Hi everyone...I keep reading these threads and it seems like in every one there is someone asking about the pay, schedules, or other things about a newbys life at SWA. I am an April 2003 hire, and can shed a little light on it, I think. Since the pool is going to start draining quickly, (according to a CP on my 7 month review), maybe it will help ya'll plan for the greatest job ever.
First of all, let me say this is the best job I have ever had. This is my 5th airline, so I have a fairly good perspective, (unless I had an incredibly unlucky streak leading up to here), either way, it is great, and worth treading water for.Do whatever you gotta do to get here, then trust me, you'll love it
First of all, the most imortant thing -- pay and schedules.
I bring home right at $1400 on the first check (on the 5th of the month) and around $2000-2500 on the 20th. The check on the 5th is a fixed amount, and varies among my classmates due to State income tax withholding, etc. The pay on the 20th is the same plus any extra flying you did in the previous month, per diem, etc. I don't fly very much extra, being a commuter. There are ways of making more, but you have willing to sacrifice quality of life, and be available in domicile to really work the system. I have little ones at home, so I have to be available at home certain times to give momma a break, and that precludes extra flying sometimes. I am probably about average, I know first year guys who make more, and some that work and make less. Second year pay is about double those amounts.
On reserve, the minimum days off is 15. The schedule or reserves is typically 3 blocks of 4 days, and a block of 3 days. You have to be available in domicile, and typically, I wind up flying every reserve day. This changes, according to staffing, and I am sure will change when the hiring starts... I have been told when the reserves don't fly much, more senior guys bid the reserve lines so they can stay home, but when the reserves are flying a lot, as they are now, the reserve lines go junior. Commuting on a reserve line is a hassle, but do-able. There are crash pads available, Chicago is the best, from what I hear. The last class hired in 03 is stuck in OAK, on Reserve, and they collectively rent a hotel room each month. I think it costs each guy around $200, but it has van service, etc. Oakland is the most JR, then Chicago, Phx, BWI.
The initial newhire class is great, as is every department I have been exposed to. We had guys have babies, get married, etc etc, and everyone here wants to help. The CP's are great at doing anything they can to help a newhire... That's just my opinion, but after 7 months, there has been nothing to disillusion me.
Last, this thing about the union, and holding up hiring till later in the year.. blah blah blah. I think you'll be here sooner than later. realize, there is not a single guy at Southwest, from the most senior, on down, that doesn't want more guys underneath him. There are factors, like lead time it takes to put a new guy on line (about 7 weeks for me), and the ability of the training dept. to train the numbers that are required next year (400+ over a year isn't bad, but try to cram them all in the last 6 months, and you are asking for problems) that they look at. Again, I think it'll start sooner, rather than later, but again, thats just IMHO. I look forward to ya'll getting here, and hope this post helps a little..... dad
First of all, let me say this is the best job I have ever had. This is my 5th airline, so I have a fairly good perspective, (unless I had an incredibly unlucky streak leading up to here), either way, it is great, and worth treading water for.Do whatever you gotta do to get here, then trust me, you'll love it
First of all, the most imortant thing -- pay and schedules.
I bring home right at $1400 on the first check (on the 5th of the month) and around $2000-2500 on the 20th. The check on the 5th is a fixed amount, and varies among my classmates due to State income tax withholding, etc. The pay on the 20th is the same plus any extra flying you did in the previous month, per diem, etc. I don't fly very much extra, being a commuter. There are ways of making more, but you have willing to sacrifice quality of life, and be available in domicile to really work the system. I have little ones at home, so I have to be available at home certain times to give momma a break, and that precludes extra flying sometimes. I am probably about average, I know first year guys who make more, and some that work and make less. Second year pay is about double those amounts.
On reserve, the minimum days off is 15. The schedule or reserves is typically 3 blocks of 4 days, and a block of 3 days. You have to be available in domicile, and typically, I wind up flying every reserve day. This changes, according to staffing, and I am sure will change when the hiring starts... I have been told when the reserves don't fly much, more senior guys bid the reserve lines so they can stay home, but when the reserves are flying a lot, as they are now, the reserve lines go junior. Commuting on a reserve line is a hassle, but do-able. There are crash pads available, Chicago is the best, from what I hear. The last class hired in 03 is stuck in OAK, on Reserve, and they collectively rent a hotel room each month. I think it costs each guy around $200, but it has van service, etc. Oakland is the most JR, then Chicago, Phx, BWI.
The initial newhire class is great, as is every department I have been exposed to. We had guys have babies, get married, etc etc, and everyone here wants to help. The CP's are great at doing anything they can to help a newhire... That's just my opinion, but after 7 months, there has been nothing to disillusion me.
Last, this thing about the union, and holding up hiring till later in the year.. blah blah blah. I think you'll be here sooner than later. realize, there is not a single guy at Southwest, from the most senior, on down, that doesn't want more guys underneath him. There are factors, like lead time it takes to put a new guy on line (about 7 weeks for me), and the ability of the training dept. to train the numbers that are required next year (400+ over a year isn't bad, but try to cram them all in the last 6 months, and you are asking for problems) that they look at. Again, I think it'll start sooner, rather than later, but again, thats just IMHO. I look forward to ya'll getting here, and hope this post helps a little..... dad
SWA Guppy wanabe
