Lewbronski

To me, the overall Southwest-as-a-pilot thing has steadily deteriorated since I arrived on property. Two things I can point to were particular catalysts for the erosion of my quality of life at Southwest: the implementation of FAR 117 and the arrival of the -800's without any demand from the pilot group for updated work rules or a higher pay rate for flying them or anything of any consequence. Those two factors have contributed to significantly longer ground times (due to the -800's) and markedly longer duty days. Longer duty days have resulted in shorter overnights. The overall result is I'm much more spent at the end of a trip than I remember being before FAR 117 and the -800's.


In the case of both FAR 117 and the -800's, SWAPA and the pilot group failed to anticipate the knock-on effects that would result. We were so spring-loaded to help out "Herb" and the SWA shareholders, so scared that we might spark a corporate bankruptcy at SWA if we stood up for ourselves, and so unaware of the tools available to us as a labor group that we rolled right over - again. That has been our modus operandi for decades. Until our pilot group realizes that it's OUR responsibility to advocate for ourselves - not the company's responsibility to benevolently provide for us, we will continue to lag the industry. It's as if we repeatedly fly through thunderstorms instead of taking the initiative and deviating around them. Then, we're astonished that we get rocked with turbulence, lightning, and hail because we had asked the thunderstorm nicely to provide us with a smooth ride. It's not in a thunderstorm's nature to do that just like it's not in the nature of a corporation headquartered in America to view its employees as anything other than commodity-like cogs in its money-making machine. I don't know that we'll ever learn this lesson at SWA.

mulcher

I just flew with a guy. One of his classmates just quit to go back to corporate flying.

e6bpilot

Not too shocking. A lot of us would quit for the right corporate job. Corporate is a weird racket. The bad jobs are terrible. The good jobs are amazing.

rightseat

I think all FO’s hired before 2017 should consider moving on to haul freight. All after 2017 should stay put.

Seriously, if bad customer service was going to cause negative career movement, other airlines and the regionals will be long gone before Southwest.

I agree - enter airplane, turn left, do your job, get $250k+ per year. I honestly fell like I fly with best Captains in the industry, live in base, and close to family. Count me in for the duration.

However, if you are not happy, move on. Life is too short to be unhappy.

at6d

Been there done that and fully agree. The thing about the corporate magic gig is that usually it fits a lot of very particular personal needs and it just works. Until it doesn’t. If the airlines stop hiring, the good corporate jobs can be gold.

at6d

For me, I like this gig. That being said, I’ll be at the picket and advocate for our pilots. I’m too close now to an upgrade which suits my life at this point. I’m a 2015 hire and “lost decade” guy and feel that I’m in a good spot. The ball is in our court. Seems to me a 2017 hire would be looking elsewhere. I was finally on a leading wave of hiring which obviously changes my perspective. If I was perpetually on reserve as an FO (which I did as well so I get it), I’d be looking.

RJSAviator76

^^^ THIS!

See you all on the 21st.

Sluggo_63

Where in that article does it say anything about being autonomous?

Smooth at FL450

It doesn't. But that doesn't mean it wasn't the purpose of the tests.

SlipKid

Amen. The 800 and 117 have completely screwed our work day. I've never had more "8 hours of sleep opportunity" layovers than since these came into the picture. Essentially, longer duty days for the same compensation.

Yup. "We" are the reason we're always lagging. Hopefully, we've woken up somewhat in the last few years, which have tested the limits of our ancient contract in many ways.