Quality of life at Southwest
03-06-2011, 01:36 PM
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B737 CAPT IAH
Posts: 1,130
Originally Posted by u2drvr
We get paid in Trips For Pay (TFP). Right now, the lines are averaging around 93 TFP for 13 days at work. I typically work 15 days a month and shoot for 105 TFP. As a second year FO, this works out to about $101,500 (105 x 80.57 x 12) in straight pay. Per diem adds about 6k and 401k (9.3%) match adds about 10k if you want to count those items.
The beauty of it is the flexibility. It is relatively easy to trade trips around to get the days off that you need. I'm ~90 from the bottom in OAK (our junior base) and can hold a PM hard line (no reserve). I work most weekends, but can get about one weekend a month off if I need to for whatever reason.
Hiring usually happens in waves. They hire until the situation changes and they realize they are overmanned. I got here in the middle of the last wave. I know guys who got here at the end of the wave and have been commuting across the country to sit reserve for the last year and a half. Get your sh!t together and be ready to get on in the beginning of the next wave.
While I have no regrets for the 21 years I did on active duty, I would have been much better off if I got out and came here as early as I could.
Good Luck
The beauty of it is the flexibility. It is relatively easy to trade trips around to get the days off that you need. I'm ~90 from the bottom in OAK (our junior base) and can hold a PM hard line (no reserve). I work most weekends, but can get about one weekend a month off if I need to for whatever reason.
Hiring usually happens in waves. They hire until the situation changes and they realize they are overmanned. I got here in the middle of the last wave. I know guys who got here at the end of the wave and have been commuting across the country to sit reserve for the last year and a half. Get your sh!t together and be ready to get on in the beginning of the next wave.
While I have no regrets for the 21 years I did on active duty, I would have been much better off if I got out and came here as early as I could.
Good Luck
Heck, I even turned down SW and DL to go to UAL in 97.......what a dummy I was.
Personally, I'd recommend a full retirement, either on active duty or a reserve option to back up the not so reliable airline industry. If going reserve/guard, enjoy and get on as soon as possible but get that military retirement.
SW is a great airline. Things like "we've never furloughed" or "have the best contract" are all true.......until they change. UAL was the 800 pound gorilla and hiring a 1000 a year.............
Tail wheel first,
Lee
03-06-2011, 02:26 PM
#42
The Brown Dot +1
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Position: 777B
Posts: 7,775
Originally Posted by Clear Right
I'd say take the orders, when SWA schedules you for a class, take leave from the marines and go to class. Once you have your seniority number put in for military leave at SWA...done.
This self centered advice is exactly what gives Military guys a bad reputation at the Airlines. This makes you look bad to a Chief Pilot and makes your Unit look bad for future hiring at SWA. Lots of Military guys at all airlines, and they know when the benefits of Military Leave are being abused. I would be careful with this advice. JMHO[/QUOTE]
I'm not trying to give bad advice. He said he was in the hiring pool already. What I recommended is completely legal and is a common action with furlough returnees who want to complete their military career.
03-06-2011, 04:46 PM
#43
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: ANG
Posts: 276
Originally Posted by scambo1
I'm not trying to give bad advice. He said he was in the hiring pool already. What I recommended is completely legal and is a common action with furlough returnees who want to complete their military career.
For a new hire to do that is some seriously bad juju.
03-06-2011, 05:34 PM
#44
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 531
He said he was in the "pool". Very different than a furlough recall. Do not abuse Military Leave period. It's not there supplement your income while your a new hire on probation. It is there for one reason, and one reason only...and that is to serve your country, and be protected when you return to work. Abuse USERRA rights and you make us all look bad. Do the RIGHT THING....
03-09-2011, 10:02 AM
#45
The Brown Dot +1
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Position: 777B
Posts: 7,775
Originally Posted by Clear Right
He said he was in the "pool". Very different than a furlough recall. Do not abuse Military Leave period. It's not there supplement your income while your a new hire on probation. It is there for one reason, and one reason only...and that is to serve your country, and be protected when you return to work. Abuse USERRA rights and you make us all look bad. Do the RIGHT THING....
First, I just re-read the USERRA rights and what I proposed is not a violation of USERRA. If you are on orders, there is no abuse of mil leave.
Second, abuse of mil leave is putting it where you actually don't have orders; over holidays, in the middle of reserve days of availability (rendering you unuseable) to get time of that you want, but weren't awarded by scheduling; etc.
Third, Mil leave does not avoid probation. If the pilot comes back from mil leave, he still has to comply with the unmet probationary period. All he gains from doing what I recommended was establishing a seniority number while complying with USERRA and providing for his family.
If, after re-reading the USERRA rights, I thought what I had originally proposed was abuse, I would not have posted this rebuttal.
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