Lewbronski

You seem to have inferred from what I wrote about flying the 737 is that it is an ego thing. That you assumed that is what I was saying says more about where your head is at than anything else. What I was referring to is that after X years, flying around in the cramped, loud 737 gets old, especially when I’ve jumpseated on the A-320 and seen how extravagantly much more space there is in that cockpit.

I think it’s not the best practice to invalidate other people’s experiences. It’s a form of gaslighting. Leads to trouble.

Clearly, rightseat seems to be perfectly satisfied with the situation as is. Good for them.

My experience is that having been here close to 20 years, in retrospect, I should’ve gone somewhere else. Unfortunately, the first few years I was here, SWA was basically the only game in town hiring in terms of “majors.” By the time things opened up, I felt like I was past V1. And to be fair, for quite a while after I got here, things were much more fun and the duty day situation wasn’t anything like it is today so it wasn’t nearly as exhausting. That all really started to change with the arrival of the -800’s (they require longer turn times which extends duty days and shortens overnights) and the implementation of FAR 117. The fading of Herb’s influence and the rising dominance of GK’s (the Accountant’s) influence also played a big role IMO.

Also, getting older, I’m sure, doesn’t help. I’ve talked to plenty of “older” guys who confide that, for them, the job sucks compared to what it used to be like. Some of them wonder if the company is trying to turn the place into a “young, single person’s airline” with schedules that encourage people to leave after they’ve burned out after X years on the kind of flying we mostly do here. Makes some sense: it would save money by keeping the portion of the list below max longevity pay smaller.

Anyway, my advice would be to go UA or DL (all other things being equal). Of course, there are compelling personal reasons that can change that calculus. In general, though, much shorter upgrades. A much wider variety of flying and aircraft. If you get tired of narrow bodies, you can go wide bodies. And vice versa. And then back again if you feel like it. You’ll also end up with more retirement money available after a typical 30-year career at one of those places than at SWA - a lot more.

Exactly.

RckyMtHigh

I’ve got more two leg days next month than 4 leg days. Have flown all of one, maybe two, 5 leg days in 6+ years here. With that being said, things were better before the pandemic, easier days and longer overnights, but relief should be coming as hiring continues and company moves away from these shoulder flights as they say is intended. Should be the key work there - my trust in the company doing what it says is pretty low right now. Until I see work rules in a contract I’m skeptical. On the other hand, the latest fiasco has made me more optimistic about gettIng a great contract sooner rather than later as the company can’t afford more bad PR and an irate pilot group isn’t likely to be in a giving mood.

bleedair

There’s 10,200 pilots. There are a handful of guys here that neg everything and make up 90% of the content.

Contract stuff is valid, but the rest is just an echo chamber of “my life sux/the grass is greener”. If it was that bad, they’d leave…but they don’t.

Enjoy every day, and fight to get paid. If you get down on your daily grind, the money means nothing and nobody has a better pilot group than WN.

Don’t let this forum get to you…its not representative.

bobble

no. Im new and having a blast. Nobody comes to these forums to talk about how much fun they’re having. Go read ANY other airline and they’ll talk about how bad it is too. Literally guys on FDX forum saying to not come there. If you do the same job for 30 years you’ll naturally have a few complaints. Congrats on the class, welcome, and enjoy training!

Vettekid

This is probably one of the wisest connects I've read on here. Thank you sir.


I officially got the CJO this boring, so hopefully I'll be seeing some of you in a few months.

Lewbronski

There are a handful of guys, positive or negative, who post on APC, period. Some of them, like bleedair, are positive. I could attempt to invalidate bleedair’s experience by saying they are oblivious and have their head in the sand. But all I know is what I experience. Good for bleedair. Their’s is just one more perspective. Another data point.

While, I suppose, the person who says, “******* it, I’m leaving it all behind! I’m finding my happiness!! Life is too darned short!!”, makes great fodder for Instagram posts and TikTok videos, in the world of airline pilot careers, we all know that, in general, unless a person is financially independent, there is a “V1” point beyond which most pilots feel like they are committed to staying at the place they’re at. Maybe bleedair isn’t one of those people. But it’s the reality of this career for most people.

My 121 experience prior to SWA isn’t extensive, but I had just as much fun with and enjoyed the crews in my previous life as much as I have at SWA. There’s not a lot of difference. Pilots are pretty much pilots. There was a difference in the military. More camaraderie IMO.

It may or may not be. The truth is, bleedair doesn’t know if their POV is representative for the 10,000 pilots of SWA or not. He/she doesn’t feel like it’s representative for them. That’s fair. I have not talked to or flown with anywhere near 10,000 SWA pilots. All I can tell you about is my experience. Same with bleedair.

ElonMusk

I never worry about how many legs. Legs to me don’t make me tired, it’s the duty day length. I averaged a shade over 9 hours of duty per day at work since I was hired. Have done 1 leg and done up to 6 legs in a day. Seriously the work part is easy and a step way above the fractional I worked for and the regionals before that.

I work PM only and the shoulders are getting creeping into before 12 check in sometimes and after 2300 on the last leg but if you don’t commute it’s not bad at all. I’m here to make money and move on to my days off.

I’ll complain all day about contract stuff and need of improvement but the actual work is not difficult at all.

Lewbronski

Give it a few years.

SlipKid

Yup.........

AirplanesRkewl

Appreciate all the reply’s. I plan on moving to one of the bases since I refuse to commute. Just gonna go in with a positive attitude and hope for the best.