SWA or UAL?
03-26-2022, 12:54 PM
#331
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2012
Position: 737
Posts: 1,061
I don't think a "quick" upgrade and IAH are in the same mental thought. You have way more options at UAL to see or do whatever type of flying you get the itch for. Much more interesting overnights and diverse cultures with different fleets. Some people can coast to retirement with just seeing the same Costa Rica pool and free breakfast 8 times a month but at least he has the option to do something else.
I do think SWA is going to have a great next contract. Their management is completely different from 20 yrs ago and their pilots are motivated to fix the big issues. The honeymoon is over with a lot of their work groups. Our contract has very large soft spots in reserve/field standby, expensive medical, vacation pay per day, and our PBS isn't user friendly, timely, and it takes large amounts of time to submit a bid every month. Most of my swa friends are very happy and upgrade times aren't predictable.
I do think SWA is going to have a great next contract. Their management is completely different from 20 yrs ago and their pilots are motivated to fix the big issues. The honeymoon is over with a lot of their work groups. Our contract has very large soft spots in reserve/field standby, expensive medical, vacation pay per day, and our PBS isn't user friendly, timely, and it takes large amounts of time to submit a bid every month. Most of my swa friends are very happy and upgrade times aren't predictable.
03-26-2022, 01:17 PM
#332
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Position: 737 Captain
Posts: 233
You may be able to upgrade to captain sooner at UAL, but being a lineholder is a different story. So you would still have to plan on commuting for several years as a reserve. That could be as little as 5 years or much longer even in the most junior CA domicile. Commuting to reserve, especially here is abysmal. The Jr NB lineholder in IAH was hired just under a year ago, although you might find that working less and sitting reserve in domicile is preferable to working more on a jr line.
03-26-2022, 06:24 PM
#334
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 161
I had a choice and chose UAL. At SWA you work more per day on average than UAL, which means an extra day or two at home. As you age though that is not a positive. I know a few SWA captains who are looking to get out early because the days are fatiguing.
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03-26-2022, 09:27 PM
#335
Strike averted!
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: B737
Posts: 3,781
Here at WN we do fly harder. If you are concerned about recession stuff, SWA had a pretty good track during the peak of COVID and actually expanded markets. If the international market tanks, we are pretty solid.
Most in my seniority (on year 7) feel the upgrade time will come down for the west side if hiring can meet goals.
We have many domiciles to choose from and you can pick up flying in any of them.
You can make good money as a junior pilot, but you will have to learn the game.
Vacation policy is good. I just had 30 days off from one week of vacation (I was able to bid well last month to this month) and it still pays 85.
And I used my travel privileges to fly on…United.
Its not a bad place to be when times are tough. It’s not comfortable being on the bottom of any list, so maybe the consideration should be how many will come in after you.
Oh, and no hats or blazers required at SWA.
Most in my seniority (on year 7) feel the upgrade time will come down for the west side if hiring can meet goals.
We have many domiciles to choose from and you can pick up flying in any of them.
You can make good money as a junior pilot, but you will have to learn the game.
Vacation policy is good. I just had 30 days off from one week of vacation (I was able to bid well last month to this month) and it still pays 85.
And I used my travel privileges to fly on…United.
Its not a bad place to be when times are tough. It’s not comfortable being on the bottom of any list, so maybe the consideration should be how many will come in after you.
Oh, and no hats or blazers required at SWA.
03-27-2022, 10:53 AM
#339
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2013
Position: 737/FO
Posts: 195
Soon to be retired AF. The family and I want to move back to TX so SWA and UAL look great to me. I know IAH is senior and I'll be sitting reserve for some time there if I go UAL. I know I can upgrade sooner on NB at UAL, but will have to commute to SFO/LAX/EWR. I believe if I go SWA I could hold DAL within a year, but no upgrade until year 10. I understand SWA has great scheduling flexibility which would allow for more money as an FO; not so much at UAL while on reserve.
I don't mind commuting as a junior captain but only if I can hold a line. I assume the extra days I spend at UAL commuting as a junior captain would equate to the extra days I would work at SWA as an FO trying to pad my paycheck. Does this check? How many years at UAL can a junior captain hold a line at one of the junior bases?
My goal is to put the max amount of money into savings & retirement accounts for the next 20 years while living a comfortable life with some toys. Widebody flying does interest me, but it's not a deal breaker. I'd be happy in a 737 for the next 20 years so that's not a concern. I've seen plenty of overseas flying so that's also not a concern. Just wondering if I'm crazy thinking SWA might be the better option for me given my goals.
I don't mind commuting as a junior captain but only if I can hold a line. I assume the extra days I spend at UAL commuting as a junior captain would equate to the extra days I would work at SWA as an FO trying to pad my paycheck. Does this check? How many years at UAL can a junior captain hold a line at one of the junior bases?
My goal is to put the max amount of money into savings & retirement accounts for the next 20 years while living a comfortable life with some toys. Widebody flying does interest me, but it's not a deal breaker. I'd be happy in a 737 for the next 20 years so that's not a concern. I've seen plenty of overseas flying so that's also not a concern. Just wondering if I'm crazy thinking SWA might be the better option for me given my goals.
You may find that with your AF retirement you’re able to do more than OK on FO pay by the time you hit year 3 pay. The trade off between commuting to Capt vs being senior as an FO (in base) where you can drop/trade/pickup may be worth more than the 4th stripe pay. Schedule flexibility with the ability to pick some months to hustle and work hard and then the next month to scale back is a nice option. I have multiple AF buddies at SWA and all love it. Win-win IMO good luck
03-27-2022, 12:46 PM
#340
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,501
Of course if you wait, you will spend less time on reserve, but that wasn’t the question. So the reality is wheel our upgrade timeline is shorter, timeline to getting to a line isn’t vastly different, if that’s your qualifier.
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