Southwest hiring info
09-14-2015, 08:31 AM
#2401
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 82
Only short call reserve at SWA. Minimum of 2 hours from scheduling phone call to being able to report to the airport. 3 hours minimum till push -- however, they regularly will call you on AM's and give you a short notice reserve call out that pushes in maybe 2 hours from the phone call. No requirement to make that -- only have to meet the contract of 2 hours from phone call to on property at the airport -- which is what I do. Phone rings and it's scheduling with a short notice call out and my standard reply is "OK, great I'll call you in 2 hours when I'm on airport property."
A reserve line is 15 days each month but due to month-to-month overlap you may have up to 18 days in a month. Reserve credit is the higher of # of days of reserve x 6 TFP or what you actually fly credited on a monthly basis. One of the changes we're all hoping for on the new contract is to change from a monthly guarantee to a per day guarantee for reserve or at least a per block of reserve guarantee (3 day or 4 day block). This would prevent you from sitting reserve for essentially free at the end of the month if you've flown a lot prior to your last couple days of reserve.
Once you are on a trip on reserve you are free game for all the reroutes and changes they can throw at you. Expect that A LOT in the summer.
PM me for more info.
A reserve line is 15 days each month but due to month-to-month overlap you may have up to 18 days in a month. Reserve credit is the higher of # of days of reserve x 6 TFP or what you actually fly credited on a monthly basis. One of the changes we're all hoping for on the new contract is to change from a monthly guarantee to a per day guarantee for reserve or at least a per block of reserve guarantee (3 day or 4 day block). This would prevent you from sitting reserve for essentially free at the end of the month if you've flown a lot prior to your last couple days of reserve.
Once you are on a trip on reserve you are free game for all the reroutes and changes they can throw at you. Expect that A LOT in the summer.
PM me for more info.
Compared to other airlines I would say wn is slightly better but it it's still reserve so it still sucks. More specifically, you are basically stuck with your schedule. MAYBE someone will trade with you but most probably not.
The good: 90 tfp
Live in domicile, may end up with a day off here and there
The Bad: no flexibility, possibly sit for free and usually no move up pay
The Ugly: no trip ownership so if you commute, reserve is hideous.
09-15-2015, 03:48 PM
#2403
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 86
I agree with this and would add the following
Compared to other airlines I would say wn is slightly better but it it's still reserve so it still sucks. More specifically, you are basically stuck with your schedule. MAYBE someone will trade with you but most probably not.
The good: 90 tfp
Live in domicile, may end up with a day off here and there
The Bad: no flexibility, possibly sit for free and usually no move up pay
The Ugly: no trip ownership so if you commute, reserve is hideous.
Compared to other airlines I would say wn is slightly better but it it's still reserve so it still sucks. More specifically, you are basically stuck with your schedule. MAYBE someone will trade with you but most probably not.
The good: 90 tfp
Live in domicile, may end up with a day off here and there
The Bad: no flexibility, possibly sit for free and usually no move up pay
The Ugly: no trip ownership so if you commute, reserve is hideous.
Looked back at my schedule:
- Sat for "free" (2.1 tfp's) only once in 13mo's...beat guarantee every other month
- Had only 1 res trip taken from me ever
- 9 total days I didn't get used for something (fly, DH home, etc).
So yes, SWA reserve is pretty brutal but low percentages (8-9% I believe) typically mean off it quick and if you commute, good chance you can avoid the crash pad since you will rarely sit.
Off reserve in Oct...finally!
09-16-2015, 03:27 AM
#2404
On Reserve
Joined APC: May 2014
Posts: 22
Sorry if this is a stupid question.
Thanks in advance
09-16-2015, 03:33 AM
#2405
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,804
If you are a lineholder and the company calls and asks you to show early for a trip (to do something different) the entire day is compensated at time and a half. At SW they call that move up. As a reserve, it's just part of being on reserve - you get rerouted.
Reserves at SW also don't have any trip ownership. So even though you may have tomorrow's trip on your schedule already at noon today, it can be taken by a lineholder who wants some extra flying right up until you check in at the airport. So if you are a commuter and you use a hotel for your crashpad - you get up, put on your uniform, check out of the hotel, go to the airport only to find that 30 seconds earlier a lineholder took the trip. It's really frustrating!
To me, almost more frustrating is that there could be ten trips in open time and scheduling just randomly assigns one rather than allowing me to pick the one that best suits my commute.
Reserves at SW also don't have any trip ownership. So even though you may have tomorrow's trip on your schedule already at noon today, it can be taken by a lineholder who wants some extra flying right up until you check in at the airport. So if you are a commuter and you use a hotel for your crashpad - you get up, put on your uniform, check out of the hotel, go to the airport only to find that 30 seconds earlier a lineholder took the trip. It's really frustrating!
To me, almost more frustrating is that there could be ten trips in open time and scheduling just randomly assigns one rather than allowing me to pick the one that best suits my commute.
09-16-2015, 07:05 AM
#2406
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,715
Commuting to reserve at SWA is miserable. I have done it for 14 months. I wouldn't suggest it.
Being a line holder in this company, even the worst line, is such a huge step up from the best reserve. I am curious to see what improvements have been negotiated into the new AIP. Seeing as how our NC doesn't sit reserve and probably never will again, I am not holding my breath.
Being a line holder in this company, even the worst line, is such a huge step up from the best reserve. I am curious to see what improvements have been negotiated into the new AIP. Seeing as how our NC doesn't sit reserve and probably never will again, I am not holding my breath.
09-16-2015, 07:26 AM
#2407
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: B737 Captain
Posts: 236
The new contract will have limited trip ownership. Probably some where within 2 hours of report.
09-16-2015, 07:35 AM
#2408
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,715
Southwest hiring info
It is only for the same day or next day if flying is already done for the current duty period. The only times I have gotten move up on reserve is after I have blocked in on my current duty period they have moved me up the following day. If they inform you even one leg before you block in on your last flight of the duty period, you don't get it. The guy sitting next to you does.
The other sad part is it penalizes you if you are over your guarantee on your RPT, you will be last in line for flying any future trips and the one you get will pay the least.
I know, first world problems. I get paid pretty well and I have 15 days off a month. It could be so much better though if we used some negotiating capital on it.
09-16-2015, 11:00 AM
#2409
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: 737 Right
Posts: 1,385
At the rates we're going to be hiring for the near future, you shouldn't be on reserve for very long. Really depends on the base.
Commuting to reserve sucks. Once I lived in domicile, I didn't think it was that bad.
But lets' face it. Commuting sucks period.
Manning has fluctuated dramatically over the years. When I was sitting reserve I almost always made more than the guarantee. Usually made more than I did as a jr lineholder. You work for it though!
I think Reserve will improve slightly with the next contract but not dramatically.
Commuting to reserve sucks. Once I lived in domicile, I didn't think it was that bad.
But lets' face it. Commuting sucks period.
Manning has fluctuated dramatically over the years. When I was sitting reserve I almost always made more than the guarantee. Usually made more than I did as a jr lineholder. You work for it though!
I think Reserve will improve slightly with the next contract but not dramatically.
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