Serious thoughts about leaving.
11-18-2021, 02:23 PM
#71
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Posts: 341
Originally Posted by Sluggo_63
If that's really the case, you were doing Paris layovers wrong.
11-18-2021, 03:16 PM
#72
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2005
Posts: 1,273
Originally Posted by itsokimapilot
Haha, I wondered if anyone would pickup on that. I’m not a fan of Paris. I prefer Eastern Europe. The problem I had with European overnights was the distance/logistics if I needed to get home. No matter the location overnights are just that, overnight away from home. I’d prefer to do my overnights closer to the same time zone.
As far as the flying, I find the long haul flying much easier to do than the constant up/down multiple legs flying. One leg to the hotel is what I shoot for. And not to throw shade, but that was one of the reasons that I didn't think I would fit well at SWA. The lack of variety. I've switched from domestic flying to long international, back to domestic (-ish... our domestic system, but in Europe), now long haul again. I like being able to switch things up when I get bored. In fact we're contemplating another move back to Europe for a few years which will have me doing hub turns again. But that's fine.
There's nothing wrong with any of the major airlines, just differences.
11-18-2021, 04:21 PM
#73
Gets Weekend Reserve
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,615
It's easy to get wrapped around the upgrade axle, and it's a very legit point of order. I'm a 6th year guy and I'm annoyed with the upgrade time here too, but I'm too far invested here to even consider going anywhere. Looking at the projected number of new hires with mandatory retirements, at this time next year, I should be in the mid-60's percentile on system seniority. That's not counting early outs either.
How do you give that up? I'm in the low 40's in my base and with hiring and upgrades only stand to get better.
How do you give that up? I'm in the low 40's in my base and with hiring and upgrades only stand to get better.
11-18-2021, 04:29 PM
#74
At your mom's house
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: cpt 737
Posts: 2,661
There's ~1400 guys ahead of me for upgrade with ~800 bypassing. With plans to upgrade 1000 in 2022 I'd have a shot if I want. I'm coming up on 6th yr. I'm not moving but if I was < 2 yrs in I would give it a try. Still gotta get and interview and get a CJO. It's not like we can just show up for indoc when we want.
11-18-2021, 06:59 PM
#75
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,796
Originally Posted by hoover
There's ~1400 guys ahead of me for upgrade with ~800 bypassing. With plans to upgrade 1000 in 2022 I'd have a shot if I want. I'm coming up on 6th yr. I'm not moving but if I was < 2 yrs in I would give it a try. Still gotta get and interview and get a CJO. It's not like we can just show up for indoc when we want.
Company said 678 upgrades in 2022 in the town hall last week.
11-19-2021, 12:05 AM
#78
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,796
You know, there is one thing that WN could do to improve their ability to hire and retain pilots. They could plus up the east coast and mid continent domiciles!
They can still accomplish the vast majority of their west coast flying (with the exception of some Hawaii) through trip construction. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that most of the pilots live East and don’t want to commute cross country.
Another thing they could do is recognize that OAK is the domicile with the most challenging commute, so think outside the box and build OAK gateways from which they will start and end trips with an (unpaid?) deadhead. Just spitballing, SLC, DEN, LAX, LAS… places that are easier to get to from anywhere in the US.
How about some bankers hours trips? This AM/PM stuff isn’t always great. I fly AMs but that doesn’t mean I like being up at 3am for a 4am van! This is nuts! With seniority should come the ability to fly a more reasonable daytime schedule.
Complex problems require creative solutions. If recruiting and retention starts hampering the growth of the company, it’s time to address the “why” - and it’s not always pay rates.
They can still accomplish the vast majority of their west coast flying (with the exception of some Hawaii) through trip construction. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that most of the pilots live East and don’t want to commute cross country.
Another thing they could do is recognize that OAK is the domicile with the most challenging commute, so think outside the box and build OAK gateways from which they will start and end trips with an (unpaid?) deadhead. Just spitballing, SLC, DEN, LAX, LAS… places that are easier to get to from anywhere in the US.
How about some bankers hours trips? This AM/PM stuff isn’t always great. I fly AMs but that doesn’t mean I like being up at 3am for a 4am van! This is nuts! With seniority should come the ability to fly a more reasonable daytime schedule.
Complex problems require creative solutions. If recruiting and retention starts hampering the growth of the company, it’s time to address the “why” - and it’s not always pay rates.
11-19-2021, 04:43 AM
#79
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 952
Originally Posted by flyguy81
I’d imagine that can also easily be expanded (or reduced) if needs change.
Not without training center instructors. They can't hire them fast enough or keep them long enough.
11-19-2021, 05:09 AM
#80
Banned
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Posts: 294
Originally Posted by RJSAviator76
Tough proposition. How much to give up to start over? Is it worth the risk? What about the retirements factor? We don't have anywhere near the retirement numbers that legacies have. Is that worth looking at? Lots and lots of variables.
At Southwest, if you live in base and are willing to hustle, there is no doubt you'll make a lot of money. Even if premium dries up, you can still put up good numbers by changing your strategy. How feasible is that at UAL? How about as a junior NB captain? What about as a WB FO?
There is no doubt that if all you do is fly your line and go home, you'll do much better at UAL, or pretty much anywhere else. But can you do better at those airlines if you want to hustle? How easy is to put up 1.5 times your monthly guarantee consistently at UAL? How about Delta or American? Fedex? As a junior guy? Is being a junior captain worth it at those airlines? Lots of variables and many personal choices involved.
This is why I'm a fan of those W-2 threads, and especially when many data points such as block hours flown and days worked are shared with the figures. This is the type of data that could influence people's decisions one way or another and this year, I hope people start sharing their data and not get sidetracked by those who somehow see it as a dick-measuring contest.
At Southwest, if you live in base and are willing to hustle, there is no doubt you'll make a lot of money. Even if premium dries up, you can still put up good numbers by changing your strategy. How feasible is that at UAL? How about as a junior NB captain? What about as a WB FO?
There is no doubt that if all you do is fly your line and go home, you'll do much better at UAL, or pretty much anywhere else. But can you do better at those airlines if you want to hustle? How easy is to put up 1.5 times your monthly guarantee consistently at UAL? How about Delta or American? Fedex? As a junior guy? Is being a junior captain worth it at those airlines? Lots of variables and many personal choices involved.
This is why I'm a fan of those W-2 threads, and especially when many data points such as block hours flown and days worked are shared with the figures. This is the type of data that could influence people's decisions one way or another and this year, I hope people start sharing their data and not get sidetracked by those who somehow see it as a dick-measuring contest.
I’m a junior captain not commuting and it’s great. I’m really glad I have an option not be stuck in a 737 the REST of my career. Which was the main reason I never applied to SWA, oh and paying for a type rating lol.
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04-25-2007 09:09 AM
