e6bpilot

It depends where you stay, but usually not. The contracted rate won't allow it.
You can get stay credit though, which can put you into elite status for most brands. Many hotels will also honor your perks if you already have a status with them. The doubletree (not used for new hire anymore) gives you free breakfast, etc. I am not sure about the Sheratons that new hires have been staying in.

The key is to always ask. Then if you are told no ask someone later.

RJSAviator76

We received points at Sheraton Galleria if we did not get rooms cleaned every day. Ask at the front desk for details, but we did get some points.

oldcarpilot

I'm at the Westin and when I checked in they said we did get points. I haven't actually checked on them however.

KPer

I stayed there and did get the points. Out on the line Marriott won't give you a night or points. Just access to the concierge room if you qualify.

Tom fooloery

Just have a few questions a friend of mine was asking me about SWA and I told him what I thought was correct, but wanted to get confirmation from some guys already there.
1. Upgrade time, I told him about 10 years but he asked if anything could change that and I told him I didn't know. So could growth or retirements bring that down?
2. He asked about the fleet plan as far as the max's and the number of them/ when they arrive or when the classics leave
3. He was asking about growth in destinations both domestic and international, he concern was that SWA was reaching their limit of destinations with the 737
4. What would be the odds that SWA would buy or merge with someone, his main concern here is getting hired and getting stuck on the bottom

I tried to answer these to the best of my ability but don't want to steer him wrong. Also I don't mean to start any sort of flame bait post or anything just trying to give a pal the most accurate information I can

e6bpilot

Nobody knows the answer to any of those questions and any answers would be guesses at best. If you go off of what the company says, we will see modest growth and minimal retirements resulting in about a 10 year upgrade. If growth were to stop or we would shrink, that could go up exponentially since we simply don't have that many retirements in the next 10 years.
I would say another merger is likely.
There are a lot more destinations we can serve. We regularly shift capacity around on our current route structure just to keep up with the most profitable routes and we keep adding destinations in our near international stuff.
Again, those are guesses. They are worth what you paid for them.

ZapBrannigan

Ive been here a little over 3 years. According to our seniority calculator, if we grow at 1% per year I will reach 55% relative seniority in early 2027, so about another decade. If we don't grow at all, it goes to mid 2028.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

RJSAviator76

From what I'm seeing, junior captains are at 61% seniority...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

e6bpilot

This. And growth is projected to be more than one percent per year for a while. As our workforce ages, more guys will be moving into 5 weeks of vacation (read - 10-15 weeks off per year) and going out sick/medical.
I am not banking on a 10 year upgrade, but the tea leaves read that way right now. The only headwinds I could see are an age increase, drawdown of capacity due to economic reasons, and the new lance program causing guys that would have hung out in the FO fat to decide to upgrade.
Honestly, seeing how you can have an absolutely killer schedule that pays like a boss as a super senior FO, it isn't a shock that guys are waiting to upgrade. If I could fly premium weekday turns and two days all month and make more than captain pay and have awesome vacation weeks, I would hang out too.

ZapBrannigan

This. My kid graduates high school in another 7 years. So I won't even start whining about upgrade time until he is out of the house. I wouldn't take an upgrade if it were offered before then anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk