Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
Right, I don't have the PIC. I still wouldn't apply however.
I don't want to commute.
I don't want to move.
I don't want to fly 9 leg days.
I don't want to strive to fit into the SWA culture.
I don't want to spend much time on the east coast.
SWA is a great company but I have never wanted to work for them. They offer few of the requirements that I have to satisfy personal lifestyle needs. Life is hard enough without having to sit in a terminal on my days off trying to get to and from work. SWA has had a fantastic run, however I think things are due to slow down. They have nearly conquered the nation. What else can they do?
Flying is great but it has never been worth it to me to completely uproot everything that I value in life in pursuit of it. I hold the belief that I can do better and have been fulfilling that expectation ever since I was laid off years ago.
What other profession demands as much? 4 years of College, flight school, to be followed by nearly a decade and a half of low wage jobs to reach a place where your odds slim to one in three at best. The reward then is to be a new hire at 40 at some major, get treated like a high school kid at Walmart. Enjoy the low wages and poor schedules yet again. Commute across the country. Miss family events and holidays. And if you are lucky you might miss the big furlough at 45.
Even if I were eligible for SWA I could not accept the difficulties it would present myself and to my family. Maybe in years to come after my kids are grown and gone and when the profession as totally collapsed I could consider something like that.
Skyhigh
Sky...no offense intended. But from what I've gathered from reading your posts:
1) You tried to get started without paying your dues, and were partially successful
2) The rug got pulled out from underneath you, and because you were under-qualified you can't find equivalent work
3) You are now extremely bitter.
For god's sake, if you want to fly for a living, get out there and fly! Pay some dues for a few years. I had plans that got changed as of 9/11 too, I adapted as best as I was able. If you don't want to work for an airline, don't! Believe it or not there are other avenues available to you that will keep you flying, and yes, even let you make a decent living! And...if you don't want to fly for a living, find a different hobby than hanging out in a flying for a living forum!
My $.02. Best of luck to you.