Not SWA. This place is a train crashing into a dumpster fire on a sinking ship right now.

maybe it'll get better, but even if it does, you'll be a narrow body captain here flying a regional FO schedule way after you could hold the left seat somewhere else.

 

think you left out that the ship was sinking in a half empty glass.

 

Absolutely. These types of threads always crack me up. “Should I go to SWA or a legacy?”

Obviously, those that ask these questions haven’t spent too much time in a Guppy cockpit because otherwise they wouldn’t be asking.

Every year that passes that cockpit seems to get more cramped and uncomfortable. Damn I wish we went with the A220s and not more Maxes.

 

I think this is a pretty big part that’s been overlooked. Obviously you can drive to all 3 so QoL will be pretty good. You have to ask yourself what type of flying do you really like? If international that cuts out SWA, then you have to look at the relative movement between DL and LAX. If you hate red eyes, international may not be great and you might have more flexibility at SWA. Maybe you want to upgrade quick and look at the relative times. Maybe you want to be a career FO doing 6-8 hour day turns and being home every single night. I would reach out to friends with the specific flying (realistically) you want to do the last 10-15 years of your career and see what lines/planes and movements are like. I think if you had 20-30 years you might want to more heavily favored DAL and UAL because they may provide more flexibility in types of flying. If I were you I would find out what I would be happiest doing in terms of type of flying and then weigh the options.

 

It’s too bad you can’t jumpseat on these carriers, because having a couple of flights in the cockpit, talking to pilots and experiencing the flight with the crew would be helpful.

I recently jumpseated on SW, and really enjoyed the crew, good people all of them, pleasant and friendly. However, that cockpit was so cramped, I don’t know how we all fit in there. Avionics looked old, think we were teetering around at FL 390, made me feel like flying freight on a wide body was luxurious. The crew was flying several legs that day, don’t know if this is a job that older people would enjoy so much unless they were senior.

I’ve avoided deadheading on UAL for decades, many people at my company do the same thing, unless there’s no other good option, and they live in a UAL base. Pilots are a good lot, though.

If I had to fly pax, there’s no doubt I’d choose Delta. After flying two million miles on them, the airline seems like a classy place and their product is a step above the others, theoretically that should translate into longevity.

 

Don’t weigh SWA on a lack of red eye flying—it’s very possible that we may get them eventually.

 

I wouldn’t go to SWA unless:

1) You wanna spend several legs per day locked in a loud, cramped cockpit for the rest of your flying career.

2) You prefer long days and short overnights, often in places like Lubbock, Fresno, or Bradley, CT and frequently staying in near-budget hotels located next to busy roads or highways with limited meal options.

3) You’d like to not have the option of upgrading in the next 10–15 years.

*Something to consider: if you’re fired up about opposing the vax mandate and such, SWA is probably where you want to go. UAL’s and SWA’s approach to it, so far, have been pretty much 180 degrees out from each other. UAL has taken a hard line on it. SWA seems like it’s much more friendly to the vax-hostile crowd. Depending on who you are, that’s either a good or a bad thing.

 

Hahaha, picking an airline because you are scared of a shot is ridiculous. You have to have a vaccine to start at southwest now. So no you can’t even go to class or get the “this is Your class date” without proof of vaccination. Horrible advice that means nothing. Ok if you want advice pick an airline in a city you will live in and like. So funny

 

New hires are now given a choice of shot or accommodation. Prob a discrimination lawsuit if they don’t or they don’t want to lose good hires to other airlines.

 

If I had those options and never planned to move from the LA area I would absolutely choose UAL. Junior, faster upgrade, other aircraft options, etc. I would mark SWA last. If you do choose SWA do not put culture or no furlough in a pro column. The company culture is fake and they will furlough when they have to, just like any other carrier.


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