Southwest 5 year...

[crjdude]

Southwest...

What can someone conservatively/realistically expect to make year 5?

Trying to sale the Wife on a change...

Thanks

 

[B6Driver]

She will be married to an older guy with a job hopefully by that time?

 

[redflyer65]

5th year FO pay is 114/per trip.

You can roughly use 100 trips a month as a general guideline.

100 X 114/per trip is $11,400 per month (or 137k per year).

There are plenty that fly their line and go home making the above or possibly less in Jan/Feb which are lean months.

If you live in base and want to pick up, the extra money is there. It's all personal choice. There is also plenty of soft credit available. You can easily turn a vacation month into high pay (130-140)...and still take your week off. Same with your training month. You just have to know the methods. You could easily make 150-160k per year if you wanted to. Again, plenty would prefer the days off to the pay. That's the flexibility you will have. Especially if you live in base.

Beyond pay, the retirement is really where you are going to change things vs. a regional. That and Profit Sharing. We need improvements in this area, but it's easy to say your retirement years will be substantially better here versus any regional. Same can be said for any of the big four airlines....hands down.

Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions. Or ask here..

 

[Clyde Frog]

I know this is not an answer to your question, but I would recommend going somewhere else.

 

[Continental]

I know this is not an answer to your question, but I would recommend going somewhere else.

What are upgrades times 15-17 years?

 

[General Lee]

Southwest...

What can someone conservatively/realistically expect to make year 5?

Trying to sale the Wife on a change...

Thanks

You'll "make" about 5,000 approaches, and 4800 landings, all over Texas by year 5.


Did that answer your question?


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[intooclose]

Please. I've flown small regional, large regional, LLC, and now Southwest. There is no comparison. It's the only airline I feel like I am treated like an adult....really. At 5 years you will make 130K/year, maybe more if you live in base. You should be able to max out your 401k to the IRS limits and get profit sharing(an extra 9.4% of your yearly gross this year). Great schedule flexibility....I almost always never fly the line I was awarded by choice. I like long legs with long overnights and fewer legs per day. There are plenty to choose. Vacation months are great. I can actually take my vacation off AND make more money....unlike at my previous airlines. People I fly with are great. Every pilot here truly wants to do a good job for their crew and customers and try to have fun doing it. If you are a motivated person and like to drink good beer or whiskey this is a damn good place to fly airplanes.

We have some issues, yes, but just think about the issues you deal with now. Regional flying is a young mans game.

 

[intooclose]

You'll "make" about 5,000 approaches, and 4800 landings, all over Texas by year 5.


Did that answer your question?


Bye Bye---General Lee

I've been based in HOU and DAL and I've never even been to Amarillo.

I'm a little weird in that I don't mind the 300/500s....without them I don't have a job. Last week I had a 25 hour overnight in PUJ. I really need to learn some Spanish.....man.

 

[slaquer5]

You'll "make" about 5,000 approaches, and 4800 landings, all to LBB by year 5.


Did that answer your question?


Bye Bye---General Lee

fixed it for you

 

[FurloughedAgain]

One man's trash is another man's treasure. I'll be the first to say that the rumors about this being the worker's paradise where management showers it's people with gold and adoration are greatly exaggerated. There are things that this company doesn't provide that every decent regional in the industry does... and it blows my mind sometimes.

That said, it's just a job. If your ego isn't wrapped up in what kind of airplane you drive, which seat you're in, or how much money you make its an ok place to be. Lots of time off and good schedule flexibility (once you're off reserve).

Not sure I would have come here if I had to make the decision all over again, but it's better than where I was before.... so I guess I'll gamble that they'll be around for a while and I won't have to deal with yet another furlough and starting over yet again.

 

[SIG600]

I've been based in HOU and DAL and I've never even been to Amarillo.

I'm a little weird in that I don't mind the 300/500s....without them I don't have a job. Last week I had a 25 hour overnight in PUJ. I really need to learn some Spanish.....man.

Don't eat anything down there that isn't cooked. Seriously.

