Good point, but there's something fairly simple at play as well:
(this is just my observation, not trying to rag on SWA, they have always treated me with respect)

In a growing airline there is ample possibility for career advancement.

To some extent this has been the formula for success for SWA and many regionals. The "carrot" is the potential for a higher paying job.
This will become SWAs Achilles heel, as the airline matures the rapid growth previously enjoyed starts to moderate.

Once SWA has the majority of their gate agents on the job for over 30+years
I'm sure the customer experience won't be much different from other legacy airlines. Recent press about SWA has already shown how things aren't as loosey goosey as they once were...

They do have the employees brainwashed to some extent:
As she hands me a pack of peanuts, I had a SWA FA ask me if Delta handed out "free food and drinks" like SWA did; had to bite my tongue on that one...

Cheers
George

Anybody been watching the baseball playoffs today?
Local Atlanta cable feed has been running Machinists' commercials all day.
The commercials urge a yes vote for the union at Delta.
The IAM is spending a lot of money on this thing. I wonder if mgmt will respond?

Here's the commercials:

IAM | Delta Campaign

i know this isn't the same thing per se but I once watched a BA 777 taxi to EWRs runway 11 and rotate a little past halfway down the runway. It was very cool. Everyone else was lined up for 22R.

Don't know anything else besides that. Except that our pilots are cooler and much better looking. :D

Carl

same thing in Memphis today fwiw

Well, figure it's about 6 hours from NY to LHR half the time, so about the same load as a 777 would have to the west coast I guess. Pretty light!

I saw a Kalitta 747-200 smoking off of that runway once too. They did not rotate in the first half of the runway. :) They had all the mains off by the first half of the piano stripes though. :eek:

so tonight I tried to commute home on a full ASA flight but i tried anyway. I walked up to the gate an hour prior and said i'm listed but can do the jumpseat if needed. The agent says oh dont worry you have a seat, i think great and wait around to go time. Just as boarding starts they pull my seat and the guy says sign up for the jumpseat and we'll get you on. So i go to the agent and checkin for the jumpseat. Just before boarding some Pinchanickle guy rolls up and says oh i'm already on the jumpseat, I booked it 6 hours ago. Is there a limit on how early you can book a jumpseat? I always thought it was 1 hour prior with the agent at the gate? Even if theres no time limit is there a pecking order for who gets the jumpseat if its neither of our companies metal or is it first come? I feel like i got major hosed on this one. Whats the rules? 6 hours prior doesnt sound right imho but i've never had this happen either.

From the ALPA National Jumpseat site:

ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST
CASS

All FAR Part 121 pilots may ride the airline’s jumpseats at the captain’s discretion. Show up at the gate 1 hour before departure and fill out an additional-crewmember (ACM) form. Uniform or casual business attire is required, along with a valid company ID and airman certificate. Riding the jumpseat is on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. The ACM is expected to perform any duties necessary in the event of an abnormal situation. International jumpseats to Canada and Mexico are available. For flight information, call 800-221-1212. Website: Delta Air Lines - Airline Tickets and Airfare to Worldwide Destinations

Yes, I think you got hosed.

Yes, they are overworked. Improved systems would ease their workload quite a bit.

well looks like i'll be calling the jumpseat coordinator. I was following what i thought was the rules and this guy walked up just before closeout with a jumpseat form that was timed 6 hours prior. the agent said sorry he beat you here since it was before you got here an hour prior. So he wasnt there an hour prior, he got a bogus checkin 6 hours prior and strolled up 2 minutes before departure. I had nothing to stand on because i didnt have the above info. I'll be sure to carry it from now on though.