Ok, first off, all you SWA bubbas this is not an attack on you so take a deep breath, calm down then reply as you like. My gripe is against the FAA, not you.

Has anybody else noticed ATC giving preferential treatment to SWA? I know that in OAK they have their pizza and cake parties to schmoose with the controllers and it's OAK that I have seen it the worst. I think it's smart business for SWA to do those things but find it absolutely disgusting that the FAA, a federal agency, falls for it. I have personally seen at least 3 cases of it in the past 2 years.

1. On a 10 mile dog-leg to final, flaps already 5, told to go-around, did a right 270, got behind SWA flight followed them in for final. There was nobody on the runway, nobody taking off, no other traffic. SWA was too close to us in order for us both to land so they sent us around and landed SWA.

2. Taxiing for full length takeoff in OAK, SWA flight taxiing behind us asked if they could do intersection takeoff. They affirmed and told us position and hold because SWA had "flow". Also see this ALLLLLL the time in Las Vegas.

3. Taxiing north on B for 16L departure out of SEA with SWA taxiing behind us. Without asking, SWA sidestepped to the parallel and came from behind, passed us (we were doing 12-15 Ground speed), they called ready for takeoff on Tower and they gave it to them.....as we both approached the hold-short, we had to slam on our brakes as they came from behind and from the right in order to get to the runway. This one I do blame SWA bubbas because in order to stop from hitting them, we had to slam on our brakes and they also broke protocol....just bad form in my eyes.

I don't blame SWA for most of this, I blame ATC for rewarding them. I'm sure the press would love to hear about a government agencey giving preferential treatment to the most profitable airline in the industry, causing other airlines to burn more gas, be late etc...
The Pelican

 

"Helping out the home team" happens all the time. Try flying international sometime, it can get really bad. IMO, it is small stuff and it's best not to sweat the small stuff.

C9

 

Would you consider getting your name in the paper for something a little more productive than your three gripe(s)?

Hey, the duality of the FAA's mission - regulate and promote - sounds like they're doing just fine.

12 knots on a straight away? Seriously? Ice on the taxiway?

 

Nope, just blowing off steam

 

Yep...that's what this forum is here for....so you can blow off steam. Thank god people aren't looking for good, relevant info on here.

 

I don't work at southwest, so take this for what is worth. I think as a whole you will find that southwest is the most agreeable airline for ATC, so they are repaid in kind, not that pizza doesn't help. Often I hear ATC asking southwest to do something and they seem to comply without the gripes heard often at many other airline. They are always ready and never waiting on numbers. ATC want to move traffic as fast and safe as possible and so does southwest, so they almost like being on the same team...

 

Very good Point. Not that my airline doesn't want to do that....just not the Pilot Group.

 

Try Las Vegas.......it is PAINFULLY obvious.

 

Absolutely - the FAA luvs us.

Yawn...

 

ha ha it cracks me up how fast sw taxies. I don't move slow by any means but I watch sw smoke by me like I was standing still.