I don’t know the current timeline as things have changed since 2015.

Yes, you can trade and vote as well.

As for advice, try to have fun. Go with the flow and don’t overthink it. Study the subjects at hand.

Don’t be a buzz kill! It’s really a lot of fun, and something everyone looks forward to and enjoys doing.

You’ll arrive the day of the “spouse dinner”, meet in the lobby at 5, bus takes you to the dinner. Get back around 8, and that’s when the party starts. Next day is in the classroom, breakfast provided, lots of admin stuff and setting up iPad and email. Discussion of benefits/elections, meet more people, rah rah rah! Spouses get the tour and might even get to play in a sim for a bit. The next few days are much the same, and your basically wondering what the hell to study because after the following week you’ll take the oral. Review the originating flow once a day with your sim buddy, and study FRM along side lights and switches with your posters. Practice giving the systems speech with your sim buddy at night with beers in the study room. Try to have fun.

Thats for international. Its 2.35 domestic.

don’t spend it all in one place…like LaGarbagia

Props for trying to research stuff before asking. To address some of your unanswered questions, I think you’re referring to that cattle call where they have new hires march down the hallway while everyone else stands on the sides hooting and hollering….and no, unless something’s completely changed that’s just a thing for HQ new hires. There will however be one day during your training where your whole class will be scheduled with new hires from other departments to sit in a big room and, uh…learn about Southwest culture? It’s a daylong pep rally…just spike your coffee and it’ll be fine. No, really.
You’ll be able to trade trips as soon as your IOE trip is complete after training. Only actual trips can be traded in ELITT with the company, and trips or reserve can be traded pilot-to-pilot in TTGA. Generally no, people tend to not take reserve trips off your hands, but it does happen especially in slow months or if someone just really needs a day off and can’t otherwise move their trip for some reason. Usually I’d just find myself swapping reserve blocks with other people just to massage my calendar the way I wanted it.

We did that (the welcome parade) during Onboarding day, where the entire new hire employee groups get together and have exercises for a few hours. It was like a week into Indoc.

Ouch I’m sorry, things have changed apparently. Ok plan B: just go over the top with your excitement to be there. I’m thinking Will Ferrell/Cheri Oteri Spartan Cheerleader style.

You can spend it all in one place just about anywhere in our system. That is if they have an open restaurant.

Yup. I just spend $22 on a cheeseburger for lunch in Burbank, including our generous 0% crew discount. No sides, no drink. Just the burger.

The international terminal at ORD has ONE open restaurant. A Burger King. Even those little farmers friend vending machines were out of food.