Southwest Airlines Pilot Open House

[SWA/FO]

yes, NO

6 years

1st year.....47000
2nd year.....84000
3rd year......103000
4th year......131000
5th year.......???

kicking myself everyday for my 7400 investment. Wish I would have held out for a real airline.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

Yes, SWA is a great (PFT) outfit. That is without a doubt.

Please tell us what training SWA does not have to do because new hires have a type. Believe it or not, SWA has had a few come into training without the type. Nothing diffeerent in their training except the upgrade PC was a type ride.

 

[SWA/FO]

Please tell us what training SWA does not have to do because new hires have a type. Believe it or not, SWA has had a few come into training without the type. Nothing diffeerent in their training except the upgrade PC was a type ride.

Not sure I agree with this statement - unless your talking about a new-hire instructor.

 

[VVJM265]

How long would it take a new hire to hold a line in Houston?

 

[Dewey Oxberger]

Back to the original subject. I was able to get the time off next month for the open house, but getting to DAL on a Saturday might be a little fun. Does SWA have CASS? Do you have to list ahead of time for the jumpseat?

 

[maxpwrset]

How long would it take a new hire to hold a line in Houston?

Like I stated above, I've been here about a year. I'm right on the edge of getting a blank line or reserve. 4 mos in HOU two on reserve, two with a blank line. I should be consistently holding a hard line in about another 2 months, so let's say 15 mos total from DOH.

 

[scoreboard]

Does SWA have CASS? Do you have to list ahead of time for the jumpseat?

Yes and they would like you to, but not required, first come first served. Best of luck..

 

[HalinTexas]

I'll be there. May have to leave a little early to get to work, but I'll be there. Anything to make the 4th time around :nuts: successful.

 

[lowlycfi]

Not the "Southwest is PFT" thread again.

 

[HalinTexas]

Before it gets started. Go to Airline Pilot Central and check 1st year pay. Most of your "Legacy" carriers' pay really sucks. And they're good carriers. Check out CAL. $27K 1st year. Tell me no one pays for their job one way or the other. Most teachers make a lot more money their first years.

 

[Truckdriver]

It's just nice to see that the bashers aren't bashing JBLU for a change.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

Not sure I agree with this statement - unless your talking about a new-hire instructor.

You do not have to agree. It is just fact. I believe everyone since '95 has had the type coming into the door. There were some with Morris that did not have the type.

 

[chase]

Background on "type" question

For the regulars this is old news but the "type" has been a requirement to have prior to showing up for the first day of training. The only persons this was waived for were a handful of individuals who were hired as flight engineers when SWA flew 727s from '84-'86 (they also flew 1 727 for a year in 1978, BN406 from Braniff as a part of a lawsuit settlement that they won against Braniff for unfair business practices). These FEs were allowed to start training as an FO without a type but when they went to Capt upgrade simply went through a modified "type" course.

"Types" were a requirement for applying until late summer of 1999 when the need for pilots was such that SWA lifted the requirement for a type prior to applying....it never lifted the requirement for showing up for training. It was subsequently re-instated for a short period of time in '02 (maybe off slightly with the timeframe, my apologies SWA PD!) & then after some reflection decided to lift the requirement for applying.

I've been told SWA is currently calling only persons with type....why? The need to get pilots into the pool quickly doesn't permit the luxury of interviewing persons without types since those individuals aren't immediately available to come to SWA as quickly as those who already have the type. Will this unofficial requirement last long? Certainly not. However, circumstances require a different response time...SWA is responding with a solution.

It does show the advantage of having a type already in hand versus those who don't. SWA has certainly selected people in the past who haven't had the type but in this case, time is of the essence & since there are plenty folks with types to choose from, it must make sense from the Company's standpoint to exercise this option.....afterall it is their airline ! Good luck to all.

 

[400pilot]

I've been told SWA is currently calling only persons with type....

Not true....I interviewed this week and do not have a 737 type. There were a handful of other guys that didn't have one either.

 

[xcrjdriver]

I too interviewed with out the type. Got the call this week to continue on in the hiring process. Told I have 6 months to get my type, already knew that. They made it sound that the sooner I get it the sooner I will get a class.

