I've seen faster than that!

 

Pelican,

I can tell you stories of ALK and Horizon getting what I consdered preferential treatment from the ATC, but I "calmed down and took at deep breath." After talking will the controllers they explained the "situation" to me and it made sense. No need to get upset, just call them. I have never had an unpleasant conversation with the ATC folks. Did you call them after your incident in SEA? If the way you described it was true and not an embellishment, I certainly would have.

If you have proof that purchasing a few pizzas has allowed us to have preferential treatment than call the press anytime. I am sure they will take up the cause.

BTW - I try, as do most people at SWA to be ready for that moment that will expedite things. It appears that the ATC folks do to. Why wouldn't they want to get rid of us as quickly (and safely) as possible. Besides, what is wrong with a liitle bribe now and then?

 

When SWA was still on Freq, we asked tower for a phone number and called them when we landed. They apologized as it was a new controller and he said he wasn't paying attention when they passed us from behind on the parellel.

Like I said, I'm not about to call the presses, I'm just blowing off steam on here like everybody else. The incident in SEA was the most blatant and unsafe. It was truly like a bratty kid getting rewarded for his behavior. I'm sure the SWA captain was bragging to his FO about how he got ahead of us and saved 2 minutes.

FORTL- Good points.

 

SWA does taxi fast and that's a fact. I was taxiing on a nice straight dry taxiway at a good clip, still below taxi limit speed, (of course) and some unknown came on frequency and asked me if I had an app in with Southwest! Found that funny!

 

what part of "we are paid by the minute" don't you speedsters understand???

 

Pelican,

I will tell you that if I had seen a SWA a/c "cut" you off like that I would have had a discussion with them about it. Again, if it is as you say then I will apologize for them.

There is a difference between asking for an intersection take off that expedites your departure and inconveniencing another aircraft. It is called being professional and courteous. From what I have observed the ATC folks are always both.

As a side note, a few days ago while taxiing out behind an AA and UAL a/c (in PHX) I had my brand new FO (yes we teach them this from the very beginning) run numbers for an intersection take off and we were gone before the AA aircraft got to the end. No bragging, but two minutes is two minutes.

 

Runway behind is also pretty useless. Everyone has to make choices as a Captain on trading safety for money. We do it on every flight. I wont trade runway length for two minutes. Others feel differently.

 

Normal operations at ORD is intersection takeoffs. If you request the full 13,000' length, ATC has no problem giving it to you, but it normally adds 30 minutes due to roundabout taxi and waiting for a hole in the arrival stream on the crossing runway.

Ref your experience in OAK, you said that you were 10 out on dogleg with flaps 5. If SW was close to that distance, I'm sure that they would have been clean and 250 (or greater). When it is close to a tie ATC usually seems to favor the faster aircraft.

I don't work for SW.

Joe

 

I knew someone would come back with some criticism. It is all in your situational awareness. I wouldn't take an intersection takeoff with less than 8000 ft left. The 737-700 has plenty of stopping margin.

Or let me put it another way. I will take off non stop to LAS from ISP with the runway available there, but I won't take an intersection with more runway available from PHX to LAX. I guess I am unsafe.

 

Hey...... They get paid by the trip, we get paid by the hour.... Let them go first it works out best for all!