e6bpilot

I only wish that on a few of the captains I fly with.

FLY6584

Exactly. Do NOT come here if upgrade is high on your list. Go to a Legacy for that. Do come here if you want schedule flexibility, live in a Southwest domicile, want to be apart of a great culture which contrary to what many say does still exist, and don't want to wear a double breasted suit and hat to work every day.

I'm a commuter which sucks, but I also get to see how other airlines work and we are hands down the nicest and most laid back group of people. I read threads on here about guys at the legacies being disgusted that jumpseaters are allowed to wear jeans and I just don't get that. I understand we need to maintain a professional image, but I love how we treat our jumpseaters, both on line and off line. I hope no matter what management does to this company that we never lose sight of that attitude we have as pilots at this company.

Doug Masters

And as an offline guy its much appreciated. I'm treated better by you guys than my own!

ZapBrannigan

The avoidance bid list is short, but distinguished.

FLY6584

Now if we could just get our retirement plan anywhere close to what you and the rest of the Majors/Legacies have we would be set.

Our retirement plan compared to everyone else just plain sucks. I had a Captain on my last trip explain why. He said that all of the other work groups here at SWA have "me too" clauses so any significant changes to our retirement plan would require company wide changes which would never happen. Our one big happy equal family is great, but it really hurts us when it comes to achieving benefits we deserve.

Woodbourne23

That flawed thinking needs to change. 16% company provided retirement is now the market rate for our peer group.
The me too argument is used as a place for the company to hide. The arguments as to why a flight attendant or ramper are not our me too peer groups are obvious. It's up to pilots to value our experience and profession and demand we be treated as such.

Btw, your captain has been brainwashed by the company into believing he is as valuable as every other employee

flyguy81

We couldn't do the job we do without all the other front line employees. However, the time and money I have invested in my career is vastly greater than any other employee group at this company. It's taken me tens of thousands of dollars and 15 years of my life to get to the point where I was hired to be a FO.

If other groups have a "me too" that's great for them. Without diminishing their contributions to the company since nearly everyone has been working here much longer than I, there's really no comparison between a pilot and a ramp agent/mechanic/CSA/etc.

My peer group is not a gate agent. My peer group is my buddy sitting across the terminal in the UAL/DL/AA 737 going to the same destination I am and making more than I am. We work more legs, put in longer days and are more productive. We should at least be paid the same if not more in compensation and retirement.

Dynasty22

How much weight is the 737 type going for in increasing hiring chances for one lately since it was dropped as a hiring requirement?

flyguy81

It only helps to get the interview if you need some extra "brownie points". Once you get the invite the type isn't a consideration as to whether or not you're hired.

FLY6584

I think it still holds a lot of weight. Plenty are getting picked up without it, but I feel as though with the type you can fall short in other areas and still get the call.

When I received my interview invite back in July, I only had 2300TT. I guarantee I would not have been called without it, especially that early in this hiring wave.

Everyone is so quick to say don't get the type anymore, but if Southwest is where you want to be then the $7300 or 9 months of your GI bill is an investment well worth the hundreds of seniority numbers it could buy you.