRO SYSTEM ***​

VACANCY BID 05-G

EFFECTIVE May 1, 2005

DALLAS

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

1---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

HOUSTON

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

2--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

PHOENIX

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

1--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4

MIDWAY​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

OAKLAND​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

1--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

BALTIMORE​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

1-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

ORLANDO​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

1---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4




POSTED: Feb 25, 2005 @ 1200 CENTRAL

CLOSE: March26, 2005 @ 1200 CENTRAL

PROTEST ENDS: March 27, 2005 @ 1200 CENTRAL



THIS VACANCY WILL BE REVISED ONCE THE MAY SCHEDULE IS COMPLETE



PILOTS REQUIRING UPGRADE AS A RESULT OF THIS VACANCY BID WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR THE JUNE 2005 UPGRADE CLASS.


I'll post on the next thread the final results & compare the differences.

(Edited on the recommendation of RJones below...thanks for the observation)

 

[RJones]

Chase,

Retired military? I’d be concerned that if you were ever captured by the enemy you’d compromise your fellow military brethren.

If this is truly the June vacancy bid I don’t think you need to post it.

Flame me if you want Chase. Your posts are insightful but borderline, in my opinion, on too much company info.

RJ

 

[SWAdude]

Chase,

Retired military? I’d be concerned that if you were ever captured by the enemy you’d compromise your fellow military brethren.

If this is truly the June vacancy bid I don’t think you need to post it.

Flame me if you want Chase. Your posts are insightful but borderline, in my opinion, on too much company info.

RJ

What company confidential material has been exposed? The only info I see is numbers of new pilot jobs in each base. What can anyone do with this to affect our company??

Chase has consistently exercised good judgment in the info he gives to the people who want to know.

I think this info for some can give them an idea of what to expect.

These numbers are very unpredictable until the revised list comes out one week prior to the closing. I have never seen one that wasn't revised to look much different.

 

[Daddy]

Chase,
Thanks for the gouge...that is exactly what I needed. I'm in the May 4th class and am wondering exactly what that might mean. I'm trying to get to BWI or at least closer than OAK and I see 11 openings at MDW and 8 at BWI vice the 4 at OAK. Does that mean the initial "hard line" I get for my first whole month might very well be at MDW or BWI or will other newhires most likely be filling those vacancies through bidding. More specifically, has this report already included those folks bidding their way to more preferential bases or does that come out next month on the revision?
Thanks for all your help here,
Daddy

 

[chase]

Here are the "final" vacancies that were sent to the pilots prior to the closing of vacancy bidding....this allows folks to see what is "really" going at the bases & allows for a more realistic look at whether one is going to get the domicile they prefer.

VACANCY BID 05-G

EFFECTIVE May 1, 2005

DALLAS

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

-2---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -1

HOUSTON

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

3--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

PHOENIX

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

-3---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

MIDWAY​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

19------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24

OAKLAND​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

-14--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -3

BALTIMORE​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

ORLANDO​

CAPTAINS FIRST OFFICERS​

0--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

The differences between what was originally posted & what was final can also be large depending on what is going on...MDW was rapidly expanding while other bases were contracting....it will look different every month but whenever Southwest is hiring there is a vacancy bid...always good for those not happy where you are & wanting to move.

There are some negative numbers listed above...what's up with that?
When that happens if you're the junior most person at that base you will be displaced & the computer will award a vacancy bid to you that matches up to the next best request you have on your stored vacancy bid list in the company computer. "But I didn't want to move!" you screamed....to bad buddy...you move anyway...but there is hope (read on my friend)



These reductions are common and while this reduction is a pain since it causes you to be inconvenienced in terms of commuting most likely, depending on when you were hired, the next month can bring vacancies at bases of your choice that allow you to get right back on track at getting to your base of choice....sitting at an undesireable base for months or years on end because no one is moving up on the seniority ladder hasn't been a major issue except when the company has had spurts of where no hiring was occurring (02-03 timeframe most recently but there have been other times also)....so yes you may be displaced for several months but if we're hiring you'll be back closer to mommy before you know it (again some exceptions if we stopped hiring immediately, i.e. little or no movement).....no guarantees of course in this crazy world called the airline business however.

I've changed the original charts to earlier bids to illustrate the same points of how vacancy bids works (very rudimentary & much more info to digest...but you get the picture).

 

[Bill Nelson]

Retired military? I’d be concerned that if you were ever captured by the enemy you’d compromise your fellow military brethren.


