Also, you have to be aware that they process their apps received online in the order they are received. When I was furloughed from AA in 2003, I immediately put in an on-line app with Southwest. They contacted me for an interview 19 months later. I had been recalled to AA the month before.
Well there is no easy answer to this question,, here are two suggestions,,
#1- you could take the Air Tran approach,, that is just keep working for your current airline and hope that SWA buys it... there by entitling you to every year of seniority you have worked even though it was not for SWA,, demand your DOH and all the up grades in pay/benefits/ QOC(quality of career) , OK,, scratch that approach,, I think SWA will learn from this one,,may be another 17 years before they try it again,, or go apply at Air Tran as many of my co workers suggested to their friends,, you would be SWA when the dust settles
#2 I was told by a hiring committee person,, that do to FAA regulations and homeland security ,,blah blah blah,, airlines can no longer take on resumes for positions that dont need to be filled, this rule is the reason SWA can no longer take employee recomendations(BS)...so it is a watch and hope, when they open up the resumes make sure you get on the list.... I also heard that SWA will be hiring a decent amount next year as in 8-10 new hire flight attendant classes...
Remember that the last time they did it the computers crashed,, so be vigilant... The pilots opened theirs up for 1500 and got 7500 applications,, before the govt put their foot in SWA was recieving over 100,000 apps a year for flight attendant,,again that was told to me,,, so hang in there,, good luck,,