tsquare

You might try the investor relations page on the website. They had a conference call in January, and laid out some of the particulars in there. I think Tammy Romo talked about those numbers some, but I personally didn't feel like weeding thru that.

Better yet... click on the webcast transcript at this link.

Thunder1

Company said recently that our aircraft utilization rate will be the highest it has ever been in 2014, especially for the summer. I think that was on SWALIFE somewhere recently.

WHACKMASTER

Well let's hope so, although some of us don't put much faith in "company said". Ya know.....that credibility issue.

REF 5

SWA also excludes aircraft that are not available for service and aircraft that are in storage. SWA has enough to grow block hours by quite a bit without any extra aircraft at the moment. Plus you factor this yr their are an average extra 15 airplanes OTS due to conversions. On the Airtran side utilization is horrible due to shrinking fleets. When those airplanes are able to get converted and fully be integrated into the system their is a lot of flexibility to add block hrs if the want to.

Also there were quite a few Airtran guys that went over that did not get typed. Those guys have to be typed by the end of next yr. There maybe a training bubble that may come next yr because those guys. I don't know if they may make them due a full course or do a abbreviated version to get them typed. We'll see.

I bet if you call SWAPA scheduling committee they will have(or should) block hrs from 2013 vs projected 2014. As well how many aircraft they really have, block per duty period, average duty day, real aircraft utilization, crews per aircraft, etc. GK cares about ASM growth right now to keep up with the cost creepage. Which really means no unit growth.

REF 5

Looks like in the earning's release that were down to 676 active aircraft.

"Looking ahead to 2015, while we have not finalized our fleet and capacity plans, we have been managing to a baseline of 695 aircraft, which was our combined fleet at the time of the AirTran acquisition."

Which means a lot of airplanes either in conversion, storage or not being used. Lots of flexibility if need be.

ZapBrannigan

What are some good tips for life on reserve?

Laramie

Get a crashpad.

Learn your contract. Then follow it.

Get acquainted with your chiefs.

Laramie

Maybe some 717s?

e6bpilot

With SWA reserve utilization being so high, is getting a crashpad the best financial move? It would seem like finding a cheap airline commuter friendly hotel (within reason, not somewhere that you would get shot) would perhaps be an ok option.

Thunder1

Lately in the Vegas domicile I've been sitting at home a lot. Recommend a cheap crash pad. For the summer months a hotel may be the best bet but for the rest of the year I think you will save money with a crashpad.
However, the best advice I can offer a new hire SWA pilot is to move West -- Oakland, Vegas, Phoenix. Nothing beats driving to work, having WAY WAY more time off AND making LOTS more money.
PM me if you want more info about your first year at SWA and reserve, etc.
Thunder1