Chase would probably eat his own children (or yours) if he thought it would make him look good to his flightinfo fan club.

The information concerning vacancy bids for future months shows a trend. You could argue that information should be kept confidential.

 

[80drvr]

Retired military? I’d be concerned that if you were ever captured by the enemy you’d compromise your fellow military brethren.


Chase would probably eat his own children (or yours) if he thought it would make him look good to his flightinfo fan club.

The information concerning vacancy bids for future months shows a trend toward where a company is growing. (any company) You could argue that information should be kept confidential.

Why? They're a publicly traded company and none of this has been kept secret.

 

[luv2fly]

Stop!!

Chase~ Just quit already for Jeez sake!

You have been asked to quit posting SWA material by many, some in high office. So just quit. If you really want to make friends just go hang at the local FBO, I am sure you could find a few CFI's that will hang on your every word like some do on here. You could just continue to regurgatate our company newletters and emails and act like its info coming from you, just like you do here! It really is a pretty sad ego trip you are on!

 

[Bill Nelson]

deleted. (lost interest)

 

[bluestreaking]

"If (Chase) would spend 1/10 the time learning how to fly this airplane as he does molesting new hires he might be O.K to fly with. I just hate having to watch everything on his legs...." Senior Dallas Captain

LOL!!!

 

[ramiusvp]

I thank Chase for posting good info on these boards for years. I think Chase does not post info to get a fan club, but in some way is trying to give back to the aviation community what was once given to him. Like UAL 78 and others before him, I look forward to reading good posts with factual info.

Post on my brother.......I am listening.

As for the leg strap thing. What do you expect from a knuckle-dragging A-10 GUY??

Cheers,

Ramius

 

[FatesPawn]

The information concerning vacancy bids for future months shows a trend toward where a company is growing. (any company) You could argue that information should be kept confidential.

Oh please....

Fate.

 

[JTB]

Chase,

Retired military? I’d be concerned that if you were ever captured by the enemy you’d compromise your fellow military brethren.

If this is truly the June vacancy bid I don’t think you need to post it.

Flame me if you want Chase. Your posts are insightful but borderline, in my opinion, on too much company info.

RJ

Hey RJ, those first two sentences are pretty disrespectful. Though I'm a reservist, anytime I meet someone who is retired from the military, my very first comment is "thank you for your service."

Chase would probably eat his own children (or yours) if he thought it would make him look good to his flightinfo fan club.

The information concerning vacancy bids for future months shows a trend toward where a company is growing. (any company) You could argue that information should be kept confidential.

Bill N., Wow, did you read your reply before posting. Sheesh.

Chase~ Just quit already for Jeez sake!

You have been asked to quit posting SWA material by many, some in high office. So just quit. If you really want to make friends just go hang at the local FBO, I am sure you could find a few CFI's that will hang on your every word like some do on here. You could just continue to regurgatate our company newletters and emails and act like its info coming from you, just like you do here! It really is a pretty sad ego trip you are on!

luv2fly, I don't think it's an ego trip as much as he's a real dude who probably got a tremendous amount of help from some really great guys...and he's just paying it forward.

I'm one lucky guy. Starting at SWA next month. I'm probably wrong for quoting the above, but feel like they've not only disrespected a guy who has earned the respect on this board, but also called folks who appreciate reading his posts "fanclub" followers.

Well, I'm (and many others who are not just blind "followers") appreciative of the great info from Chase. Been wondering the same type of info regarding bases and the like. Keep up the great work!! Hope I can pay it forward one day too!

Fly safe,

jtb

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Chase~ Just quit already for Jeez sake!

You have been asked to quit posting SWA material by many, some in high office. So just quit. If you really want to make friends just go hang at the local FBO, I am sure you could find a few CFI's that will hang on your every word like some do on here. You could just continue to regurgatate our company newletters and emails and act like its info coming from you, just like you do here! It really is a pretty sad ego trip you are on!

I don't really know but Chase might be doing something he has been asked to do by management or the people department. Who in high office is asking him to quit?

 

[T1bubba]

The information concerning vacancy bids for future months shows a trend toward where a company is growing. (any company) You could argue that information should be kept confidential.

As opposed to the press releases telling everyone where we're growing???

The schedule drives the vacancy bids, not the other way around. And vacancy bids really only reflect the number of aircraft overnighting in each domicile, not what's going on anywhere else in the system.

Anyone who wants to know where we're growing can just check the schedule, it's usually published about six months out (currently through Sep 12).

Or were you worried that some other company might try to copy our vacancy bid process?