They do not accept internal recommendations until after you are selected to interview. This can be done after that by either uploading letters, having your internals submit them through SWALIFE or simply bringing a paper copy to the interview. They will all end up in the same place.
Getting them now will only save you time later but won't help your application at all.
If you are selected to interview you will find out when your hiring board is. When that happens, you need to get all your recs in prior to the hiring board. Having someone walk it in to a station chief prior to the board is helpful since they attend the board and can get face to face input.


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I've never been to a job fair before but after reading a ton on here about them it went as advertised for the most part. If you had a fast pass the wait was usually 15-30 min at most. The first day United got backed up and there was a standing line that took about an hour to get through but I think they got that fixed later. I waited 15 min for JetBlue, 1 hour for United and 20 min for Delta. Those were my fast passes. Based on what I saw, SWA may have been about 15 min also. I also met with American after they verified my app was on file that was only supposed to be a 5 min meeting turned into a 20 minute discussion with no wait to do that.

WAI seemed to have something with the fast pass system. You could also go to the booths in the exhibit hall and meet with anyone there. You never knew who was going to be there. I met with 1 CP, and 2 HR folks at different airlines. All told, this was a very good experience for me and even if nothing job wise comes from it I was able to reconnect with lots of people I hadn't seen in a long time. I will be attending again, and probably after I have a job. The parties at night were pretty good from my understanding but I needed to keep a clean mind to stay focused for the day events.

In hear ya i was complementing you on your quals. I don't have the 73 type either.

I talked to them at WIA about this ( My dad was at SWA for 27 years and my brother has been there 9.) The HR lady basically told me that how we have FARs to fly by they now have regulations they have to go by, and that it could cause a law suite if they let internal rec help get guys and gals interviews. She basically said if you get an interview that after that your internals will help. She was very nice and told me that my resume did look good, but what I could do to better my chance of getting an interview. For example she said to try and become a CheckAirman or become a CRM instructor ( this would be awesome except its not as easy as just becoming one.) They do like to see volunteer work, which I do have. Overall very friendly, as you would expect. Good luck to everyone getting their bingo ball called.

I did go to the WIA. I was actually suppose to go Thurs, but do to the weather I called and got my ticket changed to Friday. SWA recruiters actually called me Thurs afternoon ( I had a Fast Pass to see them Thurs at 9:15am) and said basically said they had issues with fast pass that day as well. I told them I could not make it, but was coming in Friday instead. I also told her SWA has always been my first choice. She said that they were putting a star by my name and just to go to the tent and let them know that you could not make it Thurs do to the weather. Friday I went to their Fast Pass tent and told the HR lady what happened. She said no problem and took me right back (I waited less than 5 min.) My other fast pass was United and I had to wait about 45 min to see them . American told me not to worry about the fast pass and I waited around 10 min ( this one was actually the best one for me. I was lucky and ran into a guy that I have seen at hospital visits for Pilots For Kids. We basically BSed for about 15 min about the Pilot For Kids golf tournament that is coming up.) Overall I would say the lines were all about equal. I would say United probably had the most in my opinion, they are hiring about 1100 in the next 12 months.

For anyone who has been waiting to update their profiles today, https://swa.pilotcredentials.com/ is back up.

I asked this same question on the "SWA Application Window Open" thread, but wouldn't mind opening it up to the wider audience on this thread:

How long after the application window is closed (March 23rd) do we expect for interview invite emails to start? Based off the most recent window openings, when would the interviews themselves likely begin?

Given that the announcement suggested May Interviews, I would say, mid-to-late April is a fair assumption.

The recruiters at WIA said they expect to start interviewing in late April.

Any ideas how many applicants SWA will have on file by the time the window closes?