learav8r

That was an excellent reply.......

B757200ER

Good advice, Dana. I would love to have such an efficient, productive schedule---but I don't. I have gotten over 80 hours in a month only once in the past year.

supersix-4

I think you are NUTS to leave.

Widow's Son

Swa and Ups are very unique and very different. They are alike in that they are each perfect for certain types of individuals and not a good fit at all for others. SWA works best for those who truly see and appreciate its advantages and is a gristmill for those who don't.

Perhaps anyone who seriously asks the question is better off making the move.

Life is too short to date ugly women.

CactusCrew

This assumes I could get an interview and get hired at UPS which I understand is no small feat.

If you are SERIOUS, you should at least START the process. Without even an application on file, you have absolutely nothing to lose by taking it the next few steps.

First you need to apply ...
Then you have to get an interview ...
Then you need to make it through the interview process ...
Then you need to sit in a hiring pool and wait on the call for a class date ...

If you are worried BEFORE you even get to step one, something sounds wrong with this picture. You could stop the process ANYWHERE along the route before you start class.

And along that path, as you gather more information, your decision will become clearer.

You have nothing to lose in the meantime ...

Later, CC

SWAcapt

SWA TO UPS?
If you are even thinking about it, I think you should do it. Please don't talk to any of my PAX (the people that are paying for; my mortgage, kids tuition, my retirement, my new truck etc.) before you go. Ups is a great company. You should do well there. Good luck.

sgrd0q

OK.

But you couldn't resist, could you? You had to say it!

av8instyle

I've got one for you. About 1 month after september 11, 2001, let's call it October, Alaska had a guy in a new hire class that left a job as a captain with SWA. "Why?" you ask. Well, OK, I'll bite. His wife had health issues that were exacerbated (sp?) in the heat. She needed cold weather, and he didn't want to commute, or she didn't want him to commute. Either way, ANC fit the bill for her and Alaska hired him. They are there now and the only time I talked to the guy of course I wanted his thoughts on the pros/cons of each job. Aside from the obvious pay drop of SWA Capt to probation FO, he said there were many similarities and many differences. At the time the way it worked out with his wife and family he did not regret the decision - he did this AFTER Sep. 11.
Big caveat before someone throws in the "Arbitration" bombshell. He did this before our last big pay raise, so the payscale then looked similar to what it does now.
And since we're on the money subject I'll throw in my 2 cents. Leaving one major airline for another based mostly on pay is insane IMO. I know more than one person that's chased the dollar signs and it's bit them. Contracts change almost as often as crappy diapers. I've been at Alaska 5 years and our contract that's amendable next May will be the 4th, yes, 4th payscale that I've been a part of here - and that's at a carrier that's made money the whole time. I was even debating the Fedex thing, but I'd be giving up 5 years of seniority and that's a big risk in the aviation business when your current company is fiscally sound. Plus we WILL be getting a big raise on our next go around.
Once I decided a major was my goal (pretty early) I looked then for three main characteristics, one of which was not money because of what I already mentioned.
1-Does the company have a history of making money? If not, then it's a big gamble.
2-Can I advance by retirements fairly quickly? Because planning on advancing based on growth potential is just a plan. Retirements are the law.
3-Does the airline have a long term pilot base that I would be happy to raise a family in? Because commuting adds too much time away from home and is not healthy.

Once I factored in these criteria I had a much smaller list that I concentrated on and started looking at the smaller details from there. Although I applied everywhere, I concentrated on my smaller list which consisted of, ironically enough, Southwest, Fedex, Alaska, and ...ahem...Delta (I'll admit there was a tiny financial incentive on that last one)
My point really is guys need to look at the bigger picture. I want the money just as much as anyone but there will be up years and there will be down years. Right now you've got the cash at SWA, you've got the seniority working for you, you've got a financially sound company with growth, retirements, and morale. If you live anywhere near your base then you've satisfied every one of my holy trinity of wickets and some. So unless you live on the outskirts of Louisville, I'd say drop some trips, pretend you're talking on a cell phone, don't talk to the stews, and enjoy what you have because as it is you are in a very enviable position. BTW, do you remember what top whale captain pay was 10 years ago? I do.

CargoBob

Possible other reasons he left SWA???

Big ass gamble!!!

OscartheGrouch

av8instyle,

I agree with CargoBob that there might be some other reasons why your friend left SWA. That being said it is very admirable that he would make the move for his wife's health. I even pointed out that the a spouse should be considered in the decision and it sounds like she was. Well thought out in my opinion.

The fact that he could be flying half of a captains line (and many do) for Southwest and make more $ at current rates than a 5-6 yr FO at Alaska and commute seems desirable to some. It is not all about the money and commuting does have its negatives which I have done for 13 out of 16 yrs. but living where you want and then being able to adjust your schedule for your family is also a plus.

While your friend's story will make us all feel good I am still waiting on a SWA-other scenario that has a happy ending. The question could also be whether there ever will be a happy ending until you retire and have "complete" control of your retirement funds.