AM reserve RAP (reserve availability period) begins around 5:00 AM Central time adjusted to local time in each base. That time varies slightly from month to month. I'm not sure what the RAP duration is.

 

shoelu, thanks for the info. During this time of transition and uncertainty for us new hires, its nice to fill in some blanks. Does SWA invite the spouses for the first day or two? If so, what does the day(s) involve?

 

There are crashpads. I run one in Alameda. You need a car and the rent around here is not cheap. I pay $1800/month for 2-bedroom apartment.

 

Yes, significant others are invited for the first couple of days of training. The first day usually entails a presentation on insurance and flight benefits as well as a presentation from someone in upper management.

If I remember correctly, second day begins ground school for employees while spouses are given a comprehensive tour of headquarters including SOC, dispatch and the simulators. It is a pretty nice experiences for the spouses as they are able to see the classrooms where you will be training and a complete tour of the simulators where you will be sweating it out.

For my wife, it was the first real glimpse of what an initial training event entails and she found it very interesting. One of the dispatchers gave a great tour of their operation and what it entails and also related a story about 9/11 and what happened there that day as they set out to land all SWA aircraft. She found that very interesting and also enjoyed the various pictures and display pieces all throughout headquarters and the training center. If you can work it out, bring your spouse, most likely they will enjoy the experience.

 

It takes a long time to get off reserve in OAK due to the contract requiring new hires to have a hard line in the first month after completing IOE. With OAK tending to be the least desired base (geographically speaking) new hires flow in for their "hard line" month then flow out the following month as soon as vacancies open up in other bases. They are replaced by another round of new hires who get a hard line and the cycle repeats itself until enough NorCal and Pacific Northwest commuters stick around the bottom of the FO list. This monthly flush of new hires in and out effectively bumps the seniority of the reserve lines upward.

One good deal is that to spread the wealth of IOE trips among check airmen, new hires can put in a preference for a base to fly their IOE and will have trips put on their schedule to round out the rest of the month in the same domicile. So an east coast commuter awarded OAK could spend the greater part of their first month in BWI before having to head off to the west coast, spend the next month with a hard line in OAK, then wind up on reserve in DEN/MDW in their third month!

 

Correction - DEN is to small/senior for a new hire to hold anytime soon.

 

How tough does it look to transfer to Dallas?

 

Anyone know if Oakland based pilots start lines (or get called to reserve) for flights from SFO also?

Thanks

 

No, they do not.

 

Another option of course besides a crashpad is the hotels. The Red Lion just outside the airport gives SWA crews a rate of $59 per nite which includes a cook to order breakfast.
Reserves at SWA get used a lot so it should minimize the number of nights in the hotel room.
Also, if you are in the front half of this years hiring then if you want Oakland you can be off reserve and hold a line by the time all of the new hires get on the line.
Best wishes to all the new SWA new hires -- glad to have you aboard!