Southwest hiring info
 

Haven't head much from the Southwest camp lately. Any plans on hiring or taking applications soon? Last I heard from a SW pilot was that they were going to have a lot of retirements, but he didn't know about hiring.

The retirements will be used to absorb the over-staffing, imo. I would be surprised if we hire in the next few years. I should add, I have never been wrong about anything.

Official answer is: "No planned hiring for 2013."

I would say no hiring in 2013-2015. With all those 717 going over to DL starting in Aug 2013, last I heard there were extending leases on the older 300's. So when 6 FL 717s go to DL SWA will replace them with 3 - 300's and 1 800. It would not surprise me that there were a surplus of 400-800 pilots about the end of 2014.

"Southwest plans to keep its fleet count largely unchanged as the 717s move to Delta at a rate of three a month starting in mid-2013."

Southwest to Unload AirTran

Hiring?! I think furloughs are much more likely than hiring over the next few years. As for "a lot of retirements" only a little over 1,200 combined from the 10 year period from 2011 (just a few months after the merger) to the end of 2020. The combined pilot count at the time of the merger was in the high 7,000s.

A little over 1,200 retirements in 10 years from a group of almost 8,000 is nothing earth-shattering and certainly WAY less percentage wise than the legacies. Assuming hiring only for retirements, those at the bottom of the list are looking at a twenty year upgrade. I suppose that's why many are leaving or looking to leave. Well, that and some are leaving due to the "I despise SWA" syndrome.

Before you go there.......sorry fellas, no one else will hire me. Looks like you're stuck with me!

"many are leaving or looking to leave."

Define many.

Given the flat to negative fleet at SWA/AAI and the pending retirements at the Legacies, it's not a very earth-shattering conclusion that many guys with recall rights will exercise them, and the under-40 junior guys will be looking closely at the legacies starting in a few years.

Which would you rather be, a career 737 FO, or go to an airline that will turn over half of its pilot group in the next decade and has a wide variety of flying to choose from?

I admit, I'm not very smart on this stuff, but just by going by APC Quick Take, 15 year FO at Southwest is making $151 an hour, probably gets his pick of flights, probably has a home near Dallas and all the other perks of being at Southwest.
Why would he go to United, for example, to start at year 1 pay, sit reserve and have to commute?

What will he be making 15 years from now as a 30 year FO or junior captain at SWA compared to where he could potentially be, (15 year junior NB captain,) at Delta/UAL?