SkyKingRP

I interviewed on 1/5/16, and finally got the CJO on 2/10! This week I was given a 3/30 class date.

8700 TT, 2500 TPIC (all civilian)
No 737 type
10+ years Part 121 (regional jets)
4-year degree, JD, MBA

Used Centerline for interview prep.

First applied January '14; went to WAI in March '15 (dropped off resume with recruiter, but no Fast Pass).

Good luck to all! Persistence eventually pays off - they are just ramping up hiring for the year, and calls are going out...

flygirl556

entered in error

LuscombeGuy

Thanks SkyKing,

I am coming from corporate. I have similar times but with 3 biz jet types and no MBA. I have the fast pass next month at WIA, so we'll hope for the best.

Does anyone know if internals can help the app process along. Or does the computer have to grab your packet before LORs come into play?

T6 Pilot

Question in timing --

For those with recent interview invites/CJO's, what has been the timeline from initial contact from SWA based on your availability date? Are you guys getting contact 30, 60, 90 days out, etc...

My availability date isn't for another 8 months (1 Oct), but I have already been contacted by UAL. Crickets on SWA. (SWA and UAL are my #1/2....no order).

john lennon

Internals do not help until you get the interview.

LuscombeGuy

Thanks. Wasn't sure how soon to reach out.

MWright

It's all relative. This job is a cakewalk compared to life at the regionals. Many of us were used to 4-7 leg days and 9-10 hour overnights each night, flying an airplane far less capable than the 737. We were also doing it 16-19 days a month. It may be an adjustment for the military guys, but this is a damn good airline job.

Most trips here have 2-4 legs (in rare cases 5 for a Texas two-step or California shuttle), and the overnights are far longer. Plenty of time to exercise, have a meal, and get 8 hours with few exceptions. I get as many or more days off on RSV here as I ever did at a regional.

In regards to the upgrade time, I wouldn't worry much about that as an applicant. Chasing an upgrade is foolish, as what's true today will be different in 5 years, 10 years and 15 years. Worry about things you can control.

I've got a lot of friends at all 3 legacies, and most of them are flying domestic narrow body. They fly the same type schedule I do, and they do it a day or two more a month to boot. Those who have managed a wide body spot are on reserve or flying every holiday and weekend. At places like Delta, those categories are small and getting smaller due to aircraft retirements.

The quick upgrades everyone refers to at the legacies are to domestic narrow body categories as well, so it's the same type of flying as we do. No one is passing up a 5 year upgrade to a 777 by coming to SWA. The primo categories and best trips are still limited to the top of the seniority list.

I see a lot of pilots on here chasing trivial qualities in an airline. What one should really focus on is a base close to home and financial stability of the airline. Fleeting upgrades and inflight crew meals shouldn't be on the radar. Pick an airline(s) that suits your life, apply, (hopefully) interview, and take whatever job you're offered first. Lateral moves rarely pay off in this industry, so once you're on somewhere, make the best of it. Have fun - flying for a living is hardly work most days. Seems many here spend entirely too much time worrying about "what-if" scenarios at other airlines, and it's futile to do so.

Good luck to everyone.

SkyKingRP

I was told by my internal contacts that they really couldn't help me until I had already been invited to interview. (With that being said, I received an email one morning from an SWA friend of mine telling me that he had just talked to his chief pilot about me a couple of days earlier, and I received an email invite for the interview that same afternoon...perhaps it was a coincidence?)

In any event, if and when you do get an interview date, you should contact your internals ASAP to have them write you recommendations through SWALife, and provide you with hard copies of recommendation letters that you can take to the interview. (You will be asked to include these letters in the stack of other documents you are required to bring to the interview.)

nostalgic

These are words of wisdom, especially for those who do not have prior 121 experience! Thanks for your informative post!

LuscombeGuy

Great. Thanks for the intell. May I ask how long ago you were invited of the interview?