Say most of the Legacies, and LCC's (JB/SWA-AT) starting ramping up hiring in 2012 and beyond.....

What's your opinion of where most would try to go? Would anyone consider leaving a LCC for a Legacy? How would the Legacies hiring open up opportunities for those wishing to go to an LCC.

If ya can't tell, I want to end up at SWA when this economy/retirement stuff irons itself out. But also know that the competition will be very stiff. Unless their are many more options for those with thousands of RJ PIC time vs. my mostly Regional FO/corporate background...

I remember back in 1999-2001, it seemed much easier to get on with SWA. (I know, I know.....different time, different labor contract etc). For my own personal gains I'm hoping that most will be dreaming of that Delta, United, Continental brass ring..and leave alot of potential spots for SWA..

I hope I don't start a mud slinging debate about Legacy vs. SWA..Different strokes for different folks. I just know I'd prefer SWA over anything else.

 

the movement is going to be at the legacy's. Southwest's big explosive movement and growth has already happened. I'd go to a legacy before going to SWA, the time to have gone to SWA was about 10 years ago imho

to each his own

 

One of my buds left SWA for United......oops. Another left Alaska for United....oops.

 

If the legacies become consistantly profitable, and the wages and benefits go up in contract talks, people will leave LCCs for the Legacies again. The retirement numbers alone will attract people away. Southwest and now Airtran have a younger pilot group with a lot fewer retirements scheduled in the next 10 years. Going to the bottom of that list would mean stagnation for years, and that means QOL issues. The pay would be great, but poor QOL means something too. There are 4 or 5 years in a row that Delta retires over 500 or 600 pilots each year. Do you know how much movement that equals? Every widebody Captain that leaves means 20 or so pilots move up to higher paying equipment. And, that means more stability too with new hiring from the bottom up.

 

SWA is no longer a LCC...

 

I did consider not saying LCC.. But that always seems how we lump SWA into the mix... I don't consider SWA low cost etc...

I understand about missing the SWA hiring spree 10 years ago. But I was still working on a Beech 1900 10 years ago, with maybe 1000 hrs.

I think I'd enjoy working for SWA much more than a legacy..Not that I have any choices over the matter!! But hoping down the road a bit

 

I kinda have to agree with Super on this one. SWA, I'm sure, is a great place to work, but the movement will be with the legacy airlines.

 

Agreed. Look at Delta retirement numbers starting in a few years, for example. Should be pretty good movement over here. Not sure about other legacies.

 

American is an old group and will go gangbusters soon.

 

as well as usair and fedex