Few questions
03-13-2023, 10:56 PM
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2010
Position: DOWNGRADE COMPLETE: Thanks Gary. Thanks SWAPA.
Posts: 6,636
Originally Posted by avi8er
what I got right is that you are just a sad man who rather stay miserable in a plane he hate and still sour about the WN/AT merger. That sounds about right? No need to reply. It’s rhetorical.
03-14-2023, 03:29 AM
#42
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: 737-Right
Posts: 781
Originally Posted by WHACKMASTER
Yes you would. About 80% of our trips are 3-days. Many of them have you fly to the West Coast on day one, do the California shuffle on day two and then work your way back east on the last day. Trust me, if you want West Coast flying and overnights you’ll get them.
As for being on reserve outside of the two hour distance, it’s not really much of an issue. In theory you won’t be on reserve long barring the music stopping. You will have to go to your “hover spot” that’s within two hours as they will call you with a “report within two hours” panic call.
With the way they’re hiring, you won’t be on reserve long barring another black swan event and hiring screeching to a halt.
The variety of flying is good as we service well over 100 cities but it is rather mind-numbing. Average legs per day is about 2.5 but you pass through our dozen or so mega cities a lot. Also, you’ll have three leg days where you’ll end up 200 miles down the road from where you started from so that’s rather boring flying. Something like BNA-DEN-MDW-CLE.
Hotel quality is decent and better than the regionals for sure, but we have a few problem hotels throughout the system that never seem to get fixed or changed.
With all that said, go to one of the Big 3. SWA is basically a big regional but with much better schedules, worse training department, better hotels, but not much more exciting flying.
For frame of reference I’m ex-regional as well and this is my fourth airline. Currently I’m on year 17 of my 33 year sentence on the 737. Trust me. You don’t want it. Go to DAL, UAL, AA, UPS or FDX if you can.
As for being on reserve outside of the two hour distance, it’s not really much of an issue. In theory you won’t be on reserve long barring the music stopping. You will have to go to your “hover spot” that’s within two hours as they will call you with a “report within two hours” panic call.
With the way they’re hiring, you won’t be on reserve long barring another black swan event and hiring screeching to a halt.
The variety of flying is good as we service well over 100 cities but it is rather mind-numbing. Average legs per day is about 2.5 but you pass through our dozen or so mega cities a lot. Also, you’ll have three leg days where you’ll end up 200 miles down the road from where you started from so that’s rather boring flying. Something like BNA-DEN-MDW-CLE.
Hotel quality is decent and better than the regionals for sure, but we have a few problem hotels throughout the system that never seem to get fixed or changed.
With all that said, go to one of the Big 3. SWA is basically a big regional but with much better schedules, worse training department, better hotels, but not much more exciting flying.
For frame of reference I’m ex-regional as well and this is my fourth airline. Currently I’m on year 17 of my 33 year sentence on the 737. Trust me. You don’t want it. Go to DAL, UAL, AA, UPS or FDX if you can.
If nothing else(and I'm sure every airline has them), i have been here 7 years and i still am amazed by how many "tools" there are at swa. Mind you there are SOME REALLY GOOD people, but those 25%(yes) just make the rest guilty by association. And yes, I'm talking FLIGHT crews here.
How some of these strokes were hired is a pure miracle.
Go to the big 3 or purple or brown. My advice anyway.
03-14-2023, 04:09 AM
#43
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2018
Posts: 76
We will eventually get a much improved contract. However, it appears we’re going to have to take it to the mat on this one. Things are ugly and will only get more so between the pilots and this management. If you can do basic math regarding things like pilot retirements alone , go elsewhere.
03-14-2023, 04:17 AM
#44
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,796
Originally Posted by Loon
I have to agree with Whack here. Not sure why some are attacking him.
If nothing else(and I'm sure every airline has them), i have been here 7 years and i still am amazed by how many "tools" there are at swa. Mind you there are SOME REALLY GOOD people, but those 25%(yes) just make the rest guilty by association. And yes, I'm talking FLIGHT crews here.
How some of these strokes were hired is a pure miracle.
Go to the big 3 or purple or brown. My advice anyway.
If nothing else(and I'm sure every airline has them), i have been here 7 years and i still am amazed by how many "tools" there are at swa. Mind you there are SOME REALLY GOOD people, but those 25%(yes) just make the rest guilty by association. And yes, I'm talking FLIGHT crews here.
How some of these strokes were hired is a pure miracle.
Go to the big 3 or purple or brown. My advice anyway.
Theres a good thread about it over on the Delta forum entitled “The Professional and Disciplined Flight Deck”
That said, I still like the overwhelming majority of pilots I fly with here. We have a lot more in common than that which divides us. Great people with fascinating backgrounds and interesting hobbies.
Last edited by ZapBrannigan; 03-14-2023 at 04:42 AM.
03-14-2023, 09:02 AM
#45
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Posts: 160
Originally Posted by Loon
I have to agree with Whack here. Not sure why some are attacking him.
If nothing else(and I'm sure every airline has them), i have been here 7 years and i still am amazed by how many "tools" there are at swa. Mind you there are SOME REALLY GOOD people, but those 25%(yes) just make the rest guilty by association. And yes, I'm talking FLIGHT crews here.
How some of these strokes were hired is a pure miracle.
Go to the big 3 or purple or brown. My advice anyway.
If nothing else(and I'm sure every airline has them), i have been here 7 years and i still am amazed by how many "tools" there are at swa. Mind you there are SOME REALLY GOOD people, but those 25%(yes) just make the rest guilty by association. And yes, I'm talking FLIGHT crews here.
How some of these strokes were hired is a pure miracle.
Go to the big 3 or purple or brown. My advice anyway.
Our pilot group is the one best there is (at least the Captains, I don’t know that many FO’s - but the ones I do know, I would fly with in a heart beat).
I know y’all want all the good candidates to go somewhere else right now, but for goodness sake, at least give them facts! Our pilot group is awesome and one of the great things we have going for us!
03-14-2023, 10:49 AM
#48
weekends off? Nope...
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,962
Originally Posted by DoubleHaul
I'll add to the pile if you don't mind:
How long before you can hold HOU as a base?
How long before you can hold a line in HOU?
Thanks!
How long before you can hold HOU as a base?
How long before you can hold a line in HOU?
Thanks!
03-26-2023, 08:04 PM
#50
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,878
Originally Posted by golfandflows
Few Questions:
Does SW pay per diem while in training?
What is the min guarantee during training?
Does SW have a minimum daily guarantee when flying the line?
Thanks for your help!
Does SW pay per diem while in training?
What is the min guarantee during training?
Does SW have a minimum daily guarantee when flying the line?
Thanks for your help!
Pay is 87/89 tfp depending if it’s a 30/31 day month. Same guarantee when flying.
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