The SWAPA Number

400 ( Training & Standards, Greg Bowen, William Bishop)

Today's SWAPA Number is 400. That's the number of new hires we expect on property during the first half of 2026. We're always happy to welcome new pilots to this airline, and these new hires will experience a training program that has gone through a lot of changes in the last couple of years.So today, we're sitting down with Greg Bowen and Willie Bishop from the Training and Standards Committee to talk about the state of AQP, where training is going in 2026, and a lot about VVMI.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

The SWAPA Ride Report: AUS & DRR, 401(k) Plan Changes, and the Road Ahead

The latest (and last) episode of the SWAPA Ride Report is up! To be clear, the regularly scheduled programming that is the SWAPA Number podcast will still continue. In fact, we will air our conversation with the SWAPA Training and Standards Committee on Monday, December 22. With all the procedures changes coming next month, this is one you don't want to miss. In today's Ride Report, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants reviews the relationship between the new Austin domicile and Domicile Right of Return (DRR). AUS is available in CWA, so take a moment to add that to your vacancy bid. He also goes over the optional and mandatory plan changes for your 401(k) in 2026. More education is coming on that front, but take a look at the 401(k) Committee's synopsis to get a feel for whether these plan changes are right for you and your family. This week's Contract Q&A focuses on key legality knowledge. What does a deadhead demote do to your contractually required rest? What could happen if you miss a RAP start? Listen in and find out. We end the show with a sneak preview of the education that sets the stage for the Survey Educate and Poll (SEP) process, including some volunteer opportunities. If you've been looking for a way to get involved, drop us a line at comm@swapa.org and we'll plug you in. You can find this episode of the SWAPA Ride Report on the SWAPA app or your favorite streaming service under The SWAPA Number profile.  Until next time...Fly safe, fly informed.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

10 (HIMS, Tom Stanley)

Today's SWAPA Number is 10. That's the percentage of the population that suffers from substance use disorder, and pilots are not an exception to that.So today we're talking to Tom Stanley, chair of the Human Intervention Motivation Study, or HIMS, to get an update on the work his committee does and to remind our pilots of this important resource that can save your career as a pilot at Southwest Airlines.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

The SWAPA Ride Report: Deadhead Self-Release, Training Move Up Preference and Contract Q&A

In this week’s edition, SWAPA Communication Committee Member Tony Mulhare discusses the recently implemented Deadhead Self-Release functionality in CrewHub and how to set your training move up preference on either your EFB or via SWALife.  He also provides a timely reminder on where to find Holiday Pay Override information on the payroll report.  This week’s Contract Q&A discusses timelines for when scheduling has to run uncovered flying through the open time process before assigning a reserve, holiday pay overrides and trip trading, a question on added flying to the end of a pairing, and more.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

112 (Scheduling and Analytics Committee, Meagan Nelan, Scott Plyler)

Today's SWAPA Number is 112. That's the average TFP per active pilot since contract ratification in January, 2024. Even with low density schedules and low levels of reroute, the new contract pay structure has boosted the 108 average TFP historically used. In fact, we had the second highest monthly TFP ever this past July, 135 TFP average, second only to the January, 2023, immediately post-meltdown average of 139 TFP.It's been a whirlwind on the scheduling front this year with multiple implementation lifts that have had big impacts on how pilots plan and adjust their schedules. And with almost two years of the new CBA behind us, the Company appears to have made some adjustments of their own.  So today we're across the table with our scheduling gurus, Meagan Nelan and Scott Plyler, to unpack some of the pain points, talk about some best practices, and look down the road for what's coming in 2026.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

The SWAPA Ride Report: Coming Attractions – Scheduling and 401(k) plus Contract Q&A

The theme of this week’s episode is “coming soon” as Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants points to near targets for a number of new scheduling features and 401(k) Plan changes. This means deadhead self-release, reserve ELITT, and footprint protection, to name a few, along with new max deferral percentages and Roth touches on your 401(k).The Q&A this week has some great information on holiday ELITT and deadhead release, along with what happens to your pairing code when you select Release to Check-In (RTCI). If you’re ever considering a reserve pairing trade, you’ll want to listen in on how that could affect the rest of your month-to-date utilization. If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

14 (Contract Admin Committee, David Kudish, Rob Odom, Dan O’Connor)

Today's SWAPA Number is 14. That's the number of outstanding grievances that are in process relating to contract interpretations. Defending our contract is one of the biggest pillars of what we do at SWAPA when Contract Admin is on the front line of that defense. Without a doubt, there are discussions or questions just about every hour of every day that we're having about this document and how it's impacting our quality of life.So today we're sitting down with several folks from our Contract Administration committee. That would be committee chair Dave Kudish and committee members, Rob Odom and Dan O'Connor. From how we resolve these issues with the company to the best practices to make your life easier, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

The SWAPA Ride Report: Runoff Elections, RCO & Training Preference Errors and Q&A

In this week’s edition, Committee Member Tony Mulhare discusses the runoff election for SWAPA Vice President and for the BNA & BWI Domicile Reps.  He also discusses recent errors found with training preferences and RCO due to company IT changes to the VDT and reserve preference selections.  The weekly contract Q&A focuses on several reserve related questions including how Release to Check In affects Leg Change Override and monthly reserve block overlap corrections.  There are also touches on expense reimbursement for Uber rides and how changing your vacancy bid can impact your expense reimbursement after being displaced.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

73 (Jumpseat, Brian Ross, Caitlin Bute)

Today's SWAPA Number is 73. That's the current number of reciprocal agreements SWAPA has with other carriers.So today we're sitting down with Brian Ross, chair of the Jumpseat Committee, and committee member Caitlin Bute for an update on the state of our partnerships with other carriers and the hot topics in the industry.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

The SWAPA Ride Report: Elections/Medical Open Enrollment, Coming Attractions, and Contract Q&A

n this week’s episode, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants has some elections reminders and quick ways to vote if you haven’t cast your ballot for the Fall General Election. He also goes over how to access the options for your Southwest Airlines Medical Open Enrollment, which runs until November 5. This covers your selection of medical, dental, and vision plans along with life insurance, updating your beneficiaries, and Loss of License (LOL) taxable vs non-taxable selection. Check your company email for messages on October 16 and 23 for all the details on how to get started.  This edition also teases the big SWAPA Numbers coming up with the Contract Administration and Scheduling & Analytics Committees. If you have a question that you would like Contract Admin to address on the show, shoot them a note at CAC@swapa.orgwith “Podcast” in the subject line. Also make sure you have the latest version of the Scheduling Handbook – with all the scheduling related traffic of late, this is a great resource.  The Q&A this week focuses on vacation and month-to-month overlap questions, so listen in to be ready for vacation trading when it opens on November 1 at 1200CT.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at comm@swapa.org or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737