Originally Posted by PapaJaime

I’ll throw my hat in here and a paltry two cents for what it’s worth (nothing). I’ve been on line for a year. I’m a single commuter, and when I’m not flying I’m working for the family business. I’ve flown with two db’s here but everyone else hasn’t let me spend a dime. I turned a week of vacation into three weeks off and credit of more than 100tfp, I average 15 days at home even with the loss of a day commuting for each trip. I’d love to retire on a wide body on the beach in the Mediterranean during overnights, but flexibility right now is demanded. Trips here are fatiguing, no way about it regardless if it’s a 2/3/4 day…so enjoy your days off.

I believe UAL is on its way back to Bethune’s Continental, but Delta is the standard. I can’t turn a blind eye to AA’s financials-next black swan event very well could require Ch.11…But their outlook is hopeful. We have good financials at the moment; but every meltdown to the tune of $800M and our $13B starts to shrink rapidly. I worked in headquarters for this airline and I can tell you Dallas has no idea what happens on the line. It is two separate companies and headquarters is completely devoid of any idea what the front line people endure daily. That concerns me greatly! Since the technology meltdown, that wasn’t actually a technology issue 🙄 occurred, I’ve never been more embarrassed to wear our name in public. The current CEO, I suspect, is a puppet and sadly won’t be gone fast enough to let the COO take over and actually run this airline. But that would require the BOD (GK) to p**s off and let an operations specialist run the OPERATION of our airline.

It’s the same technical skills regardless of who’s name is on the airplane. That being said, my apps have been sent elsewhere, and if they call I’ll interview. If not, I’ll keep showing up and doing my job with the great crews we have; but also, I’ll continue on with the family business and bet on that to be my retirement nest egg - because my retirement from this airline will be less than my friends who are at UA & DL.

Originally Posted by hoover

For me I dont like the AM/PM schedules. They both do not fit my home life or life for that matter.
my UA bud is at the same senority as I am and he doesnt work before 0900 or after 2100. He has the ability to bid those trips. I do not. I never will. The only difference senority gives you at SW is week day or weekend. The most senior guy will fly as much as the most junior.

Originally Posted by hoover

For me I dont like the AM/PM schedules. They both do not fit my home life or life for that matter.
my UA bud is at the same senority as I am and he doesnt work before 0900 or after 2100. He has the ability to bid those trips. I do not. I never will. The only difference senority gives you at SW is week day or weekend. The most senior guy will fly as much as the most junior.

Originally Posted by Grumpyaviator

I find am/pm a negative compared to the option of having truly commutable lines. Not only do other airlines have commutable lines but they pay for parking, and some provide rooms for commuters.

Originally Posted by Grumpyaviator

I find am/pm a negative compared to the option of having truly commutable lines. Not only do other airlines have commutable lines but they pay for parking, and some provide rooms for commuters.

Originally Posted by rightseat

Actually, an easy fix for the Southwest to the commuter issues and help move it to the front of the line for applicants would be to provide positive space and a hotel, if required, to get the next flight in or out.

I live in base and don’t have a dog in the hunt in regards to commuting. I know it would be a big plus for commuters. Although I recognize other folks would be “technically” receiving more compensation than me, I really believe it would not be much of a hard dollar cost to the airline, and would advance our contract considerably. I also think you would find them making commutable lines nearly instantaneously if they could avoid the cost of hotel rooms.

Originally Posted by Venkman

I have to imagine commuter QOL is a major item for Contract 2020 no? With the number of WN commuters and how...lacking...the current situation is. Even just adding long-call would be transformational.

Originally Posted by Proximity

The way Southwest uses reserves doesn't really make sense with long call. Hypothetically, if we did have long call, you'd either be assigned or converted to short call at the 9am close anyways negating the benefit. There would also need to be an increase in the amount of reserve lines as a percentage of hard lines, which IMHO is a negative.

Reserve was actually made way better in the last contract, but things that would further improve reserve...

Line Construction:
Somehow limit the amount of reserve lines built to a more reasonable level. The current way of making many reserve lines which causes the hard lines to be dense just increases fatigue calls and makes it difficult for a line holder to pick up a trip. Ironically, the fear was the company would not have enough reserve lines so the contract only has a minimum, not a maximum.

Reduce sick/fatigue call:
Allow ELITT until 12 hours before DOT closes.
VPF trips should pay 2x rig.
Option to automatically add a JA to TTGA with notifications.
Allow for a handful of trip drops to the company per year. (ideally paid from sick bank but being realistic)

Reserve QOL Improvements:
Allow ELITT of reserve blocks.
Allow reserves to proffer open trips.
Allow reserves to own a trip once assigned / release until check-in.
Allow reserves to waive/rebook a DH on first or last day of a reserve block if the pairing contains a DH.
Give pairings assigned to reserves the exact same reassignment pay rules as a line holder would have.
The hotel stuff mentioned above.

Increase open time bidding:
Trips rigged even when flown straight.
Switch to hourly bids after the 9am close rather than 5pm close.
Limit exporting trips out of base. Limit splitting of trips to force the use of a reserve.