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-   -   Feb ETO (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/southwest/131878-feb-eto.html)

barabek 12-18-2020 07:01 AM


Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan (Post 3172184)
The objective of EXTO, VSP and, to a lesser extent ETO (excepting those who took it to protect themselves or family members from infection) was to reduce headcount - essentially to match supply with demand.

The company has already decided, in the month of February for example, how much flying they intend to do. Now they'll take the number of crews they have and attempt to build contractually compliant trips and lines.

Long before Covid and the Max, February was the month you expected to see a green bar. This February that effect will be amplified, easily making the case for the company that even after EXTO, VSP, and some monthly ETO we remain overstaffed. The green bar is the measure of our inefficiency.

EXTO is a sunk cost. Something the company has already agreed to - extracontractually unfortunately - to address the manning problem. ETO is still variable.

My thought was that if enough of us took ETO to shrink the green bar, we could have proven to the company that these voluntary programs work, and there would be less of a need to furlough in order to match capacity and demand. Yes, there is still a cost. But since the program is again extracontractual and company sponsored, they're telegraphing their willingness to allow us to solve the problem voluntarily.

The green bar is the problem. Line guarantee was meant to protect us against inefficient schedules, not as an underemployment program.

In the end, it's irrelevant. Only 157 people took it in the month of February. Less than 2% of active pilots. (The 1221 represent about 13.5%) At the end of the day "Keep Dean" has to be more than a slogan on a bag tag or a lanyard. We have to be willing to do something. If it's not a concession, then it's a voluntary program. If we do nothing, we do a disservice to our own pilots and what little culture remains will fall.

I get what you're saying Zap, not arguing with your good intentions. I'm not an accountant, so can't see the numbers. I just can't understand how you save money by crating a big green bar by going on ETO. I guess I don't see the big picture. As far as the "culture", I wouldn't look at the pilots who are unwilling to repetedly sign up for ETO to blame. If I had to point somewhere, I would towards someone else...

Peacock 12-18-2020 07:16 AM

Hopefully a moot point with another bailout seemingly imminent

Texasbound 12-18-2020 07:43 AM


Originally Posted by Peacock (Post 3172249)
Hopefully a moot point with another bailout seemingly imminent

It has been imminent for several months now.

Was the keep Dean slogan started by the Union or the Company?

hoover 12-18-2020 07:45 AM


Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan (Post 3172184)
The objective of EXTO, VSP and, to a lesser extent ETO (excepting those who took it to protect themselves or family members from infection) was to reduce headcount - essentially to match supply with demand.

The company has already decided, in the month of February for example, how much flying they intend to do. Now they'll take the number of crews they have and attempt to build contractually compliant trips and lines.

Long before Covid and the Max, February was the month you expected to see a green bar. This February that effect will be amplified, easily making the case for the company that even after EXTO, VSP, and some monthly ETO we remain overstaffed. The green bar is the measure of our inefficiency.

EXTO is a sunk cost. Something the company has already agreed to - extracontractually unfortunately - to address the manning problem. ETO is still variable.

My thought was that if enough of us took ETO to shrink the green bar, we could have proven to the company that these voluntary programs work, and there would be less of a need to furlough in order to match capacity and demand. Yes, there is still a cost. But since the program is again extracontractual and company sponsored, they're telegraphing their willingness to allow us to solve the problem voluntarily.

The green bar is the problem. Line guarantee was meant to protect us against inefficient schedules, not as an underemployment program.

In the end, it's irrelevant. Only 157 people took it in the month of February. Less than 2% of active pilots. (The 1221 represent about 13.5%) At the end of the day "Keep Dean" has to be more than a slogan on a bag tag or a lanyard. We have to be willing to do something. If it's not a concession, then it's a voluntary program. If we do nothing, we do a disservice to our own pilots and what little culture remains will fall.


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this is a very valid point IF the company actually wanted to reduce costs and not get concessions. I think it's pretty clear nothing the pilots do will prevent the threat of furloughs. The company is hell bent on using the threat to try and get some concessions and when the bailout out comes, or govenrners open up their states and the flying returns the company will try and push it all aside and say we didnt really want to furlough and we are so glad we didnt have to. Even though they never had to all along.
if the company truly was wanting to cut costs then they would entertain the ideas the union has presented. I think Jon's emails have been pretty clear where the company's priorities are.
I wish we as a group would stop trying to solve the company's made up problems. The only way they stop threatening is if they get what they want and everyone agrees that is not going to happen. I can appreciate the effort from the group, I'm on ExTO and was hoping that would do the trick but unfortunately we are being played and we should act accordingly from now on out.

