Can't say I too young as I've been flying for more than 35 years, of which 22 years have been overseas.

My point is that SW is not the be all end all airline to wind up at.

May your career path take you to your retirement with Southwest.

 

Took 4 years off, flew an Air Ambo King Air for two years. The lack of currency was a factor the first time. I don't think they'll call you in unless you're flying at least 100-150 hours a year.

 

All civilian. Have the type. TBNT. I'll keep trying.

 

Maybe it comes off as immature and pathetic to you but to me the guy's my hero. If you get hired here and have the "privelage" of flying the line with the majority of Cptns who have zero prior 121 experience, you'll see how asinine it is that this guy with three airlines under his belt, 11,000+ hours (7,200+) in heavy transport category jets gets passed over for others who have zero experience flying an airliner under Part 121 and have a quarter of the hours that he does.

Assuming that you're a civilian guy (as you mentioned a crashpad), spend a little time on the line here and you'll soon understand why this place has the reputation it does for not keeping it on pavement as well as all the other incidents you see (and don't see that don't make it to the media. I.e. The new -800 that's probably totaled due to a really bad tail-strike in LAS).

Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to have to sit in the tiller-less seat now and witness the pax and FAs get thrown around on the ground because Cptn. Doesn't Understand How to Smoothly Operate and Aircraft with People on it is at the helm? THAT'S frustrating and yet this guy with oodles of experience gets turned down.

As a disclaimer if he had a $chitty attitude or wasn't typed I can certainly understand the rejection as they're probably interviewing to fill the three classes during June & July, but if that's the case why interview him?!

 

Not sure what the allure about going to SW nowadays is. Yes, yes. I get it, they make descent money. But I'm not sure that does it for me. Came to Spirit 7 years ago, been left seat for almost 2 (flying with my favorite captain!), got my guaranteed 4 days off in a row per the CBA, work some OT and credit an average of 110 hours a month (not bad money at all). Currently half way up the list in base, and almost top third of the master list. Descent layovers (just spent 24 hours in a Cabo resort), excellent crews (and some very young, fun, hottie F/A's). Aggressive growth, new jets, profitable business model (read ATW's "The New Southwest?" article). You don't need a Space Shuttle type-rating, or be an alumnus of the Fighter Weapons School to be eligible, although it might be a plus. Many ex-World, Omni, DHL and most recently expats from Etihad and Emirates are being hired. 24 a month.
Maybe the SW thing is a little overrated. But might be worth a shot.

 

While I agree, I'm getting my popcorn ready...

 

Yup, sounds exactly like my experience at AirTran right up until we "won the LUV lottery". I just jumpseated on you guys. Great experience. I agree with the observation that you guys have some great potential and hope that WHEN someone buys you you'll fair better than we did. Enjoy the family atmosphere, new equipment, and Latin America/Carib layovers. It might not last forever unfortunately.

 

And it wasn't too long ago that a SW pilot would be saying the SAME things you are. And at that time, if someone was to mention Spirit, it'd be "Spirit, who's that? Wait, is that the crappy/ghetto company flying MD80s with pilots that can't get hired elsewhere, working for next to nothing?"

Interesting how times change........

 

They did you a huge favor..... If you don't believe me, come back here and look this up in 2 years, and do the math.

DAL is gonna hire for at least 10 years. So is UAL, so is AAL. Lots and lots of pilots. SWA, not so much, not matter what smoke they are blowing about "growth" there. (You still have to account for the loss of 88 717s, and there isn't enough on the order book there to amount to any significant growth beyond that). Then take a look at the retirements at the legacies and the potential network expansions at them, then compare that to SWA. You should have sent them a thank you letter.

 

Give me a break. Don't you get it, he doesn't give a ****** what they think. Thanks for sharing and wish I would have thought about that after getting a rejection email from AA. What turds having people spend many hours itemizing time and filling out a psych eval just to apply. Would rather them just say "non fighter pilots need not apply".