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2014 SWA life on reserve.

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2014 SWA life on reserve.

Old 05-01-2014, 10:51 AM
  #71  
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Summer utilization should be high.

The winter/fall were uncharacteristically low.

Reserve ute used to be VERY hi at SWA, but this year has so many strange factors. Hiring, AT training conversion, hi a/c ute rates.

I'm going to guess that until school starts it will be heavy workload.
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Old 10-26-2014, 09:08 PM
  #72  
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Any updates or changes to SWA Life on Reserve in the last 5 months? Just curious to see if there were any major changes after the summer travel season. Thanks.
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Old 10-27-2014, 07:03 AM
  #73  
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I am living it now. October and November are traditionally low months and open time is scarce or nonexistent especially for the bottom 50 percent in any base/seat. That being said, I have been assigned a trip of some sort for each reserve block I have had this month, always a day in advance. Nobody has called to pull any of my trips, either, as line pilots are allowed to fly reserve trips if they want. I suppose that is about the only perk of sitting weekend reserve...nobody wants to fly the weekends so I get used and generally make a little extra money.
Staffing levels are high right now and only getting higher due to the final push to get the airtran guys over here. I expect to be sitting a lot from January until the spring and summer travel seasons are upon us. The word from the training center and the GO is that they are going to be hiring new hires next year after airtran is done in March. That is a leading indicator of more seats to put those butts in, but there hasn't been any announcement of fleet growth outside of a few off lease purchases and other cats and dogs. The older 300's and 500's are slowly going away, but I fly a classic at least one day of every trip, so there are still plenty out there.
New hires from early this year made it to the bases of their choice outside of Denver, Atlanta, and Orlando. Those at west coast bases are bidding blank lines and a few hard lines. From June on (the last 200 or so) are all sitting some form of reserve. Those hired in July and August are stuck out west in PHX, OAK, and LAS with a few exceptions.
So far so good, with the exception of the one percenters, this is a great place to work. My pay checks still cash on the 5th and the 20th, and my family is kept relatively happy by my very junior schedule.
I was able to bid Thanksgiving off, and I am about 10 from the bottom in my base. Through trading and schedule manipulation, I got the whole week off. QOL is there, even for junior guys, you just have to work harder to find it.

Last edited by e6bpilot; 10-27-2014 at 07:17 AM.
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Old 10-30-2014, 12:02 PM
  #74  
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Sat at home last weekend. No sign of any flying for this weekend. Planning on not making over guarantee for the foreseeable future. A1
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Old 10-30-2014, 03:24 PM
  #75  
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Originally Posted by a1flyer View Post
Sat at home last weekend. No sign of any flying for this weekend. Planning on not making over guarantee for the foreseeable future. A1
If you live in domicile you should easily be able to pick up trips in open time. You should easily be able to clear 110tfp.
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Old 11-01-2014, 01:41 PM
  #76  
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Are a lot of SWA FOs leaving for DAL, AAL, & UAL?
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Old 11-01-2014, 04:47 PM
  #77  
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No actual stats, just hearing things around the office, but there are a few new hires that have moved on to other offers within their first three months or so. I haven't heard of anyone off probation that has quit and gone to another major.
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Old 11-02-2014, 05:28 AM
  #78  
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It appears to be true that new hires are not showing for new hire class. Numbers I do not have. Why? Probably, the new hires have a choice of airlines. Upgrade is probably the deciding factor on what airline to go to.

For everyone at SWA, live in a domicle, regardless of where it is. If you can hold it, go there. Quality of life goes up big time. Regardless if you are a reserve or line holder.

FLL and HOU will be coming on line in 2015 for international travel. Since HOU is a base, makes sense that FLL will be a base as well.

There seems to be some good traction with satellite bases coming online very soon. TPA, BNA, STL, RDU, and MCI are possible choices. I think BNA and TPA would be the top choices for the small satellite bases. Many commuters live in these cities. Small bases yes, but living in these cities would be a plus.
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Old 11-02-2014, 08:09 AM
  #79  
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Originally Posted by OrionTanker View Post
It appears to be true that new hires are not showing for new hire class. Numbers I do not have. Why? Probably, the new hires have a choice of airlines. Upgrade is probably the deciding factor on what airline to go to.

For everyone at SWA, live in a domicle, regardless of where it is. If you can hold it, go there. Quality of life goes up big time. Regardless if you are a reserve or line holder.

FLL and HOU will be coming on line in 2015 for international travel. Since HOU is a base, makes sense that FLL will be a base as well.

There seems to be some good traction with satellite bases coming online very soon. TPA, BNA, STL, RDU, and MCI are possible choices. I think BNA and TPA would be the top choices for the small satellite bases. Many commuters live in these cities. Small bases yes, but living in these cities would be a plus.
What's the difference between a satellite base and a normal base like say, Denver?
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Old 11-02-2014, 09:21 AM
  #80  
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They have been spitballing about satellite bases for a long time. Basically you will start and end your pairing from there, but there will be no "base" with a pilot lounge, base coordinator, and associated infrastructure. There will just be your typical robust overnight station like we already have at most of those places. The iPads have really made this possible. No more updating your pubs, checking your mailbox, etc.
Of course, there is a lot of friction against this from senior guys that live in base right now. Satellite bases are a virtual seniority hit for those who currently don't commute. I personally don't see it happening for that very reason. If it does, it will be many many years from now.
In the end, what does the company gain from it? That is the real question. They get to fire (repurpose) a few base coordinators and save a few dollars on fuel from commuters non revving around the system? Big deal. Making commuters' lives better gains them nothing that they can give to the shareholders.
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