I never thought I would say this and I don’t think I’m going to do it, but I would by lying if I told you that I have not given thought to jumping ship to United. Just started Year 3 and the pay with our new contract is amazing. What’s not amazing is the way my seniority has slid radically backwards in base and I’ve seen hundreds of pilots displaced and it’s starting to look like I could be next. I don’t like the way the company is constantly rearranging the manning and I don't like the fact that DRR is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The Union doesn’t seem to be too interested in doing anything to stop the displacement bleeding and the company surely doesn’t care.

United has a base where I live and it’s not hard to hold. But Southwest is forcing hundreds into commuting which I have zero interest in doing, so believe me, I have my days where I ponder a change.

 

You will do great at either company! Just think about which company you will enjoy working for. Once you get there, don’t look back.

 

Take a look at how the union handled the vacation bidding issue pre-contract, during negotiations and where they placed it in implementation scheduling.

There are some good things about swapa, but they definitely… well Acta Non Verba.

 

ALPA at UAL is currently trying to implement a cash balance plan that would negatively affect the majority of the pilot group in a significant financial manner instead of waiting for an IRS decision or trying to renegotiate a different plan (maybe something like you guys have) from the company.

no job/union is perfect.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if that got negotiated away in this next cycle and block bidding is here to stay

 

The problem with vacation bidding is that the can got kicked down the road so far. Had they just ripped the bandaid off, we would be settled into the new system and, other than a little nostalgia, it would be done. Instead the company refused to implement, followed by the current contract approving it, but implementing it last. In the meantime, we negotiated a much higher inventory of premium weeks followed by the open time "prime the pump" deal. That has really negated a lot of the need for change because the premium weeks now go further down the list. The problem is, if we vote on it again, the collective eye rolling will be off the charts because we have already voted on it twice.

I am pro change, but I am also now good with the current changes that have been made to date. If I had a chance to vote again knowing that the inventory/open time issue was as it is currently, I would have definitely not even considered what we currently have.

My number one choice has always been any X weeks (x=number of weeks you can hold). It gets rid of the block bidding BS and gives senior pilots the opportunity to bid for what they think they actually want vs a block of weeks that they don't want but need in order to trade out of seniority.

I always end up with the weeks I need, so the current system works great for me, but it's terribly unfair and doesn't honor seniority at all outside a very few people.

 

The last part is the operative part. I'm bidding 50-60% in base/seat and couldn't get anything besides spring break. Then I was primed and ready on trade feeding frenzy day. The tricks are all well known now. My seniority didn't get me jack. MANY dudes junior to me have very prime weeks due to either luck or diligence in marketing their garbage. The same old arguments apply.

SWAPA has been an abject failure in this segment of our contract. It might even fall into the category of failure to represent. The MFing seaguls in that office get whatever time they want off anyway, why couldn't they just do what was voted on almost a decade ago?

 

Same boat, 25% in seat and I couldn’t get one summer week. Pullleeeze!
swapa’s halo lost a good bit of shine for me with this issue.
Placing vacation bidding last on the implementation schedule (years out) was a direct indicator for me on where they stood.
noted!

 

I wanted one week at a time in seniority order. Don’t really care what anyone thinks about that opinion. It isn’t happening anyways. I’m 15% and still couldn’t get a summer week. Personally, I don’t have to have one. I’m happy with spring and fall vacations but the fact that I still can’t get one and will probably upgrade without ever getting summer vacation is a sign of something sick going on here. SWAPA is kinda like your favorite political party. They say they love you. They’re suppose to love you. You pay them to love you and they do love you, when it’s convenient for them to do so.

 

I have never held a summer week on a bid, even as a lance captain.
If everybody could get what they can hold initially, this wouldn't be near as bad an issue. Senior daddies and mamas get Christmas, thanksgiving, and 3 other weeks of their choosing. I know I personally am on the cusp of being in a season of my life where I no longer want summer vacations. If I had my choice in 2027, it would probably be alternating December and April weeks so I could go to Europe with the family and enjoy my holidays. Summer vacations suck. They are for people who have no other choice. Besides, I never am wanting for time off.