First year SWA guys.

[dmahurin]

Now that the W2's are here, can some of you first year Southwest guys tell me how the first year ended up. I am interested in working for Southwest. I am corporate with a pretty good job (for corporate). I work long and hard and would have to do that at Southwest early on to keep up the lifestyle these teenage daughters require. These house trailer payments aren't cheap. I here some of the Southwest pilots are able to afford the doublewides with the bay window option. I can only dream.

 

[Jim Smyth]

Some of the guys have posted on the other thread there W2 earnings. But most that I had seen were like in there third year pay and pulling down in the range of 100K. Below is the graph thats on our union web page. You can legally fly 1000 hours per year if you wish so its all how much you want to work/commute in the beginning. Also any extra flying in your first year is paid at second year rates so that helps and adds up quickly. You could without much trouble make 110 trips per month at the rates below.

SWA FO Pay

Year 1. $42.14
Year 2. $71.11
Year 3. $79.16
Year 4 $87.40
Year 5. $95.72
Year 6. $98.41

Most guys upgrade right now in the 6 year window. 6 years now currently because of the company stagnating after 9-11 for a year but we had historically run about a 5 year upgrade cycle and I can see us getting back to that soon.

 

[Indapool]

You can knock down 70K year 1...110K year 2

It's up to you how hard you want\need to work

 

[commode Air]

"working hard" is really how hard? I know you get 15 days off minimum a month. now me, i want to make at least 60k my first year. That is TWICE what i make know as a regional captain on a 1900. Now can I make that picking up 2 extra trips a month, or will I have to pick up more? Also being in Oakland is it easy to pick trips up out there? Can you pick up day trips? also, what is the average pay per trip you pick up. Meaning are day trips like 500 dollars avg, and 2 day $1000 avg etc... I know nothing is in stone but what are the averages? Thanks.

 

[jhill]

"working hard" is really how hard? I know you get 15 days off minimum a month. now me, i want to make at least 60k my first year. That is TWICE what i make know as a regional captain on a 1900. Now can I make that picking up 2 extra trips a month, or will I have to pick up more? Also being in Oakland is it easy to pick trips up out there? Can you pick up day trips? also, what is the average pay per trip you pick up. Meaning are day trips like 500 dollars avg, and 2 day $1000 avg etc... I know nothing is in stone but what are the averages? Thanks.

Yea, sorta. Depends on the trip. If you pick up open time from the company or are on the Extra Fly list, you get second year rate (71.11). A normal turn (day trip) pays between 5 and 9 Trips For Pay. Trip pay varies greatly in open time because rigs don't apply but expect 10 to 14 TFP for two days in open time.

If your a line holder (you will be soon around here) you can also increase your pay by trading trips in open time. 3 day for a 4 day sort of thing.

The work is there if you are willing to be available when it is. It all depends on your flexibility. Me, I'm lazy and I made about 60K year one.