Newby life at SWA

[Falconjet]

Zymotic: I think the short answer to your question is yes, the guys who make closer to 60K are working extra trips. They are also dropping trips at first year pay to pick up trips at second year pay to further increase their pay, which seems like a no brainer if you can do it.

Hope I didn't mischaracterize anybody's repsonses.

FJ

 

[Flash 7]

As a Second year FO what are extra trips worth 1.5 Times your rate? Third year pay?

 

[OakRBust]

Flash...


I am not sure what you are asking but...

Secon year pay is 63.53

Next september it goes to 70 and change.


One bummer about the system is that the pick ups at second year pay only count for probies. If you pick up anything after year 1 it is at straight pay.


After first year, the only way to make extra $'s per trip is to sigh up for JA or VJA. Junior Available and Voluntary JA. On these trips you get 1.5 TFP. The bummer is that you can't refuse these trip when called unless you let them go to voicemail. When you call back a VJA you can refuse the trip. If you call back a JA they got ya. It still is a really good deal.


Back to extra fly in your first year. If they call you for a three TFP turn you can refuse it no questions asked.

One extra note, when you are on reserve they cannot JA you!

Oak

 

[Flash 7]

Thanks OAKRBUST!

That answers my Question

 

[GogglesPisano]

What is "Pilot Aid?"

 

[SWAdude]

OakRbust

Its the other way around....You can call back the JA without obligation....VJA call back and your at schedulings mercy.

Just a small point...you only sign up for VJA. JA is for everyone if they catch you.

Dude

 

[zymotic]

Thanks for the explanation. I have a question about second year pay for probies. Do you receive second year pay when you pick up trips others have dropped or just for MOT and DOT? What about for LITT and JA? I know VJA is time and a half which is less that second year pay.

Also, how risky is it if you hold a line to drop all of it if possible and pick up whatever time pays second year pay? Do you run the risk of losing your scheduled trips but not picking up time and ending up with very little flying or is that scenario somewhat rare?

 

[T1bubba]

Second year pay is for any trips picked up in monthly open time, daily open time, or extra fly. LITT and trip trade/give away pay normal first year rates. VJA and JA pay 1.5 first year rates which as you mentioned is less than second year pay.

As far as dropping your line to pick up second year trips, it depends. Unfortunately the easier it is to give away your trips the harder it is to pick up at second year pay (the reason people are more likely to take your trips is the lack of daily open time). This is especially true on reserve, as some folks might pick up a reserve trip hoping to not get called only if there's nothing in DOT. I've almost gotten myself in trouble when someone took a four day reserve block from me the night before it started because there was nothing in open time. I ended up being able to get some extra fly, but for a little while I thought my pay for the month was going to drop by 25%.

As long as you have a big enough block of time off and are willing to fly the entire weekend you should usually be able to find something to pick up. I opened up a three week hole in my schedule last month and picked up a four day and two three days over the weekends. The hardest part is giving away your trips.

T1

 

[zymotic]

Very informative. Thanks!

 

[SWAbigdaddy]

OK, i'm normally a reader and not a poster.
Also i'm going to catch hell from all the SWA folks:

Disclaimer: SWA is a great company and a great place to work.

I am in my second year at SWA and its not for me. The reasons people like this place are the same reasons i don't. I like flying big airplanes to international locations while eating lots of crew meals. I like longer trips and longer blocks of days off. I like to do stuff on lay overs besides pounding beers and flying 12 hours later.
I know a few people here that feel the same way as i do with various aviation backrounds. Once you expand your world it's hard to go back. I thought i would love it here, but i was wrong. I wish someone made me think twice about coming here. Before you come, ask yourself long and hard if you want to fly domestic 737s for the rest of your career. There is just a lack of adventure for me.

This is not a flame, just my view.
SWA is Great, don't get me wrong, it's just not for everyone!!!

 

[GLIB2]

Bigdaddy,

Have you seen those US Navy commercials "The adventure of a lifetime" or something like that. You go Navy and I'll take the domestic 737 job off your hands.

 

[SilentDave]

mmmmm beer good!

 

[vx9.tc]

2nd year pay

Just a little thought or two on geting that 2nd year pay.

I understand the concern you have regarding giving away your whole line as a first year guy, but consider these thoughts.

Approximately 53 trips at second year pay is enough to replace 90 trips of first year pay.

There may be a lack of DOT, but if the reserves are being utilized, then there are opportunities to fly for second year pay.
Any trip assigned to a reserve, that you're legal for, is yours for the taking at EF rates (2nd year pay.)

