Albief15

Food is an interesting thing. We don't think much about it when you have plenty, but get a little hungry or get bad food on a long trip and its a serious irritant.

One example I have is at FedEx I flew the MD-11 for years. It had an oven, which meant on long flights you had a meal that you could heat up. While most would not call it 4 star dining, some of it was pretty good...the Corky's BBQ comes to mind. Getting a warm meal along the way makes the job a little nicer and is a nice break when you are a long haul somewhere.

Now--flying in Asia--in a new 767...the ovens are missing. You would think making big bucks and flying a brand new plane would be enough to keep me happy. Rationally, it is. Emotionally, however, I still get ****ed when I bite into a clammy tuna sandwich at 2 am thinking about that bean counter that decided to save 20 pounds of weight and left me cold deli trays and sandwiches instead of a nice hot meal. I can afford a nice meal when I get to the hotel, but dammit I'm hungry NOW and this SUCKS and every time I go on trip I am reminded of how I am not worth a little extra effort or expense to have a hot meal.

Here's the thing: Our flight management just reported that we are changing the configuration of the international birds, and they will have ovens installed by 2017. It doesn't change my paycheck. It doesn't change my bidding. In the big picture, it really doesn't make that much difference, right? And yet--I'm very happy about that news. Its emotional, not rational...but it is real regardless.

So--that's why I am so shocked a "feel good" company like SWA is allowing irritants to accumulate. I would guess the catering on our flights runs 25-40 bucks a person--not cheap. I would also think that the cost for your international crews is insignificant when compared to the overall profitability, and even more so when you consider the bang for buck for morale. A plate of hot food on a tray during your international turns wouldn't cost much, but it probably would make you feel a bit more like a valued team member. Its a cheap investment.

I run a dinky little business, not a Fortune 500 airline. At the same time, everyone on my team has a company credit card. When they are on the road doing work for me, I tell them to put their meals on the card. I don't put a spending limit on it, and in 15 years nobody has abused that with caviar and lobster lunches. But I want them to know to know they are appreciated. The tiny investment I make in them pays off. It appears FedEx is sort of getting the point and going to do the same thing for the international 767 crews. I hope your company follows suit. Getting told to "grab a muffin", even if you are making north of 300k a year, is a burr in the saddle that cannot help the company in the long haul.

WHACKMASTER

Here's the thing....it doesn't even have to be a hot meal. At AT they just caterered some sandwiches or a salad with chips and fruit most of the time. Simple and cheap. As a matter of fact, in BWI they had Potbelly's deliver some sandwiches to the aircraft for international turns. How difficult is that? What does that cost the company? $10 a person?

So now the whole thing is just flat out insulting and infuriating and I WILL get off the plane, clear customs and go grab food it need be.

MarineFAC

Preach brother! Six sims (NG, classic? depends what is up/running), a PC and a LOFT = 737 is actually a single pilot airplane. At least it was on my IOE. Buddy of mine DAL bid into the 73 from the MadDog after two yrs and almost 2000hrs of 121 flying. His training syllabus; 16 sims, a type check and an LOFT.

172capt

How competitive am I at getting an interview at Southwest? Currently I am a one man show at a 91 flight department flying single pilot in a citation doing about 300 hours a year. I am not a contract pilot I am a full time employee. Don't really have a specific title but my boss does refer to me as the Chief Pilot when introducing me to his customers or friends. Not that it helps on the application to Southwest since we don't have more than 10 pilots.

4600+ TT
1300+ Turbine PIC
College Degree

Was previously a captain at a 135 operation and have about 35 hours of 121 time before being laid off back in 2008.

If this isn't competitive, would it help me out to go to a regional to build some more 121 time? I know it would be a huge pay cut but that is not a huge deal to me right now if it can get me to Southwest.

FLY6584

I'd say you are very competitive. Southwest loves some corporate folks. I would stay where you are at if it were me. If you're willing to take a substantial pay cut to go to the regionals would you be willing to pay for a 737-type instead? Plenty are hired without it, but it's a sure way of getting your app looked at. You'll eventually get the call I'm sure, but I would pay for a type before I took the pay cut and ass pain of going to a regional. You just have to ask yourself how much is that seniority worth to you?

FLY6584

Just like I tell most of my friends, if Southwest is where you want to be you'll eventually get the call if you meet the mins, but you may get a call a lot quicker if you have the type to highlight you. Personally I don't think you can put a price on seniority especially if Southwest is where you want to hang your hat for the rest of your career, but that's just my opinion that I know many will disagree with.

172capt

Thanks for the input it reassuring to hear that I should be competitive. I would be willing to pay for a 737 type rating, but he only issue is being a one man flight department and getting at a minimum of 8-10 days off is difficult. So I will just have to wait until the next time the plane goes down for its phase 5 inspection or hope that I get a call before then.

tacamoflyer

Don't get the type. It would be money wasted. Thank goodness that stupid requirement has gone away. Just be patient, you will get called with your stats.

FLY6584

While I agree it was a stupid requirement I would not say it's wasted money. Is a year of seniority and approx 600 below you worth $7300? I would have to say absolutely.

The type is not for everyone, but in the above posters situation he could end up spending another month waiting for the call or a year+. All I'm saying is if someone wants to get here bad enough and willing to go as far as going to a regional for 121 time I would have to say getting the type is cheaper and less painful.

ZapBrannigan

Unless he doesn't get the job. Then it was a $7300 lottery ticket and he lost. Put me in the "don't get the type" camp.