SWA no longer hiring in 2024
03-01-2024, 11:41 AM
#131
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Joined APC: Aug 2015
Position: Guppy Gear Slinger
Posts: 1,990
Question is, which would be worse, a short but permanent commute to AA with rapid seniority movement and hopefully plenty of guys added to the list below me within a reasonable duration of time (furlough protection in case things go sour)....or living in base at the very very bottom of SWA's list, and therefore being the absolute first to be dropped if SWA decides to furlough even 80 people?
03-01-2024, 03:55 PM
#134
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Joined APC: Jun 2019
Position: B747 FO
Posts: 1,228
Oh I know, trust me.
Question is, which would be worse, a short but permanent commute to AA with rapid seniority movement and hopefully plenty of guys added to the list below me within a reasonable duration of time (furlough protection in case things go sour)....or living in base at the very very bottom of SWA's list, and therefore being the absolute first to be dropped if SWA decides to furlough even 80 people?
Question is, which would be worse, a short but permanent commute to AA with rapid seniority movement and hopefully plenty of guys added to the list below me within a reasonable duration of time (furlough protection in case things go sour)....or living in base at the very very bottom of SWA's list, and therefore being the absolute first to be dropped if SWA decides to furlough even 80 people?
I’ve been at AA for 9 months, I’m 90% company wide and 73% in my base, only 2 months on reserve. 1,600 guys junior to me already
03-01-2024, 07:09 PM
#135
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,916
Oh I know, trust me.
Question is, which would be worse, a short but permanent commute to AA with rapid seniority movement and hopefully plenty of guys added to the list below me within a reasonable duration of time (furlough protection in case things go sour)....or living in base at the very very bottom of SWA's list, and therefore being the absolute first to be dropped if SWA decides to furlough even 80 people?
Question is, which would be worse, a short but permanent commute to AA with rapid seniority movement and hopefully plenty of guys added to the list below me within a reasonable duration of time (furlough protection in case things go sour)....or living in base at the very very bottom of SWA's list, and therefore being the absolute first to be dropped if SWA decides to furlough even 80 people?
03-01-2024, 09:35 PM
#137
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Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 588
Oh I know, trust me.
Question is, which would be worse, a short but permanent commute to AA with rapid seniority movement and hopefully plenty of guys added to the list below me within a reasonable duration of time (furlough protection in case things go sour)....or living in base at the very very bottom of SWA's list, and therefore being the absolute first to be dropped if SWA decides to furlough even 80 people?
Question is, which would be worse, a short but permanent commute to AA with rapid seniority movement and hopefully plenty of guys added to the list below me within a reasonable duration of time (furlough protection in case things go sour)....or living in base at the very very bottom of SWA's list, and therefore being the absolute first to be dropped if SWA decides to furlough even 80 people?
My neighbor is a senior captain at AA with over 20 yrs seniority over my time at SW. I'm a SW FO living in base. He commutes. Even with his massive seniority, I'm home A LOT more each month compared to him. Add at least one day to every trip if you commute. Also as a commuter you'll want to bid longer trips to minimize the number of times you have to commute. Living in base opens the door to shorter trips like 1 or 2 days, extra flying, sitting home on short call reserve and more control over what time of day you build your schedule.
I commuted for almost 15 yrs at the regionals with a lot of flights and a short commute. Commuting sucks. It really is a different job if you can drive to work. Even if that drive is 2-3 hours.
I also had to choose UAL or SWA when I started. SWA gave me the chance to live in base, and I much prefer SW line bidding. Real easy to get 17-18+ days off just with the line award every month of the year here. However, no one knows which carrier will furlough. Right now I agree it would be very tempting to jump on board AA and ride the wave as long as it lasts. Then hopefully you would have enough cusion if they furlough. It appears the wave at SW has disappeared for the moment. No way to know when that picks back up or if a furlough would happen
03-01-2024, 09:52 PM
#138
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Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 588
I thought about that, but my UAL class is a month after my scheduled SWA class. I can either:
• Inform SWA now that I'm not showing up, thereby freeing up a spot for another pilot. I would prefer to give as much notice as possible.
• Ask to be withdrawn from class and placed in the deferred hiring pool (unlikely to be granted but I guess I can ask)
• Show up to SWA class and then bail for UAL class a month later. I realize this may be technically the smartest thing to do, but it strongly goes against my instinct of doing what's right. I wouldn't feel right about choosing this option.
I guess I can try #2 and see what happens...
• Inform SWA now that I'm not showing up, thereby freeing up a spot for another pilot. I would prefer to give as much notice as possible.
• Ask to be withdrawn from class and placed in the deferred hiring pool (unlikely to be granted but I guess I can ask)
• Show up to SWA class and then bail for UAL class a month later. I realize this may be technically the smartest thing to do, but it strongly goes against my instinct of doing what's right. I wouldn't feel right about choosing this option.
I guess I can try #2 and see what happens...
If you start class at SW you can still go to one of your other offers if they are still holding classes. However, if you let SW go and the others stop hiring before your class date, then you will be unable to get SW back anytime soon. Personaly, I would go to the first class and get a seniority number ASAP then make a decision on your next move.
It would be more effort though if you end up just resigning a month later to go to UAL, and I don't know if that burns a bridge at sw?? You have good options but still a tough choice
03-02-2024, 06:14 AM
#139
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Joined APC: Feb 2022
Posts: 658
03-02-2024, 07:00 AM
#140
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: Gear slinger
Posts: 2,961
I thought about that, but my UAL class is a month after my scheduled SWA class. I can either:
• Inform SWA now that I'm not showing up, thereby freeing up a spot for another pilot. I would prefer to give as much notice as possible.
• Ask to be withdrawn from class and placed in the deferred hiring pool (unlikely to be granted but I guess I can ask)
• Show up to SWA class and then bail for UAL class a month later. I realize this may be technically the smartest thing to do, but it strongly goes against my instinct of doing what's right. I wouldn't feel right about choosing this option.
I guess I can try #2 and see what happens...
• Inform SWA now that I'm not showing up, thereby freeing up a spot for another pilot. I would prefer to give as much notice as possible.
• Ask to be withdrawn from class and placed in the deferred hiring pool (unlikely to be granted but I guess I can ask)
• Show up to SWA class and then bail for UAL class a month later. I realize this may be technically the smartest thing to do, but it strongly goes against my instinct of doing what's right. I wouldn't feel right about choosing this option.
I guess I can try #2 and see what happens...
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