A job at SWA is a great thing. A place in the pool won't buy you a cup of coffee. I know several guys at Delta now who are in the pool. Whether they leave DAL or not will be a cost/benefit analysis when the time comes.

As for age 60 retirements--thanks to APAAD they'll soon be over. Time to upgrade at 6% (vice) 8% growth plus the lower retirement rate will mean a much longer (9-12 year) vice 5-7 year captain upgrade we are used to seeing. You can write all the "Luv" letters you want, but its just business in the end. Those in the pool will explore their other business options. If SWA is still the better deal...they'll be there in a year or so. If by then they are happy at CAL or DAL or UPS or FDX...maybe not. Time will tell...

I agree with you. A pool letter will not put food on the table or pay the bills. You have to do what is best for you and yes business is business.

I thought the 60 thing was gonna get shelved this year when congress goes home for the holidays...didnt look like they were gonna put it to a vote this year IMO. Isn't age 65 discrimination too? (Sorry I could not resist)

Nothing is for certain. I'm still holding out for my training date, but it is very hard. I've got an interview for a corporate G450/550 job coming up. If I get the offer, I have a hard decision to make.

How many great opportunities do I turn down waiting for that coveted training date? What happens if that hoped for training date gets pushed back yet again?? No one knows the future--you just have to do what's right for you and your family at the time.

No decision at all. If you get the gulfstream job...take it. When SWA calls and you want to do that...take it. Business is just that.

If it was just me that would be fine. Gotta think about a wife with a good job and two kids in school--uprooting them to take the corporate job is not an easy decision. Would prefer to do it only once.

I'm going to the interview anyway.

If you are in the pool, is there still a chance that SWA could turn around and tell you that you no longer have a job offer?

Chances of that I think are pretty slim--unless it's self inflicted. You would have to give them a good reason to kick you out of the pool. You are in the pool for as long as you can stand it.

PD was even willing to discuss adjusting my availability date in case I took a job requiring a minimum time for employment (contract). They told me that unless I tell them to take me out, they will keep me in the pool for as long as necessary. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about a contract. I'm available next week, if they call.