 

[IslandDriver]

You can add about 5K to 6K to those figures for per diem. I know a lot of people don't call that money but I know that I only use about half on the road so it is something.

SWA is a fun place to work. Maybe not the best airline but I usually enjoy every trip I'm on. Not just the pilots but I enjoy the interaction with all the other employees.

Sure a 73 for life....but I honestly think it will still be here when I retire!

 

[shagadelic]

You can add about 5K to 6K to those figures for per diem. I know a lot of people don't call that money but I know that I only use about half on the road so it is something.

You need to drink more.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Per diem is not part of compensation. Don't be that guy.

 

[pilotyip]

Southwest...

What can someone conservatively/realistically expect to make year 5?

Trying to sale the Wife on a change...

Thanks

You will know at the end of your career if you made the right choice, doesn't matter if the decision is to stay at NJ, or got to SWA you will not know until you hang t up if it was a good move.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Per diem is not part of compensation. Don't be that guy.

Exactamundo

 

[DUBLINFLYER]

Where or what are eating if you don't use all your per diem (McD's)

 

[Whine Lover]

Per Diem most certainly IS compensation.

I have never understood the flawed argument that it is not.

I guess the account I have with 10's of thousand's of tax free dollars is just a figment of my imagination?

------------------------------------------------------------------

Any of you who care to donate those worthless, non-compensatory, Tax Free, per diem dollars to my account please PM at your leisure.





Whine

 

[PCL_128]

Per diem is not compensation. It is reimbursement.

 

[jonjuan]

Per diem is not compensation. It is reimbursement.

An over reimbursement IF you don't use it. Many eat healthy for less than $10/day (except ALPA management, that is.)

 

[PCL_128]

An over reimbursement IF you don't use it. Many eat healthy for less than $10/day (except ALPA management, that is.)

If you're eating on less than $10/day, then I'd hate to see what sh!t you're eating.

 

[Whine Lover]

Day 1:

Hotel Breakfast - Free

Lunch - Yogurt,Banana,Milk, PBJ sandwich. Free ( See above: "Breakfast" )

Dinner - ( bought at grocery store- prepared in Microwave)

- 1/2 roast chicken

- Steamed broccoli

- Fresh salad

---------------------
$ 7.00

---------------------

Day 2

Hotel Breakfast - Free.

Lunch - A/C Catering - Hoagie sandwich, salad, etc. Free.

Dinner - A/C Catering -Steak, pasta, vegetables, salad, etc. Free.

--------------------

$0.00

--------------------

Some variation of the above suffices in most cities.

You can eat fairly well and inexpensively on the road...unless you are either stupid , lazy, or all the above.

And no...McDonald's dollar menu is not an option.... just because you can eat krap for a buck a throw doesn't mean it's right.

My airline also has excellent catering and we can sometimes go for a few days without spending a cent on food.

My personal best was 5 days with no cost to me ...Followed by some nice dinners at Ruth's Chris etc. in Hong Kong, and still not spending all the previous 5 days P.D.

YMMV.

Whine

----------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. - I'm at home tonight and ordering pizza...$20.00.

No one is sending me a check for that next month. Looks like I'm out that $20...Oh, and another $43 I would have gotten in PD on the road. Oh, and another $40-$50 I could've written off my taxes next year.

I'll take a dollar of Per Diem over a dollar of ( taxable ) Direct Compensation... ANY time.

 

[mayoplane]

Still happy at SWA after 7 yrs. It's not for everyone and we don't get to sleep in bunk beds while on duty. I have never looked at friends at AA, DL, UAL or anyone and wished i could work there. NEVER! I also didnt worry that i was going to get laid off when an UA guy was facing the third furlough in 08.

 

[PCL_128]

Day 1:

Hotel Breakfast - Free

Lunch - Yogurt,Banana,Milk, PBJ sandwich. Free ( See above: "Breakfast" )

Dinner - ( bought at grocery store- prepared in Microwave)

- 1/2 roast chicken

- Steamed broccoli

- Fresh salad

---------------------
$ 7.00

---------------------

Day 2

Hotel Breakfast - Free.

