JimLaheyTPS

Lame comment. Not everyone wants to work here and those that do want to work here, not all of them will be hired. Maybe United, Delta, FEDEX never called? From all my friends that wanted United but never got the call or didn’t make it past our interview, they landed at SWA and seem to be pretty happy with a good paying job and lots of time at home. Yes it’s flying a guppy the rest of their career, but they seem to be more concerned with the good pay and schedule flexibility then the plane they fly.

Learflyer

Oohh. Sounds like the golden boy has it all!

Floyd

Honestly, what did he say that was wrong? They are a few tics above Alligient and Spirit. They fly a small plane will little if any career options. Certainly they are happy to have a job, but like the 90's, I think the Big 3 plus Fed Ex and UPS have more to offer.

Seventeen years ago, the shoe was on a completely different foot.

oldmako

SWA was THE place to be when the US econ was in the dump. Steady pay and growth....never mind that the rest of their contract had serious thin spots. Think of the BUCKS and quick upgrade!!!!

All the majors were laying off pilots and hacking away at the gonads of those who remained on the property. But back then there were airlines called USAirways, Northwest Airlines and Continental. Not to mention the second-tier carriers. The mofo's on the top floor had all the leverage. That dynamic has changed and changed for the better for ATP rated pilots in the US. Today a young buck has the option of flying domestically for life or flying domestically and / or seeing the world. Right seat wages are way up and should only improve with the next contract. Eggs are great, but they're not everything. Astonishingly, I have SWA buds who would love to have other opportunities.

And just for reference, "Golden boy" is in his 33rd year of airline flying and has friends working at just about every airline. He completely lucked into his job at UA and ate the big feces sandwich for 15 years after those Delta Hotels flew Boeings into buildings. "Golden Boy's" work-life for a long time wasn't so golden. He fully understands that there are many places to work offering many different career paths. I could be happy just about anywhere. All I am saying is that flying for Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, etc would be my second choice were I job shopping today. My first choice would be to a global, US-based airline. Apply wherever you like. 30 plus years is a LONG time and there are other planes than the 737. If you're taller than 6 feet, most of them are more comfortable. You're going to sit in it 1000 hours per year for a long time. Your back will thank you.

John316

When you say 98% have a degree does this mean 4 year degree or better? The reason I ask is I have an Associates degree( 2 yr degree), so technically I am not in the non-degree holder category, or would I be? If not do you happen to know what percent had just a 2 year degree? Does a two year degree help at all and if not does anyone see that changing in the next couple of years?

While on this subject let me state my Creds to see if I am competitive at all..

Current Line check Airmen at 121 regional, 4500 TT and just hit 1000 TPIC, with 2 year degree, thanks for the info.

oldmako

You currently possess all the creds you need to be a decent airline pilot (provided you’re not a tool! . Two more years of school won’t make a better pilot. But it will probably make your phone ring sooner.

Sucks for you but that’s how the game is rigged. Some of the best guys I have flown with had zero or minimal colleg. And some of the scariest had degrees from very impressive colleges and institutions.

That’s simply my uneducated opinion. But, there are a ton of reasons for you to finish it. Enroll online, that might grease your app a bit.

cadetdrivr

The 98% have a four year degree.

As long as United has plentiful applications on file with degrees I doubt that will change. It could certainly change in the future, however, but you will have missed a huge hiring wave in the interim.

The major airlines have been requiring (at least in practice) degrees before you started flying so if this is a shock I don't know what to tell you.

Hatesheavys

Two more years of colleg will teach him spelling (and punctuation though....

ReadyRsv

If you don't have a degree do not have any expectation of getting hired.

symbian simian

So 98% of the pilots hired have a 4 year. That in itself doesn't mean anything without knowing what percentage of the applicants have a 4 year. I've heard (but not seen proof) over 95% have a 4 year, making it at most twice as hard to get hired, and possibly just as hard, or even easier if 99% have one. Hard to say without the data