Lewbronski 12-18-2020 08:09 AM


Originally Posted by hoover (Post 3172262)
I'm on ExTO and was hoping that would do the trick but unfortunately we are being played and we should act accordingly from now on out.

We’ve been played for at least a decade. The difference is that now more people seem to recognize it.

flensr 12-18-2020 09:05 AM

If I take ETO it'll be to get some time off, not to help the company. CK told us (through SWAPA) that the programs don't help and they're not interested in paying pilots to stay home. So if ETO (and second rounds of EXTO or VSP) don't help and in fact taking them is considered a mark against the pilot group because it's just "paying pilots to stay home", then I'm not going to consider the company's health at all when deciding whether or not to apply for ETO in any particular month.

I do regret not taking ETO for December, but that's only because I haven't been able to be home for Christmas very often in the last several years.

CK wants 10% of my salary. Offering 50% of our pay for an ETO month is being held against us in negotiations. So that's simply not something we need to be considering in my opinion. Take ETO if you want the month off, awesome. But don't think you're helping the pilot group, Dean, or the company, because CK told us they don't want to pay pilots to stay home.

Peacock 12-18-2020 09:39 AM


Originally Posted by Texasbound (Post 3172261)
It has been imminent for several months now.

Was the keep Dean slogan started by the Union or the Company?

Neither. I believe it was started on a new hire Facebook group but I could be wrong. I don’t think I’ve seen any official SWAPA keep dean stuff.

And no the second bailout isn’t guaranteed but there’s lots of smoke, so hopefully it makes ETO in February moot

symbian simian 12-18-2020 01:08 PM


Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan (Post 3172184)
The objective of EXTO, VSP and, to a lesser extent ETO (excepting those who took it to protect themselves or family members from infection) was to reduce headcount - essentially to match supply with demand.

The company has already decided, in the month of February for example, how much flying they intend to do. Now they'll take the number of crews they have and attempt to build contractually compliant trips and lines.

Long before Covid and the Max, February was the month you expected to see a green bar. This February that effect will be amplified, easily making the case for the company that even after EXTO, VSP, and some monthly ETO we remain overstaffed. The green bar is the measure of our inefficiency.

EXTO is a sunk cost. Something the company has already agreed to - extracontractually unfortunately - to address the manning problem. ETO is still variable.

My thought was that if enough of us took ETO to shrink the green bar, we could have proven to the company that these voluntary programs work, and there would be less of a need to furlough in order to match capacity and demand. Yes, there is still a cost. But since the program is again extracontractual and company sponsored, they're telegraphing their willingness to allow us to solve the problem voluntarily.

The green bar is the problem. Line guarantee was meant to protect us against inefficient schedules, not as an underemployment program.

In the end, it's irrelevant. Only 157 people took it in the month of February. Less than 2% of active pilots. (The 1221 represent about 13.5%) At the end of the day "Keep Dean" has to be more than a slogan on a bag tag or a lanyard. We have to be willing to do something. If it's not a concession, then it's a voluntary program. If we do nothing, we do a disservice to our own pilots and what little culture remains will fall.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Yes, yes & yes.
I'm at NK, my wife is SWA. She has never been as disappointed in an airline as she is now (20+ years and 4 airlines). She just cashed out swag points and wishes she'd taken VSP. She was all in SWA before, not so much now. Absolutely atrocious how they put the shareholders before employees.

Zard 12-18-2020 06:35 PM


Originally Posted by symbian simian (Post 3172379)
Yes, yes & yes.
I'm at NK, my wife is SWA. She has never been as disappointed in an airline as she is now (20+ years and 4 airlines). She just cashed out swag points and wishes she'd taken VSP. She was all in SWA before, not so much now. Absolutely atrocious how they put the shareholders before employees.

if they offer another VSP, I'm considering taking it and just finding another airline to work for or just doing anything else

Brushing up on that FedEx app.

I really wish I'd taken it.

Lewbronski 12-18-2020 09:09 PM


Originally Posted by symbian simian (Post 3172379)
Yes, yes & yes.
I'm at NK, my wife is SWA. She has never been as disappointed in an airline as she is now (20+ years and 4 airlines). She just cashed out swag points and wishes she'd taken VSP. She was all in SWA before, not so much now. Absolutely atrocious how they put the shareholders before employees.

Stock charts over cohearts. High five?


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