Zap, you’re more of a glass is only 1/8th full kind of guy but given your background it’s not hard to understand why (you poor SOB).

Here’s what this is gonna come down to in my humble opinion. Is SWA willing to bleed and keep planes and crews flying after the VSPs & ExTOs are awarded in an effort to take customer loyalty and market share from the Big 3 and if so will they have enough financial resources to do so?

On that front I’m fairly encouraged. My gut feeling tells me that they’re willing to fly at a loss for a while in order to do just that, but of course that can only go on for so long before even the mighty SWA cries “uncle”.

A second airline bailout might effect their strategy going forward as well.

Well, I’ll probably spend a good chunk of the time worrying about paying bills. I have a side business that has been punched in the gut thanks to COVID and I’ve had to support it with SWA income.

Otherwise, I plan on frequently soaking my white ass in turquoise Caribbean water and also pursuing my life’s passion in the outdoors this fall.

If the support of the side biz wasn’t an issue, I’d take the 5 year ExTO. Or if I had a decent corporate or charter gig, I’d also take the 5 year. So if you know of any gigs like that in the TEB, MMU, HPN, ILM, PHL, EWR, area and can hook me up then you’d get rid of another guy above you for five years

Nah. Couldn't do that to you. I spent 8 years flying corporate during the lost decade and although there were some bright spots, I generally wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. This job is 99% and 1% BS. Corporate was 1% flying and 99% BS.

My wife makes pretty good money so we would get by just fine on the EXTO for 6 months or a year. The two problems I've got with it are, on the one hand i've already done my bit for god and country by weathering several furloughs earlier in my career. That puts me way behind on retirement contributions... so greedily, I'd like to stay and catch up. Also, I just cant think of anything to occupy my time while i'm out. I spent a few months out on medical not that long ago and I was bored silly! With the wife working and the kiddo at school traveling to the turquoise water isnt in the cards.

Still, i'd feel awful if I didn't take it and someone ended up on the street because of it. It's going to be a nail biter, but I'm going to try to make a decision this weekend and if I do take it, most likely will only be the 6 month. Just long enough to buy the science guys time to finish the trials on the engineered antibodies and/or vaccines.

Sounds like logical thinking and reasoning. Yeah, you don’t owe this industry/profession diddly. Worry about yourself at this point. The Lost Decade was less than kind to you.

That’s the thing. Some guys would be bored out of their minds while on extended leave and then there’s guys like me that wouldn’t.

Best of luck with your decision and no matter what path you chose. To be honest, SWA flying bores the **** out of me so some more “interesting” flying would be welcome in a way. All of the other bu!!$hit and drama that goes along with it wouldn’t. 99% / 1% as you say.

Yeah. Before you do corporate flying you have to ask yourself some really soul-searching questions like, "How would I feel about pushing a dookie down the toilet with a rolled up magazine?" or, "can I use Google translate to try and talk the commandante of the airfield in Macho Grande for a landing permit?" or "Will I have to do a carpet dance if I spent $500 on deicing as opposed to $475 on hangar space?" or "Did this client want hot coffee even though we're in Houston in the dead of summer?"
Do you like answering accusations from the chief pilot like, "You know, if you went at FL470 you wouldn't have to make that fuel stop in Grand Junction..." or "Did you know the hotel you're staying at is $5 more than the LaQuinta down the street?!"

And then there's the self evaluations you have to write each year to try and beg them for a pay raise...

I’m putting in for the 5 years. Probably I’ll submit the form today or tomorrow. Planning travel. Eventually some kind of job. I haven’t had “normal” hours in 25 years and it’s appealing. The great thing is that any job needn’t be super high paying or have great benefits.

But first travel. First in the US Pacific Northwest. Then other places worldwide when that becomes more possible.

Thank you for all who are taking it and enjoy! I’ve been trying to make it work as well but with two teenagers and sole provider it’s just not in the cards right now for us.

That email was none too encouraging being in the bottom 20%. Ugh.

What did it say?

To paraphrase...

Customer behavior and forward bookings for late summer and fall are looking really lousy. Recovery efforts just aren't working as well as they hoped.. They need as much participation as possible in VSP and EXTO to avoid furloughs, pay cuts, or both.

Do you think we go back to massive green bars or a hindsight reckoning again? Or everyone work 12 days for min guarantee?