The SWAPA Number

The SWAPA Ride Report: Red-Eye CQT Pulls, VA Shift Strategies & The China Airlines Partnership

In this week’s extended episode, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants explains the new expectations for red-eye pairings when it comes to QOL TR pulls during a CQT month. He also goes deep on all things vacation shifting and how shifts have performed since being implemented last year. What is the average increase in pay per pilot vacation week? How does shifting put a new spin on month to month vacation weeks? Maybe there’s TFP on the table for you to pick up. He also adds key context and backstory to the announcement of the China Airlines partnership. What’s changed behind the scenes to finally kick airline partnerships into gear? What’s the connection between your CBA’s Section 1 language and the Company’s push for low-cost revenue?  And most importantly, what does this mean to you as a Southwest Pilot? Listen in and find out.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

537 (Scheduling & Analytics, Scott Plyler, Meagan Nelan)

Today's SWAPA Number is 537. That's the number of pilots that have used Release to Check-in since it was implemented on April 1st. So today we are sitting down with Scott Plyler and Meagan Nelan from the Scheduling and Analytics committee to discuss recently implemented items, the upcoming implementation schedule and how that's going, along with a look at some other scheduling hot topics.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: ICYMI, Coming Soon, and Contract Q&A

In this week’s episode, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants points back to highlights in the bevvy of information we covered in the BOD meeting recap and teases the upcoming deep dive with the SAC. Also in this episode: a heads-up on the SWAPA Constitution modernization, and a call to action for those interested in serving as a representative in this fall’s elections—these reps will help shape the platform for our next contract.What happens if your flight is delayed while on your overnight—can you stay at the hotel longer? Does it affect your pay?  Is an early call from Scheduling during a delay an interruption of rest? What’s the difference between LIMO-only duty periods and CX pairings? The answers to these questions and more are in this week’s Contract Q&A.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

1,200 (Professional Standards, Jon Ross)

Today's SWAPA Number is 1200. That's the number of cases that Professional Standards has worked in the last 12 months. That's about 100 per month or about three a day. Those are high numbers and well within our control, but we'd much rather see that number of cases go here than over to company channels.So today we sit down for our annual chat with Professional Standards chair, Captain Jon Ross, to update the membership on a must-listen episode about how pilots need to be as familiar with Professional Standards as they are with any other part of the Company or SWAPA.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: DRR Process Explained, Updated Pay Audit and More

In this week’s edition, Captain Tony Mulhare takes the membership through some recently implemented contract touches, updates to the automated release to check in process as well as SWAPA pay audit improvements.  He also does a deep dive into the DRR process and vacancy bidding and why senior pilots are placed into a base when there are more junior pilots with Domicile Right of Return.  Contract Admin’s commonly asked questions this week cover the vacancy process, how pay multiples apply to duty period rigs versus trip rigs, and a question concerning holiday override pay. 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

70 (Information Technology, Will Young, Leigh Sperberg, Thomas Lowery)

Today's SWAPA number is 70. That's the number of projects IT is currently overseeing that will come to fruition in 2025. Some of these projects are happening behind the scenes, but still bring value and security to the organization and others like contract AI will be very pilot facing.So on today's episode, we sat down with Information Technology chair Will Young, IT committee member Thomas Lowery and IT director Leigh Sperberg to talk about what is on the docket for this year as well as in the future.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: Scheduling 360, Benefits Reminders, and Contract Q&A

In this week’s edition, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants breaks down all the scheduling headlines you’ve seen in the past few weeks. From ELITT Direct Drop/Direct Pickup data to the “why” behind line quality, listen in to learn more after you make sure you have the latest version of the Scheduling Handbook. He also points to the Aviation Medical Advisory Service (AMAS) links on the SWAPA Benefits page, and what to do if you are having claims issues or returning from a leave of absence.  The Contract Q&A this week stems from the recent scheduling updates. What are your deadhead and TTGA options while on RTCI? How does your bid category come into play with ELITT Direct Drop and Direct Pickup? What is the recommended way to respond to a missed call from scheduling while on reserve and why? Tune in to find out.  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

175 (Training and Standards, Greg Bowen)

Today's SWAPA Number is 175. That's the number of hours associated with being a new first officer at Southwest Airlines, which is the change from the 100 hours we previously used. The restrictions as part of being a new first officer is part of a comprehensive change in training and standards that both SWAPA and the Company are committed to, and we're seeing that in a number of places.We've seen a lot of forward-facing news on the training front in the last 12 months, and even more internal activity as the airline undergoes a shakeup top to bottom. From CHEP inspections to op stay, SWAPA has had some collaboration with the Company on these events and processes. Today we're sitting down the SWAPA Training and Standards Chair Greg Bowen to get the inside baseball on what's transpired and what's to come.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: ELITT Direct Drop & Pick Up, MBCBP and more

In this week’s edition, Communications Manager Casey Casteel takes the membership through the latest contract implementation item: ELITT direct drop and pick up and a few highlights for using that new tool. Casey gives a recap of the latest news on the Market Based Cash Balance Plan, and an update from the settlement of grievance 2024-004.  Contract Q&A this week covers several questions concerning LRO vs LCO and future implementation of unscheduled overnights not counting toward the CAP.  She wraps up this week’s podcast with questions on trading a reserve-assigned pairing after selecting Release Until Check In and a question about pay for DOT testing at the end of a pairing.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

13 (Safety, Gary Niemann, Craig Jakubowski)

Today's SWAPA Number is 13. That's the number of pilots on staff at SWAPA Safety. This includes investigations, the Aviation Safety Action Program or ASAP and Air Traffic Services to name a few. Safety covers a lot of topics and is at the core of what we do on every flight. So today we're sitting down with SWAPA Safety chair, Gary Niemann and SWAPA investigation specialist, Craig Jakubowski to talk all things flight safety.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