In the end it seems that there is such angst over where I should apply or go in the future. In my opinion everyone that has minimums for ANY employers currently hiring should be courting every airline with full applications and unending updates.

Stop the endless back and forth about where I should go and substitute in the airlines that have actually offered you a job.

If only one airline floats you an offer, take it. If two airlines make you an offer, now you have the choice that you will be so happy to discuss like it happens so often. In the end, I think most of us are restrained by "who" offers us the job.

Funny thing about airlines Oscar,

None of them stay on top forever. They all cycle through. And while you are enjoying your false sense of security at the moment rest assured that one day maybe sooner, maybe later, SWA will get to visit the dark side of the moon too. A good policy to adhere to is that gloating or running around playing the bandy rooster in this industry will always come back to bite you eventually.

Have you flown with any former Air Tran captains, yet?

Ba da bump bump!

I've had a few in the JS. They'd be elsewhere it sounds like.

Steve Stills said it best,

"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."

The people going to SWA from startup to around 5 years ago have enjoyed a nice career while their legacy peers have struggled the last dozen years or so. Due to that fact, there will naturally be very few "I left SWA and had a great career" stories.

Ask that question in 10 years and I bet you'll get a lot more success stories from those currently at the bottom of SWA looking to move.

Just my opinion, but you have to look to the future when answering that question, not the current snapshot. Who the heck knows though.

^^^^^This. What on earth could possibly be wrong with earning $160K++ forever, vice pie in the sky somehwere else??

Since no one is answering the original post, I guess I'll chime in.

I left SWA for Fedex and I've actually met another individual that's done the same.

Again, no one will know if they've made the right career decision until they retire. But, I am very glad I made the switch.

1. I'm home more often and in longer spurts.
2. I almost never work weekends or holidays.
3. I work a lot less and the pace is a lot slower.
4. I actually log less night hours and log significantly less block hours
5. I make a lot more money for a lot less work
6. I get to travel the world with actual downtime to do things. And often I get to DH in first class.
7. I don't have to deal with pax and the only time I deal with TSA is when I dh.
8. A lot more commuter friendly trips. Most of my trips are commutable on both front and back end.
9. A real retirement plan
10. I fly with a lot less koolaide drinkers.

Things which was a step back
1. No real Nonrev bennies for family.

The people I know who have retired from SWA:
- Are wealthy beyond comprehension
- Mostly very cool people really enjoying life
- Now drink the other 12 hours of the day too

There is a guy at Cathay that left SWA a few yrs ago. He's still here. Is that considered successful?