 

[falcon20driver]

Big slick,

As a SWA Captain, my W-2 for 2005 showed a gross salary of $247,000. $30,000 of it was due to exercizing stock options. Yes, about every other month I did pick up an extra easy turn or two or listed myself for premium pay flying on a few days. Usually I was flying a new -700 which very much reminds me of the 757 I flew at a previous carrier. I enjoyed this pay while probably flying fewer days last year than any other passenger carrying airline pilot not on reserve. Many of my days are only two legs across the country or a one leg BWI-SAN or easy SAN-OAK-SEA. All this with little concern for my job security or worry about being downgraded and while working with happy co-workers. When I check in for a trip I hear talk of fishing trips, new homes, or the congratulations for a guy who's going to upgrade instead of listening to bitching about the next pay give-back or furloughs as my cohorts at most other airlines have to do. My buddy who came over from USAir is even embarrased to tell his friends back at USAir how good it is to fly at SWA because he hates making them feel bad. He just tells them "it's ok". With all this, I have little concern that I fly "the guppy" but another buddy who some years ago also said he didn't want to fly the "guppy" the rest of his life went to UAL even though he could have come to SWA and he now admits he wouldn't care what he flies if he had what I have. He's getting worked to death at 70% my pay rate and wonders what notice he'll find in his mailbox each week he goes to work informing him what benefit he'll have to give up next.

Nice post

 

[Tomct]

I am going to be there with bells on!! Would LUV to get the call for an interview!

 

[Bake]

I believe that is true. The sooner you get the type the quicker you get to start class. Spoke to someone in the G.O. that said they are having a hard time filling the June classes. Times are good right now.

Bake

 

[chase]

They have called folks recently, but the folks they are "currently" called (I've been told) only have types....again my information is not directly from the PD folks but from what I've heard. Hope I didn't confuse folks,

 

[canyonblue]

Not the "Southwest is PFT" thread again.

Hey Lowly, caught the "Curr Position: CRJ F/O". Congrats on the upgrade!
:beer:

 

[jwes]

Back to the original post

To go to the information gathering is something nobody should miss if they are interested in a career in SW I think this would be better than any AirInc. or Higher Power info meet... Not nocking either one.... Just your on their home turf and many relationships could happen-!!

I just interviewed and I realize I can't interview again for a year but I want SW to know that I'm serious about getting on with them and perhaps I may meet (make) new friends... I'm all about it. Keep on Keepin on.... Wes

 

[jwes]

And yes

And yes the way it was originally posted you would think this was a flamer. I think they're just trying to get the info out... or not, either way they did and that's whats important...

 

[satpak77]

They have called folks recently, but the folks they are "currently" called (I've been told) only have types....again my information is not directly from the PD folks but from what I've heard. Hope I didn't confuse folks,

buddy of mine who interviewed within the last 90 days did not have a type, I know this for a fact.

 

[temcgrew]

Thanks for the link, I knew about it but didn't know about the RSVP deal.

No suits or ties, or uncomfy shiney shoes!!! I'm there!

 

[lowlycfi]

Hey Lowly, caught the "Curr Position: CRJ F/O". Congrats on the upgrade!
:beer:

Thanks dude! I don't miss slingin' drinks and peanuts for a living but I do miss everything else about working for SWA (1-2-3 comes to mind). Hopefully I'll see you in a few years! Keep in touch.

 

[Turbojet]

Yeah this is such a lousy outfit, cant believe people would ever pay for a type to work here...

A few stats: (PHX BASE)

For June, average days off for F.O. line = 16.87. High were 19 off, low were 15 off. Keep in mind this was a "short" month. Only 30 days in June. Normally 31 day months have lines with 20 days off....that just sucks.

For June, average line pay (per trip) was 96.35. High was 109.67, low was 87.0

Reserve pilots only work 15 days a month every month (so either 15 or 16 off) and pay gaurantee is 90 trips.

(Contract)

Trip Rig- 6.5 Trips per day average (ie a three day cant pay less than 19.5)
Daily Rig- 5 Trips per day (each day worked must pay at least 5.o trips)
Duty Rig- .74 Trips per hour of duty (10 hours of duty pays 7.4 trips)
All rigs are used and apply when calculating pairing pay.

Second year pay is $74.49 per trip until September then $77.45
Third year pay is $82.93 per tirp unitl Sep. then $86.22
Fourth year pay is $91.56 then in Sep $95.18
Fifth year pay is $100.28 then in Sep. $104.26
Sixth year pay is$103.09 then in Sep. $107.19

Assuming upgrade in year seven pay goes to:
Seven year capt. pay $ 158.00 then in Sep. $164.26

This continues to go up until year 12 where it caps at:
12 year capt. pay $167.02 then in Sep. $173.67

I plan a personal average of 105 trips a month which can be done by flying my schedule, swaping a 3 day for a 4 day once a month or by just trading low paying 3 day trips for better paying 3 day trips using ELIT. I still average 17 days off a month.

