This post #170 the one to which you refer?

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/c...rk-ups-17.html

If not, please post a link. Thanks.

 

Close- it's post#1 in the same thread, the one he started. His very first post on APC, and a good one at that.

 

What does this have to do with anything? Are you saying we should go back to the days where you had to be a young, heterosexual female to get hired as an FA? If anything has changed in aviation, it's that many of the biggots have moved on, and those who remain are more accepting of people from different backgrounds.

 

I did not mean for my original question to be perceived as flame-bait. It was an honest question. I don't have any buddies at SW who could have answered my question. Most of my friends are at other airlines. Trying to catch a SW pilot in the terminal for a chat seems elusive. I guess you guys don't get passes to the terminal all that often.

I do appreciate those that have tried to answer my question thoughtfully and respectfully. It looks to me from many of the answers here that Southwest no longer has that warm and fuzzy feeling; it's lost its LUV. It seems like the one major appeal to me regarding Southwest, its spirit, has been broken. Say what you will, but I'm still a dreamer. I'm saddened to read all of the bitterness. No, I'm not a company insider, just a regional pilot with an application in at SW, perhaps a mistake on my part.

I was trying to pick the airline with the least “us vs. them” mentality, with the least hate-filled pilot group. I’m not so naive to think that pilot b*tching and complaining doesn’t exist at all airlines, but I was truly hopeful that SW still had something special.

I’m scratching my head as to why “Nuts” is required reading to interview at SW when, it seems the company created by Herb is now just a shadow of its former self. Like I said, I don't know any SW pilots to get a true assessment, but that's where this forum is useful.

I guess my real question should have been, "what's it like working at Southwest now, post Gary Kelly and AirTran acquisition?"

 

I have a class date at SWA, and after reading these threads, I'm having my doubts. I have never flown airlines, and not that many airline guys seem that happy. Focusing on the negative is human nature but it seems it has taken many over.

 

As a new hire and after I ran out of kool aid I still like it. At first it was shocking that most everyone was upset with the company but this was do to negotiations taking 4 yrs. even then no one ever said anything bad about fellow workers. That part is what I think sets sw apart. No one feels they are above another work group. Everyone treats each other well and goes out of their way to help another. After the contract there is less *****ing but the trust is gone.
I don't think there is an airline out there today who has a good relationship with their pilots. A decade or more of being screwed over and told if you don't like it leave we can replace you mentality by corporate is not easily forgotten.

 

Basing any decision or feeling off anything on APC is a huge mistake. SWA is all good. I enjoy work. Don't sweat it.

 

Dude SWA is fine. It is just not the same airline it was.
Herb created a culture that made getting paid 40 percent less than the standard wage ok. He was a genius and a shrewd negotiator.
Gary took what Herb built and has done wonders with it. What he hasn't done is continue to water the trust tree between front line employees and the sycophants at the GO.
It is still a great place to work. If you overnight with the right crew, which happens every now and then, you can have a fantastic time.
Base where you work more on where you live and who calls you to interview than anything you read here.

 

Dont look towards any company for love and affirmation, that is what friends and family are for. Never love something that can't love you back.

Swa with others are amongst the best airline jobs in the world with great employees. The only people who post about any airline are usually the frustrated ones and swa is no different.
Dont fall for the line that Mgmt likes to spout that "we pay less cause our employee relationship is better than everywhere else".

It did take four years before swa mgmt decided to negotiate a contract but a lot of that was because they could.
The pilot market as of late has gotten much tighter causing mgmt to see the value of reaching a deal sooner than later at all of the majors.
Only AAs mgmt was able to get a 6 yr deal.
Go to the first major that hires you and operates from a base your willing to live in or near. I would put little weight on culture as mgmts come and go over a pilots career and most pilots think their company's culture is great.

 

Use your head, not your heart when making a career decision. The company with the strongest balance sheet should be your first priority.