A distraction?! It was hardly just a "distraction" for us pal. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as a two year F/O, did you not just get a big bump in relative seniority on the backs of half of our F/Os who got stapled?

I'm happy that for you it's just a "distraction". For a lot of us it's been an extremely stressful event and most of us haven't even begun to live with the downgrade/huge loss of seniority as only a small handful of our pilots have transitioned over.

Is the SWA culture gone? I don't know, but I do know that there's 1,735 pilots coming your way that aren't going to help things. I hope the rape was worth it. Enjoy!

 

And for the record I would have MUCH preferred that DLA brought us instead, and I can't emphasize the word MUCH enough.

 

"And until you work for a carrier that outsources its mainline flying to regional airlines, you don't really know what "eating their young" means."

^This....THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS!!!!

I find it unbelievable that the same people who complain so much about their life at a regional airline are first in line to work for the company that created the conditions that made it such.

Delta is the absolute worst offender.

 

airtran was purchased. a merger-like seniority integration wasn't likely to happen in the first place.

this renders many pilots ****ed off, which will further destroy the airline culture and morale. it's unfortunate, but the inevitable result of being taken over.

i, along with many others, were hoping that the SLI over there would go off without a hitch. having 1,735 ****ed off pilots will ruin that airline and deter any new talent from wanting to work there in the future.

my opinion of course.

 

wow..... amazing. (Sorry Barco)

 

SWA was never on my radar. They make guys pay over $8,000 for the chance at an interview. That sounds pretty desperate to me.

They don't attract the best pilots, only the most desperate.

SWA is a good outfit, but they have forgotten who they are.

They fly in to busy airports, lose money, defer aircraft orders, buy 717's, etc...

Still a good company, but they have seen their best days. This industry is not kind, and everyone will experience the downside during their career.

 

PAL?? Really? Whatever . . . .

Yeah, you are incorrect. As a second year FO, I got stapled behind every single AirTran FO EXCEPT for any new hire Airtran FO since the date of announcement. I lost 600 and some seniority numbers. Almost 4 years ago I was one week away from a class date at SWA when they called and said "stand-by" things are being put on hold. So yeah, I took any regional job I could, built my 121 Jet/Glass PIC, borrowed the money and paid for my 737 type rating, and applied like everybody else. Guess what SWA hired me.

Treading poolie water meant nothing. So be it. The only SWA pilots who were not Captains some where else are the AirTran FOs. So be it. I am now looking at a 19 year upgrade - assuming no growth. So be it.

To me, the past is the past and it just does not matter. I don't care. My personal happiness today and tomorrow are not dependent on wallowing in the miseries of yesterday.

Every day I get to fly a SWA 737 for a living is a privilege, NOT an entitlement. Guess what? I have felt this way about every job I have ever had since I become a responsible, mature adult.

So, Mr. Whack here is what I really have to say to you and any other AirTran pilot reading this. (I don't and obviously can't speak for all SWA Pilots, but I am sure most will agree with me) You are welcome to join us a SWA with open arms. We are very glad to join our two teams. If you bring a good attitude, a willingness to learn how SWA gets the job done, and a spirit of enthusiasm and hard work ethic . . . . . then I will be glad to buy you any beverage of your choice, on our overnights, I will probably even offer to buy your dinner as well. I will take the time out of my day to help you learn our bidding system, the ins and outs and how to make your quality of life better. I will bend over backwards to help in anyway I can to make your work day go a little smoother when you are having a bad day. Etc. etc. etc.

But if you show up with an attitude of entitlement, poor work ethic, griping about what your are owed, a self-centered, me-me-me outlook on life. Then you can kiss my behind. And for a variety of reasons, my prediction is you will not be an employee of SWA very long. I get it, your cheese was moved. I encourage you to look at that as an opportunity and not a liability.

If don't like your career path so far, then change it. Please, go work somewhere else, go fly for somebody else. Go start your own airline, then you can make your own seniority rules, your own compensation rules, your own everything rules.

The great thing about this country is that each and every one of us is FREE to pursue what ever work path we want, wherever we want. Your life is what YOU make of it, NOT what somebody owes you.

Just please stop urinating in the SWA water. We work very hard everyday, to keep it clean. Go figure, our customers like it that way. They are the only reason why I have a paycheck.

 

After reading and hearing what they did to Airtran I don't think I could go to SWA. You can't make threats to one group and then turn around and say welcome aboard, just seems bizarro. Pay 8k for a type rating and wait 18 years to upgrade? No thanks.

 

Well the real answer will be whenever they open up for apps again. Then see how many they get, that will tell you how many folks are willing to shell out money for a type rating, wait 18 years for an upgrade, and work for a once very good company that is now just another big airline. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Well, I'm so sorry to hear that you "lost" you lost 600 seniority numbers to AirTran pilots that have an older DOH. What a travesty. That is just so unfair to you. Whatever happened to "No SWAPA pilot harmed". (insert extreme sarcasm)

WRT to your comment about the only SWA pilots that haven't been Cptns being AirTran F/Os, that is completely incorrect. Our hiring standards were 500 hrs. Part 121 PIC or military equivelent because of our fairly quick upgrade time.

Your blue juice drinking mindset and attitude is shining through. You'll have to pardon the soon to be one quarter of your pilot group that isn't of the same frame of mind.

What's hilarious is how many times I've been threatened on this board that "I won't last at SWA" because of my attitude. What makes you think that I can't play the game well enough? If they fired everyone that is as POed as I am, they'd have to hire another thousand pilots just to handle the attrition. I know, I know, you're salivating at the thought.