at6d

I'm on 2nd year pay. I've never flown less than 100 TFP, and did 120 last month with 15 off with no OT. Of course, I'm a high time flier and busted my ass as I wasn't able to play the premium game.

Psycho18th

What I see as deciding factors in choosing Southwest...
A company that has never laid off a pilot.
A company that hasn't negotiated a 50% pay cut to avoid bankruptcy, then declared bankruptcy shortly thereafter.
A company that has continuously been profitable.
A company with a large pilot base in the city I live.
A company with the same stated values/goals throughout it's existence, that also seem to keep it profitable..

That continuity and security in such a fickle industry are huge factors to me, when I look at the place I want to work the next 25 years. Take a look at the last 25 years at all the legacies...B-Scale, layoffs, retirement wipeouts, multiple bankruptcies, strikes, new mission statement and logo every 6 months, new CEO/savior every 6 months. Could all of that happen at Southwest? Sure. But when playing the long term odds, the grass seems pretty darn green in SWA-land.

gipple

+1
I'll add that when a straight 3day x 4 line won't you let pick up a turn, maybe your trips are too dense to allow it. #chronicallyfatigued #FAR117sucks

flysocal77

Nobody picks up straight time here. When I was in my first year I could even pick up straight time out of PHX, the greediest base in the whole system. List is 20 deep guys tripping over a 2 day that pays 13. New guys should check out MOT if they want to know their schedule in advance. Bottom line is first year FOs can pick up all they want at second year pay but good luck trying to get premium out PHX in your second year. OAK,LAS,DEN no problem if your willing to set alerts. DOT is a different story.

flyguy81

I had alerts in DEN. Couldn't get premium last year. Got quite a few trips at straight. We'll see how this summer goes.

e6bpilot

If you put a little effort into it, a junior FO can fly 1-2 premium trips a month. We are short manned. Believe it.

ZapBrannigan

And if you plan to pick up straight time - PLEASE - I implore you. Pick up from TTGA. NOT from open time. There is tons of flying that people will be trying to drop this summer.


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at6d

+1 for TTGA

Tenacvols

Sorry but I don't get second year pay if I pick up from TTGA, only if I pick up from the company. At least that is what we were told in training...

V169

Bid what you want not what people want you to bid. Picking up TTGA just enables people more senior to you clear their boards and get premium. If there's a great trip in there that works out for you then grab it. Otherwise, if you're junior look for something in open time you like and put in a straight bid .69 seconds before it closes. No value addded to bidding straight time early unless you're on reserve and trying to dupe people into bidding straight time so you can get paid to sit at home.