According to the last vacancy bid 2,532 pilots are based east of the Mississippi and 5,558 are based west. You can make a really good living in the right and get a decent QOL. If you don't care about QOL you can make Capt pay by about year 6-8 from the right seat. I really don't think there is another US carrier that enables you to do that as an FO. That part of SWAs model and the contract has impressed me the most. You are not going to fly to Paris in a 787 anytime soon. You are not going to beat a new hire at AA or DL to the left seat. But if you want to live in base on the west side of the Miss, get off reserve and make a few bucks. SWA is a good choice. If you want to get to the left seat or enjoy a first class meal, look elsewhere first (but still apply to SWA while waiting for that dream job!).