Lunch - A/C Catering - Hoagie sandwich, salad, etc. Free.

Dinner - A/C Catering -Steak, pasta, vegetables, salad, etc. Free.

--------------------

$0.00

--------------------

Some variation of the above suffices in most cities.

You can eat fairly well and inexpensively on the road...unless you are either stupid , lazy, or all the above.

And no...McDonald's dollar menu is not an option.... just because you can eat krap for a buck a throw doesn't mean it's right.

My airline also has excellent catering and we can sometimes go for a few days without spending a cent on food.

My personal best was 5 days with no cost to me ...Followed by some nice dinners at Ruth's Chris etc. in Hong Kong, and still not spending all the previous 5 days P.D.

YMMV.

Whine

----------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. - I'm at home tonight and ordering pizza...$20.00.

No one is sending me a check for that next month. Looks like I'm out that $20...Oh, and another $43 I would have gotten in PD on the road. Oh, and another $40-$50 I could've written off my taxes next year.

I'll take a dollar of Per Diem over a dollar of ( taxable ) Direct Compensation... ANY time.

Yeah, that's still not compensation. You're just trading away convenience and good food for cheapness and pocketing expense reimbursement. The reality is that most airlines underpay for per diem. That's why you get a tax deduction for it at the end of the year.

 

[Whine Lover]

" You're just trading away convenience and good food for cheapness and pocketing expense reimbursement."

( Oh Man...! )

Well, perhaps you are not familiar with some of the above:

- Good Food ?

Breakfast at most International Hotels resembles something like you'd find at a top class Vegas hotel ....Smoked salmon, fresh vegetables, numerous ethnic/regional dishes, standard American fare, eggs, omelettes, etc cooked to order, cakes, pastrys, juices, health foods, meats , cheeses etc. , etc., etc.

Our catering is generally NOT the plastic box krap that most airlines serve..Many times it is local restaurants that provide specific meals to our request or the airline's request.

- Cheapness ?

Well, hmm...a schedule has you report in the A.M. and a delicious breakfast is available. You fly throughout the day and evening and most people don't care to wander off the aircraft in search of food when enormous amounts and numerous choices of really good things are available in the chiller just behind them. ( Also, wandering in Afghanistan in War Zones is ill advised. )

So, when you get back to the Hotel at 10pm ....you haven't spent a Red Cent on chow...Leaving you all that much more for those tasty cold beverages. (!)

OR....you can hit the rack because it was a long day, and bank the cash for some really good dinners/beverages in a day or two.

It's all about priorities...

Good Luck to you in all your future endeavors Sir!




WHine

 

[FurloughedAgain]

That is not the point. We are paid per diet to compensate us for travel expenses incurred while at work. In many cases we are reimbursed at lower than the federal rate for those cities, and can expense the difference on our taxes. This is no different than if you were a corporate pilot with an expense account. Regardless of what you spend, that money is earmarked for a purpose and is not compensation by design.

People who consider it to be compensation are devaluing the profession. The last thing we want is for management to start considering per diem part of compensation.

 

[Whine Lover]

"The last thing we want is for management to start considering per diem part of compensation."

CORRECT.

"People who consider it to be compensation are devaluing the profession."

Not entirely correct.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apples and Oranges

- Per Diem is INDIRECT Compensation.

- Wages/Salaries are DIRECT Compensation.

The two should never be mentioned in the same conversation as regards Total Compensation.

Pilot A at Airline X - Makes 90k annual wages and 5k in P.D.

Pilot B at Airline Z - Makes 85k annual wages and 10k in P.D.


Q - So, do they both make $95,000 / Year?


A - NO.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm too old and been doing this for too long to continue this discussion, so good luck to all.

Love,

Whine

 

[mayoplane]

Why are we even discussing this? I have always had more days off and made more money than a lot of my buddies at Legacies! Who cares about per diem!

 

[Whine Lover]

Why are we even discussing this?

Because pilots are, generally, functional illiterates ?




YKW

 

[T-1GUY]

Another Cheap AZZ Pilot...