e6bpilot

Exactly. This thread has devolved into crank measuring. You will work less and probably make more at fdx. We have some amazing work rules and flexibility at swa, but we haul pax in a high density, low cost operation. You will (mostly) work for the money you make.
I have had some amazing months here too, easily way >10 credit per day and lots of days off with big trip totals, but that is the exception more than the rule.

RJSAviator76

We do. But we also have some guys who play the game and offer to pass on their knowledge of the game, and in the process they’d bust out their paystubs.

I try to pass what I learn on these forums, and I posted my payroll report (not the paystub) when someone questioned whether I was telling the truth in how much I would credit as a probie.

All told, not trying to ‘justify’ anything, or ‘measure cranks’ but merely correcting some of the incorrect information. I always said that this place is far from perfect, and we have our own warts.

However, when some people say that we’re ‘industry lagging’ or that we are subpar, I’ll always call them on that because they simply don’t know, and worse, their half truths are actually hurting the cause of properly addressing our own warts because they’ll get tuned out...

Having said that, as a relatively junior guy, I really appreciate having senior guys like yourself offering your perspective and historical insight since we don’t have our version of “Flying the Line” series. Maybe we ought to...

SlipKid

I spend a lot of time on ELITT, and often check it on Gary's iPad/data at the gate, so it is in plain view if the FO. Many of them have asked how end up with the schedules I do, so I explain it. I do all the stuff that the "players" do, but instead of busting my butt, I work the same, or less days but do it for premium. I've never pulled out a pay stub.


That's all I've ever tried to do.

We ARE industry lagging in many ways. The fact that we can work more to make up for the $$$ doesn't change that fact.

A lot depends on where you sit on the list when it comes to comparing pay vs. time off with other carriers, which is why I always bring it up. A guy sitting in your position, comparing himself to his peers flying narrow bodies at other airlines is a lot different than a guy in my position comparing himself to his peers who are all flying left seat in wide bodies. The more senior you get, the more your career will lag the industry, mainly because we don't fly wide bodies. The senior folks making wide body plus pay at SW are flying regional like schedules, at best. Someone considering SW as a career choice needs to keep this in mind. You won't be a second year guy forever.

Unfortunately, the SWAPA forum has been "purged" a few times to hide much of the sordid past from the newer folks, so it's worthless for any but the most recent history.

Beans

Easily explained! Their vacation system! With five weeks of vacation that can equal 4 months of the year off with how their system works, or you can take 3 of the 5 weeks off (Equals about 2 months or a little more of the year off) and sell back 2 weeks and get 2 months of over 160 hours of credit for just flying a regular 12 day line. They also have many more trips bought from them for currency (managment pilots and school house trainers needing to fly) and training. So if you pick up in place of the trip bought from you it gets lucrative quick. Most of the time he said he stays home but 1 in 4 he picks up (double dip for no extra days worked).

full of luv

This reminds me of my days in the reserves hearing pilots from any/all majors bragging how this trip was dropped with pay and double time on another added, etc for a big payday over a 5 day period.
Then the next month they'd talk about how they missed this or that opportunity to drop or add something great and instead got screwwwed over.

It's human/pilot nature to focus on the great/worst aspects of their jobs and leave out the months and months of mundane work associated with any job.