Any former AirTran care to send me a PM? I have a couple of questions about your former boss!

Check your PMs

I've read through this thread with great interest. I'm a former regional guy currently living in China with my wife and kids, halfway through a three-year biz-jet contract.

I have always been interested in SWA and even more so now because we are strongly considering moving to the Tucson area, so driving to work in PHX for either SWA or AA would be ideal. Do many folks live in Tucson and drive to PHX? Google Maps tells me it's about 1:30 without traffic, so I'm not sure how feasible this would be whilst on reserve.

A few other questions:
1) Does SWA have any requirement for guys to be 121 current? I've heard rumblings about this from other airlines that current 121 is preferred. Should coming from a part 91 operation present a challenge for me?
2) I read earlier in the thread that PHX was a junior base. How long would a new-hire have to wait before holding a line in PHX?
3) How is the outlook as far as future hiring/retirements? I believe SWA is a younger pilot group than the 3 big legacy carriers. How many years seniority does the most junior captain have?
4) Does SWA put a big emphasis on attending job fairs? Also, I have numerous friends and former colleagues who work at SWA in a number of different roles. Do internal recommendations matter to a large degree?

Thank you in advance.

1. No. They hire plenty of part 91 or 135 guys and plenty of expats. 121 and 737 type help, but aren't a deal breaker by any means.
2. Two months to hold PHX. Probably 6 to hold a line. Reserve call out is two hours to the airport in normal traffic. Lots of TUS commuters.
3. Not nearly as good as the legacies. 9 years is our most junior captain, but that may go up a little as we go into a transition period with the lance captain program. It should normalize again around the ten year point.
4. I don't know. Recommendations matter once you get an interview. They don't matter at all prior to that.

Food for thought, but AA is cutting the PHX pilot base by a third/500 pilots...

American Airlines reducing Phoenix pilot base by 500

1. With the he EFB do they give it to you or do you have to buy one then be reimbursed?
2. Do you have to have a cellular plan with the EFB
3. During training do you get any Sunday's off?
4. For observation flights do you get to pick where you go? Or do they assign them to you
5. I had previously asked about health insurance, and everyone said go with the company plan. Does that plan have pretty good prescription drug coverage?
Thanks guys

1. They give you a EFB now.
2. It comes with a 2 GB data plan. Not sure what happens if you go over.
3. Sundays off during ground school, Sim schedule you'll do 6 on 1 off 6 on or so to get done.
4. Most people just observe when going home on weekends. You pick where you go...just be conscientious that you don't take a seat from someone trying to get to work/home.
5. Depends on what plan you choose. On the Regular Plan generic scripts are free once deductible is met ($200/individual or $300 family OOP)

FWIW, I did a bunch of observation rides after class. A SAT or HOU turn is easy. Back in time to hit the bar.

SWAPA has a great video about the health insurance plans. There is also a facebook group that discusses the regular plan. You'll have 30 days before you selections are final, so plenty of time to consider you options once you have all the information.

Can you collect hotel points for your night in training? Are there any places that allow you to collect points?