David Puddy

Just read that a 17-year Netjets pilot is leaving for SWA. Good for him if it will make him happier - but he will still be working just as hard at SWA.

Unless the commute/base is the issue (and reason for SWA), why not go to Delta where there are still pilots being awarded Capt slots in their first year or two? I recently met a former Endeavor CRJ Capt who was just awarded 737 Capt at Delta during his first year.

MinRest

In the 2016-2017 timeframe, there were a ton of pretty senior CAs (as well as FOs) that left to various places like SWA. Clearly he isn't chasing an upgrade by going to SWA but maybe it fits his lifestyle better than he thinks NJA does. For the record, none of my former NJA buddies at SWA would say they work as hard at SWA, not even close.

tm602

I spent 16.5 at NetJets and in my 7th month at SWA. I can hold PM reserve and am definitely NOT working anywhere near as hard as I was at NJA. I fly pretty much every day here, which is nice. No games shuffling around, flipping clocks, and best of all I don't have expense reports, get my own transportation to the hotel, wait in line to get my room or check out...no babysitting the fueler, no catering, no cleaning....its easy here. I don't even turn my phone on until 1100. Even on reserve I still have the same amount of days off (15) and have yet to come home exhausted.
Even at our worst days with reassignments and such here, its still much easier. All the sitting around, airlining and wasted time showing at 0500 for 0830 flights or "we need the coverage so stay at the FBO another couple hours" is what wears one out at NJA. If you don't like to fly, SWA is not for you. You fly. You fly alot. But I like to fly, and the 45 minute turns make the day go much faster. "Short" overnights that everyone b1tches about are 12 hours or so. Most of mine are in the 15-16 hour range. The "cramped" cockpit is much roomier than anything I flew at NJA, and our crews are treated like adults. Fits me like a glove.

Das Auto

He lives near HOU. it wasn't too long ago that it was very difficult to get on with Southwest. It's quite possible that people who have had their app in there for years are just now getting an offer. Same with Delta, American and United.

One of the main advantages to working at NetJets is the ability to live pretty much wherever you want. That perk becomes moot if you already live at a major airline hub.

MinRest

He will commute in the beginning. Can't hold HOU right away.

tm602

If it's BM, I talked to him a few days ago, he's reluctantly going to stay. Can't blame him. CC52 at his longevity is something tough to leave. But me, not a second of regret.

Crockrocket95

Yeah. Unless you're one of the few NJ guys that only work 1 leg a day and then sit for 2 days, then go home... SWA guys FLY a lot. but we don't work hard. Airline work is... not really work. A 4 leg day at SWA was never as tiring as a 2 leg day in my charter days...

David Puddy

Nope. Different initials as far as I can tell.

I have friends at both Netjets and SWA and the Netjets pilots seem to work harder - especially, not surprisingly, on busier fleets like the Latitude and CL350. But they also make more cash on average per tour than the slower fleets (a buddy on the Sovereign is always griping about not enough hours and how he can’t wait to bid the CL350 - he will probably gripe about exhaustion after a fleet change). My SWA friends do seem to work hard in terms of average sectors per day with tight turnarounds, but they don’t have to do all of the clean-up, stocking, other post-flight stuff, etc. in their airplanes and that seems to make a difference to some of them. There are trade offs in every job and no job is perfect…

jtf560

According to the pilot that this is about, he is expecting to get HOU very quickly and has a 25 minute drive to work when he does eventually get it. He is thinking 2 to 4 months, but however long it takes, he will be soooo much happier. Even a longer than wanted spell on reserve isn't so bad with 15 days off and a short drive when called out. NetJets will always suck a little and sometimes quite a bit. I'm very happy that his personal situation allows him the opportunity to start over with the advantages of living in base at a great airline. I also think we will see more and more of this, especially if the next contract here has us lagging even further behind the majors.

tm602

S.W. then? Whoever it is, he'll like it here. HOU is currently June and October this year hires as junior. With 2000+ being planned to hire next year, or anywhere even close to it, its not going to be a long wait at all.