80ktsClamp

Glad to hear you feel that you don't deserve any more compensation early by assisting the company in the FL merger. You know you're going to have to have a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement with FL, right?

I did not have a type rating at the time, but would have had to gotten one had I accepted the offer.

I was mandatory displaced off of the 767/757 (merger "synergies" + the economy) to the 737, so I was not frozen to the 737. I decided to stick around on it for a bit to see if I liked the plane, which never really transpired. They opened up the A320 category in ATL so I decided to make the jump to that. Even though the pay rate is slightly lower, I have better seniority on it so will end up making more money.

OscartheGrouch

So let me get this straight 80...,

You were willing to interview with SWA contingent on getting the 737 type rating, but when DAL or NWA called you are now going to criticize those who chose to get said type rating? You were obviously not "qualified" to be hired by SWA. Now if you hadn't been hired by DAL/NWA would you have been willling to go get the quals necessary to fly at SWA in the junky 737? Just wondering. You say you were willing, but are you being honest? I have run in to many who say they would have, but really are just blowing smoke.

I understand why you are now downgrading (monetarily) to the airbus. DAL has soooooo many aircraft types that it may be difficult to keep from training events happening. The nature of the beast.

Just so you know, as well as others, I deserve exactly what I think is appropriate as far as compensation goes, not what someone else thinks. My family and I are (and have) been doing fine with the benefits that SWA has provided. You seem to think that you "deserve" more. Go for it. I believe I will once again watch as another pilot group overreaches and then comes back to reality.

The percentage of total costs vs. employee costs at SWA is skewed in favor of the employees (right now) instead of the overhead side. Just a fact. For whatever reason they think all the employees are worth it currently.

The Happy Oscar (How about you ?)

80ktsClamp

SWA was pretty far down the list...Perhaps if no one else had called I might have gotten the 737 rating, but I never really crossed that bridge mentally since I had plenty of other stuff going on. World actually came in front of them on my preferences (they also called the week before SWA did). It didn't matter since I had already started at DL.

Training events do happen, but having plenty of options is a major reason why I love where I'm at. It's a necessity to have a number of fleet types to run a global operation.

Smokey23

Gents, please don't let this turn into another "There's no way you like your job more than I like my job!" urination contest (and what a silly concept that is, BTW). I say congrats to both of you. You both work for great airlines. Now go forth and strive to enjoy your lot in life more than those other dudes over in the next concourse.

forgot to bid

Watching the Green Bay game and saw the latest SWA ad, they're picking on 727 operators. That's mean.

DAL73n

Oscar,

I'm sure I'm not the only DAL pilot that TURNED DOWN SWA for DAL. The guys I know at SWA are mostly great guys and I really admire the success of SWA and wish everyone well at SWA. You and your buds can stop with the SWA envy that you think everyone at DAL has - we don't. I had (and still have) no desire to do what you guys do. The point you seem to be making is we've got ours, what we do has no effect on everyone else so therefore we shouldn't worry about how our decisions effect anyone else. The fact that DAL has had abysmal management (Ron Allen and Leo Mullin destroyed our culture) since 1993 - 2007 (RA and gang seem to know what they're doing) and that SWA had a great business model that ended up making SWA pilots make decent money (I consider the $230 CA/ $140 F/O money only decent) does not mean that every one else on the planet wants to work there. We (DAL) are now going to find out if our group effort to make the best airline merger work for us to get restoration of the best contract ever negotiated (C2K) will pay off - time will tell - openers start in April 2012). SWA opening a new market is not a guarantee of success for SWA because you no longer have industry leading costs (I think your SLC operation is a perfect example). And your famous 20 min turns will not work in ATL let alone the fact that you will lose some of your AT pax for eliminating 1st class. It would be nice if you did some work with raising the bar since we set the bar for SWA to undercut. If we didn't have such a high (and I admit there was too much fat in our contract to make it successful long term) then you wouldn't be where you are today. In addition, while hedging is supposed to be used as a risk management tool SWA got LUCKY with their hedges which put millions in your and other SWA employees pockets. If it wasn't luck then SWA would be making a lot more money by trading futures than flying people.

Good luck with the merger - don't think you're going to be setting any integration records with your date of Single Operating Certificate (SOC).

OscartheGrouch

73n,

I think if you would read my previous posts you will find that I react to misinformation and misrepresentations. Biased positions on both sides skew our interpretation of the info presented on APC.

When I feel someone has unfairly (my opinion) tainted or presented biased info that is negative towards SWA I will chime in to defend against such "attacks." After ingnoring 80kts and others I decided to chime in. I would challenge you to show any of my previous posts and conversations that began with me intentionally being negative to yours or any other airline. My responses were in defense of SWA. I would expect you to come to the defense of your employer/union if I was to do what you perceived to be attacks.

I will address your comments above (in bold):

I have no doubt that many DAL pilots have "turned" down SWA. We have pilots here who turned down DAL. We also have former DAL pilots here who left DAL to come here as you have former SWA pilots at DAL now. No big deal, just the desire to make a decision that is best for each persons needs/family. No envy on my part. All of us convince ourselves that we made the right decision. No one really knows for sure until we retire. That page in my book has yet to be written. I don't think you and your guys envy SWA. You do have some (as we do) who seem to want to belittle the other pilot groups. Perhaps both of us should ask them to be more mature. I will do my part here at SWA. Alas an anonymous web site ensures that there will probably always be those kind of people posting hate.

Your comment about SLC is intersting. I do remember going in to SLC as we always do with the intent to gain market share. We achieved that and have cut back some flights (perhaps you know by how much?) What do you think SWA's goal was in SLC? Every once in a while someone gives up in a market and we saw that in BWI with USAir. I don't think our management ever thought DAL would give up anywhere including ATL.

20 minute turns are gone. Okay we still have a few but they rely on easy in and outs at those few airports we can do it.

First class? Does anybody really pay for that anymore? Not saying we won't adjust our business model if it appears we can capture revenue.

I do believe that our predecessors have done a great deal for what you and I have today. Safety is the biggest and I thank them for that. There also has been things they have done that are questionable (scope, etc.) If you wish to blame SWA or other LCC's for what has happened to your QOL you may want to see why they developed. Competition means someone offers a product similar to yours and you have to convince the customer to buy your product at the price that makes sense for your business model. If their price is lower and the perceived value is the same then.........

Yes we were lucky with fuel hedges. As the saying goes, "It is better to be lucky than good."

Bottom line is that I like to have civil conversations. We can disagree on things, but the hate and venom disguised as conversation is quite obvious to most. If you feel I have engaged in that type of behavior please show me and I will apologize.

The Oscar

Justdoinmyjob

You'd be suprised how many business travellers are willing to pay large amounts of $$ for it.

Your management even admitted to losing out on the revenue generated by removing AAI's first class, but hopefully making up for it with volume.

Either way works. Someone has to fly BillyBob Redneck and someone has to fly Mr. MBA. (And that's coming from an admitted redneck!)

727C47

you seem like a good guy to share a beer or cockpit with O !!!