Airline Pilot Central Forums - Southwest pilots to "fly more"

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SWA,

We all know that the SWA boys and girls put in long days. They have been doing it for 30 years now and have had a mostly clean record to show for it.

They taxi awfully fast and will do almost anything to cut ahead of a slow moving 747. And yet they have few accidents to show for it. If only AA could be so good. I like SWA. They are nice to non-revs, are mostly on time and seem to have clean and new planes. However I wouldn't want to work there.

SkyHigh

When was the last troop flight SWA flew to Iraq???? Also my friends wanted to use SWA miles to a foreign country.(oh they don't fly there.) And they are referred to as a MAJOR?????? HO! HO! HO! tis the season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBall

If it's based on pilot pay we're the only major left. ...And there's a lump of coal for your stocking. HO! HO! HO! Remember, "he knows you've been bad or good..." He also knows when you've been pouting, so get over it.:D

Except for the pay.... They are the Wallmart of the lower 48.... I am not saying those guys suck.... I like the group and would rather fly a 3 on 4 off! No alllllllllllll-nighters! This is probably why they have not killed anyone unitl now! While the other airlines make schedules that fly the crews all around the clock on a 4 or 3+3 back to back trips. You will see more of the same from the other majors as crews fly wiped out....

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer

I wonder how many legs that crew flew before they went for the sleigh ride?

First leg of the day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBall

When was the last troop flight SWA flew to Iraq????

I don't see the relevance of your statement since SWA has no aircraft in their fleet that could make that journey nonstop. (Of course, you knew that, didn't you?)

SWA flies numerous domestic positioning flights for the military. Chances are good that the soldiers heading to Iraq on a World Airways MD11 got their ride from Fort Hood to BWI on a SWA airplane.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBall

Also my friends wanted to use SWA miles to a foreign country.(oh they don't fly there.)

Your friends must not be too smart if they didn't realize that SWA "credits" (SWA uses credits, not miles!) are only good on SWA, and that all SWA cities are domestic. (It takes 16 credits to get a free flight so they must be pretty slow learners, too!)

By the way, what did reservation agent tell you when you asked about traveling to London? :confused:

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBall

And they are referred to as a MAJOR?????? HO! HO! HO! tis the season.

That's MISTER MAJOR to you, buddy! :)

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

You gotta be kidding with this....

:eek: Skyhigh--

If 8-10 hour days are long then I we guess we put in long days. Also, max taxi speed in 20 knots per the FOM. Yes, we will do anything to get around a slow taxiing airplane or someone "waiting on their numbers". Wouldn't you? I'm glad you don't want to work here. BTW, where do you work. Please share so we can bag on your place of employment too. LOL.

As for the knuckle head who asked if we are a "Major" are you even a pilot? An airline is considered a major if they have $1 billion+ in yearly revenue. You probably didn't know that Skywest Airlines has been a major airline for years.

S.B.

Quote:

Originally Posted by corl737

First leg of the day.

Must be corprate culture then....

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWAcapt

Ummmm, no. There's a purple and a brown company out there making more than the SWA folks. And yes, both are commercial airlines. (He said, tongue in cheek.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutnrun

By agreeing to these new work rules, you raise the productivity bar at your airline and across the industry - at the expense of quality of life, management expectations for future contracts, pressure on other carriers to beat the new benchmark, etc.

By your call sign, I assume you are an FO, thus likely in the earlier part of your career (which I hope is a long one). The toll this job will eventually take on your body is tremendous and will accelerate as you get older. I'm all for keeping a company healthy and viable - you have some excellent management there at SW and have dodged a few bullets - the biggest obviously is the fuel crisis that all of your competitors have endured but your management had the foresight to avoid. But your cost advantage won't last forever - it cannot. A 777 captain at american now makes much less than your 737 captain yet he is responsible for a butt-load more lives and a heck of a lot more expensive airplane. Ask a DAL guy what can happen when you think you have it made. In less than one year - top of the industry to BK. Yes management can make a big difference, but beware of what you ask for. I'm afraid $190/hr 737 captains will be a ripe target for your management team for your next contract when those fuel hedges have gone away and you are competing on a level (cost) playing field. An AMR 777 Captain carries 320 pax for $170 (ish)/hr a SW Captain carries 150 for $190/hr - -do the math - and don't say you fly more hours. You guys really have no where to go efficiency-wise. FAR's are FAR's. So what's left for management to attack in your next contract? Payrates. All mature companies are facing the same problems - don't think SW won't. My dentist just turned 50 and he said he is cutting back his days to 3 1/2 a week to enjoy his hard earned time off- why can't airline pilots think along those lines??? No, we just agree to work more and have a happy and financially secure widow

Best of luck to you in your career - stay healthy and happy

Awesome answer!!! I bought Southwest stock in early 2003 because I knew about their fuel hedges. Southwest pays $26 a barrel for oil, while all other airlines pay $60-70, and Southwest barely turned a profit in 05. At United, Fuel is the number 1 expense, even surpassing labor. As soon as Southwest's fuel bill doubles, they will be in trouble. I just sold my Southwest stock... now lets see what happens.
Thanks cutnrun for recognizing that Southwest is not the best thing since sliced bread.