Using a 105 trip average and $600 a month in perdium and the September rates you can expect to earn:

Year 2 - $ 104,787
Year 3 - $ 115.837
Year 4 - $ 127,126
Year 5 - $ 138,567
Year 6 - $ 142,259
UPGRADE
Year 7 - $ 214,167
Year 12 - $226,024

401K 7.5% match appllies to all pilots even probation pilots in first year.

Profit sharing after working a complete callender year, and paid folowing September.

Now dumb pilot, go back to flipping burgers and keep dreaming of the good life.

 

[CaptainMark]

Then again, flying at night for the rest of my career (Hopefully not much longer) is not for me either, so that knocks off FedEx and UPS. One less resume to compete, right?

that's right...but fedex is mostly day flying now...1 leg in and 1 leg out(mem-ind-oak-lax-afw), transcons...most.. not all...international is mostly day flying as well...the mail contract brought a huge amout of day flying....i fly mostly days and i am a junior bus captain and with over 23 years to go i will gladly do that the rest of my life...paid for over 1000 hrs a year and block about 290....take it all week and twice on sunday

 

[chase]

Satpak,

You are correct, there are folks without types that have been called....it is obviously causing confusion so disregard all of my previous comments.......they are calling folks with & without types, in the past, present & future....that should settle the masses....was just trying to put out "what I heard" about future calls (June & beyond), not what had been done this month or last 90 days...I've been wrong before & probably will be shown to be this time also....back to other matters.

 

[satpak77]

Satpak,

You are correct, there are folks without types that have been called....it is obviously causing confusion so disregard all of my previous comments.......they are calling folks with & without types, in the past, present & future....that should settle the masses....was just trying to put out "what I heard" about future calls (June & beyond), not what had been done this month or last 90 days...I've been wrong before & probably will be shown to be this time also....back to other matters.

hey no prob, just wanted to put it out there. Oh yeah, he got the thin letter.

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

Yeah this is such a lousy outfit, cant believe people would ever pay for a type to work here...

A few stats: (PHX BASE)

For June, average days off for F.O. line = 16.87. High were 19 off, low were 15 off. Keep in mind this was a "short" month. Only 30 days in June. Normally 31 day months have lines with 20 days off....that just sucks.

For June, average line pay (per trip) was 96.35. High was 109.67, low was 87.0

Reserve pilots only work 15 days a month every month (so either 15 or 16 off) and pay gaurantee is 90 trips.

(Contract)

Trip Rig- 6.5 Trips per day average (ie a three day cant pay less than 19.5)
Daily Rig- 5 Trips per day (each day worked must pay at least 5.o trips)
Duty Rig- .74 Trips per hour of duty (10 hours of duty pays 7.4 trips)
All rigs are used and apply when calculating pairing pay.

Second year pay is $74.49 per trip until September then $77.45
Third year pay is $82.93 per tirp unitl Sep. then $86.22
Fourth year pay is $91.56 then in Sep $95.18
Fifth year pay is $100.28 then in Sep. $104.26
Sixth year pay is$103.09 then in Sep. $107.19

Assuming upgrade in year seven pay goes to:
Seven year capt. pay $ 158.00 then in Sep. $164.26

This continues to go up until year 12 where it caps at:
12 year capt. pay $167.02 then in Sep. $173.67

I plan a personal average of 105 trips a month which can be done by flying my schedule, swaping a 3 day for a 4 day once a month or by just trading low paying 3 day trips for better paying 3 day trips using ELIT. I still average 17 days off a month.

Using a 105 trip average and $600 a month in perdium and the September rates you can expect to earn:

Year 2 - $ 104,787
Year 3 - $ 115.837
Year 4 - $ 127,126
Year 5 - $ 138,567
Year 6 - $ 142,259
UPGRADE
Year 7 - $ 214,167
Year 12 - $226,024

401K 7.5% match appllies to all pilots even probation pilots in first year.

Profit sharing after working a complete callender year, and paid folowing September.

Now dumb pilot, go back to flipping burgers and keep dreaming of the good life.

I think I'm in LUV.