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

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 [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

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 [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

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 [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

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 [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

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 [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

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 [email protected] “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 [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

 Today's SWAPA Number is 13,561. That's the number of views the Aeromedical and Benefits committee page has received in the last 12 months. So that's roughly each Southwest pilot viewing it once per year, and as we just started open enrollment for 2025, what a better way to rehack that currency than a guided tour of that page and its contents.This is another audio visual presentation. So for those of you listening to this intro on one of our podcast platforms, click the links in the show notes so you can see the show, much like we did a couple months ago with the 401(k) presentation. This is something you're gonna want to see as well. We're going to walk you through all the resources that live on this page, and you'll leave fully informed about your choices for 2026.VIDEO LINK: 2025 Benefits EducationIf you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

In this week’s edition, Communications Committee Member Tony Mulhare discusses the SWAPA STD & LTD open enrollment period that begins next Monday and also points to the recent SWAPA Vice President candidate discussion that can be found on swapa.org. He also gives a summary of upcoming implementation items like Reserve ELITT and deadhead self-release.  He provides an overview of the footprint protection preference and how to select your preference to maximize pay or to protect a commute.  With the holidays coming up, this episode’s Q&A focuses on the C2020 vacation touches, ELITT restrictions, overrides and how to shift vacation to get a vacation overlap drop over a holiday.  As always, the show notes will point you to the applicable references in the contract.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

Today's SWAPA number is 11. That's the number of days that the SWAPA Open Enrollment period is available. That runs from October 13th to October 24th, and you have several decisions to make if you wish to change your STD and LTD elections.So today we are sitting down with Benefits Committee member, Tony Caparella, to talk about what we've learned after 18 months of the new benefits package from Contract 2020, the open enrollment period, and some recent experiences by our pilots out on loss of license.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737

Today's SWAPA Number is 1.32 million. That's the surplus amount that the 2025 budget should end the year with. And 2026 is also planned to be a surplus budget.So today we're sitting down with SWAPA's Second Vice President, Hank Ketchum, Internal Audit Committee Chair Andrew Rose and Finance Director Nia Williams to get an update on how we will finish 2025 and also give the membership some insight into the 2026 budget, which is up for our membership vote this fall.If you have any feedback for us at all, please drop us a line at [email protected] or tap here to send us a text.Follow us online:Twitter - https://twitter.com/swapapilotsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/swapa737