This is one of the most frequently asked questions a Flight Attendant hears (next to "May I use the restroom even though the fasten seat belt sign is on?").
I thought you might be interested in knowing how we happen to be on your particular flight. On the same day each month, a schedule of trips for the following month is posted on our crew website. We bid on the trips we would like to fly and are awarded our choice based on seniority - meaning date of hire, not date of birth! We might have the same trip each week or they may be different each week. Each month is like Christmas - we pick the "gift" we want and then anxiously wait to see what's inside the package we receive! If we are disappointed, we have the option of trading our trips IF a trade is available. If it isn't, we can put our trips on a give away list where someone else can choose to fly our trip. We can then look for another trip to pick up or stay home. How cool is that?!
I personally prefer to fly a different trip each week because I have yet to tire of seeing mountains, prairies, and oceans white with foam! Texas is my birthplace and where I have spent much of my life, but if my parents had REALLY loved me they would have birthed me in San Diego! The good news is, I can bid an overnight San Diego trip and keep my fingers crossed that I get it. If variety is the spice of life -- this job is a well- stocked spice rack.
Comments
Hi Carloe,
I would have to say, you also are one of those great myriad spices we can find here at SWA,
which in turn makes us such a great flavor for all. I was excited to see you will be blogging. By the way,
I'm still waiting for that plate of "Steak and Eggs" on one of your flights.
It would be interesting to see what the most bid-on routes are. The most bid-on overnight route. The least bid-on ones too...
very interesting. thanks for sharing the behind the scenes stories of SWA. Love this stuff. Keep it coming!
Do pilots bid on their routes too?
Southwest Route Bidding...
For some reason, I'm addicted to finding out about and reading about airlines and they way they work. I'm not really sure why, although I think the addiction started when I first started travelling frequently for business.
Marc,
Yes, Pilots bid on routes as well. In fact i think all of our great Union Folks here bid on their schedules. this would include our Maint folks, Customer Service Agents, Operations Agents, Ramp Folks, Reservations Agents, Provisioning, Cargo, and I think Dispatchers.
Hi There - I hope some of SWA Pilots and FAs see this and respond. I know you all overnight many many nites during the year and I am wondering two things based on the fact that SWA flies to many smaller served cities such as spokane, columbus, el paso, albany, and jackson, birmingham, etc.... do any of you mind overnighting in these smaller cities? Do you bid for trips where you o/n in smaller cities? If you don't and you happen to end up o/n'ing in these cities, what do you do for fun the you "clock out" ??
Tommy Blog
I can never post a blog without having some kind of typo in it!!! My last sentence above should read "What do you do for fun when you "Clock Out" .
I should go back to school !
Dear Tommy Blog,
I am a flight attendant out in Oakland, CA. I can honestly say that overnights in smaller cities do not bug me. Some flight attendants bid their schedules around cities, hotels, workout facilities, shopping etc. It just really depends on the individual. When I bid a line I choose all commutable lines and I could care less about anything else. I live in Los Angeles, CA and work in Oakland, CA. I am considered a commuter and because I choose to commute rather than live in the city where I am based I am responsible for my own hotel expense before and after every trip. I am not complaining. I love living in Los Angeles and I would rather commute. Therefore, when I bid I look at all check in times and when the trip terminates. The last flight from Oakland to Los Angeles leaves at 10:00 p.m. every night. My ideal line/trip is one that checks in late; so, that I do not have to commute in the night before and a trip that terminates before 10:00 p.m.; so, that I can easily get home. Luckily, for the last 3 years I have been awarded trips that are very commutable and I have not had to pay for one hotel stay. So, I will happily layover in smaller cities like Midland, TX in order to hold a commutable trip.
Adam and Tommy, I asked a group night before last while having dinner in San Diego what they thought was our most popular overnight city. All agreed San Diego was a strong favorite. Spokane and Portland are also popular for it's scenery and seafood dinners. I had an overnight in Manchester, New Hampshire this week and the flight attendants were excited about visiting the LL Bean discount store! Our hotel also serves a great Lobster dinner. The airport McDonalds in Providence serves a lobster roll! Any city in Florida has a vacation feel about it. The size of the city doesn't matter. Since we often fly long days, we appreciate a city with a great hotel (expecially those with the special beds), good food, an up-to-date workout center, a room with a view, and my personal favorite - shopping and a movie theater. If we have family or good friends in a particular city, it's a great opportunity to visit while getting paid! Understand we often have short overnights where we become "slam clickers" - meaning we go to our rooms and order room service. While in San Diego I ran into a former Dallas flight attendant that is now Orlando based. It was great to visit with her. On longer overnights it's great fun to have several crews meet for dinner. Those with young children at home enjoy getting uninterrupted sleep!
Carole, a question about bidding, if you bid on a flight do you have to bid
on all of the segments or do you have to work all of them. An example, LUV 1581
is a four segment flight that starts in San Jose and ends in Spokane. Can you bid
on the first two (the part that go from San Jose to Las Vegas) or do have to bid on all of
it (all the way to Spokane).
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