Nobody will take a 4 day block of reserve! Well then if you don't get used the first day, put the last 3 days in as a partial giveaway. You can create the Partial GA during the first day RAP but nobody can pick it up until your first days RAP is complete. Continue this process with the remaining days as the RAP each day ends. Especially if you see something assigned to a reserve that you'd be legal for if only you were not on reserve. I assure you there are plenty of guys that live in domicile that will pick up the last day of a RSV block, and a fair number that would roll the dice for your last two days especially if when they pick it up there's nothing yet assigned. You guys could even help eachother out by taking your buddies last day(s) of reserve if it makes him legal for a nice 2 day assigned to another reserve. Although the day you pick up from him will only be at straight pay maybe he'll return the favor next month.

We've all been members of some great teams in the past there's no reason to abandon all that great training because we're new to this job. Talk to eachother, figure out how things work here and get some of that 2nd year pay!

If you're no longer on first year pay see if you can't lend these guys a hand. Pick up a RSV day if you live in domicile. So what if they use you, you're getting 6 trips min. Check TT/GA on a day off vice outbidding a first year guy in DOT.

 

[Torpid]

I have 15% taken out for my 401k, I pay an extra $30.00/month for extra life insurance, $60.00/month for uniforms, $20.00/month for "pilot aid" and $25.00 per month for medical/dental

InHot, Is this a misprint? Are you only paying $25 per month for both medical and dental? Do you have a plan with some sort of huge deductable? I am currently paying over $200 per month for a PPO plan ($15 co-pay, $200 deductable per family member) and dental.

 

[InHot]

No, not a misprint, just great benefits.

PPO employee + children is $9.00/month ($15 copay $150.00 deductible per person per year to max of $500.00 per family per year).

Basic dental for employee + family is free.
I took the optional dental ($16.00/month) since I knew I had some crowns to be done this year.

The optional pays 80% for crowns vs 50%
with the basic plan.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I am in my second year at SWA and its not for me. The reasons people like this place are the same reasons i don't. I like flying big airplanes to international locations while eating lots of crew meals. I like longer trips and longer blocks of days off. I like to do stuff on lay overs besides pounding beers and flying 12 hours later.
Before you come, ask yourself long and hard if you want to fly domestic 737s for the rest of your career. There is just a lack of adventure for me.

You have just described what ATA is about (757 and especially L1011 flying).

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

That is incredible

Torpid-

I have to pay $900 a month at my current job for a family of 5 PPO with $200 deductible and no vision or dental. All that and my after tax take home (before healthcare) is only 2800 a month!

Good news. I complained to the head honcho and they lowered the employee share to only $450 a month.


SWA is still way better no matter how you slice it.

SWABigDaddy-

Thanx for the perspective. I think people make decisions based on other peoples values alot. (ie: get out of the military cause all the airlines are hiring and paying big bucks. Stay at some job they hate cause it pays the mortgage.) It is nice to hear something besides all the sunshine occasionally.

I also love to fly international and like to change planes every few years. But I still wouldn't pass up an opportunity to fly for SWA. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side!


Perhaps you can't fly international at SWA. But, last time I checked the employee web site SWA was giving away some great European ski vacations for a song. You would fly international and have a long lay over, but you'd be on vacation with your honey instead of just jet lagged in the crew bus awaiting your return trip.


-LFD

 

[Slug]

401K

Do the probies get to contribute to the 401K?

Yes, company matches first 7.3%.



Slug

p.s. Happy Thanksgiving

 

[Yahtzee]

I like flying big airplanes to international locations while eating lots of crew meals. I like longer trips and longer blocks of days off. I like to do stuff on lay overs besides pounding beers and flying 12 hours later. Once you expand your world it's hard to go back. I thought i would love it here, but i was wrong. I wish someone made me think twice about coming here. Before you come, ask yourself long and hard if you want to fly domestic 737s for the rest of your career. There is just a lack of adventure for me.

Dude,

We need to trade jobs! I may have just what your looking for.

I fly a big airplane (585K max T/O weight)...we get lots of long trips (two to three weeks at a time) to international locations (mostly to places where folks are getting killed daily), and have plenty to do on my layovers (like laundry or sleep after a 23 hour mission).

If you could sell your line number on E-Bay for all the cash I have, I'd gladly use the "Buy-It-Now" Option.

Sorry to hear you don't like it at SWA. ATA may be the place for you. I know a few folks there who love it and they have 737-800s and 757-300s...great company from what I've heard. Seriously...you make a good point and thanks for having the guts to write what you did. I hope you find what your looking for.

As for me, yes domestic 737s for the rest of my life is exactly what I want! (That, a deactivation of my unit, and a win over GA Tech this weekend.)

Hunker Down Hairy Dawgs!

Yahtz

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...especially to all the Soliders, Sailors, Marines and Airmen serving our country so we can have choices! May God be with them!