SWA Expands its Expansion

[chase]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/business/1151927

More reasons to show why SWA is going to continue to grow. For those in the pool hang in there. More gates at more airports = more hiring. Hopefully all airlines will curtail the furloughs soon, everyone needs to get back to work, prayers to those who are struggling.

chase

 

[DLFLYR]

SWA Pay

I know this question has probably been posted before, but I'm gonna ask anyway. What is the SWA pilot pay scale? Is Oakland fairly easy to get for a newbe? Thanks in advance!

 

[dhampton]

Oakland base

I hear Oakland is an easy base for a junior guy/gal to get, it's the one I'm shooting for!

Last that I heard was Baltimore and Oakland were the two most junior bases.

Doug

 

[chase]

FIRST OFFICER
Year in
Service
9/1/94 9/1/99 9/1/00 9/1/01 9/1/02 9/1/03 9/1/04
1 $30.11 $31.01 $31.94 $32.90 $33.89 $34.91 $36.65
2 $50.80 $52.32 $53.89 $55.51 $57.18 $58.89 $61.84
3 $56.56 $58.25 $60.00 $61.80 $63.65 $65.56 $68.84
4 $62.44 $64.31 $66.24 $68.23 $70.27 $72.38 $76.00
5 $68.39 $70.44 $72.55 $74.73 $76.97 $79.28 $83.24
6 $70.31 $72.42 $74.59 $76.83 $79.13 $81.51 $85.58
7 $71.12 $73.25 $75.45 $77.71 $80.04 $82.44 $86.56
8 $71.93 $74.08 $76.31 $78.60 $80.95 $83.38 $87.55
9 $72.75 $74.93 $77.18 $79.49 $81.88 $84.33 $88.55
10 $73.55 $75.76 $78.03 $80.37 $82.78 $85.27 $89.53
11 $74.36 $76.59 $78.89 $81.26 $83.70 $86.21 $90.52
12 $75.17 $77.43 $79.75 $82.14 $84.61 $87.15 $91.50

These are "trip" pay rates. To convert to an hourly rate for comparison to other airlines multiply the specific "trip" rate by 1.189.

The most junior base changes but rotates usually between MDW, OAK & BWI.

There are other financial compensations one receives but this is the straight hourly rate. The two most prominent ones are profit sharing & stock options. Neither is immediately available to you. Profit sharing after 5 years & upon age 55, stock options are available but for new folks the returns on them won't come for many years.

For simplicity sake use the trip rate x the hourly rate adjustment to compare apples to apples. Hope that helps,

chase

P.S. 1st yr FOs fly at 2nd year rate when you pick up extra fly or open time. Living in domicile can make your pay go up quite a bit with this option. First yr salaries are advertised around $36K, mine was around $45K. My 2nd yr salary will avg around $80K. I do pick up extra & live in domicile. Good luck.

 

[DLFLYR]

Thanks guys! Now, how about getting me on with SWA (he he).

 

[Stump]

Captain Pay Rate?

Chase,

What are Captain Pay rates like? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Stump

 

[t1apilot]

DAL Base

Chase,

Any idea how long it takes to get into DAL as a domicile?
Also, how is the commute from DAL to OAK, MDW and BWI?

Thanks,

t1apilot

 

[RightBettor]

MDW info

Hello,

I cannot speak for OAK or BWI, but I can shed a little light on Chicago Midway. I used to work for another carrier out of MDW and we hauled a lot of SWA pilots out of DFW for their commute to Chicago. So between using SWA out of DAL and other carriers out of DFW (American Trans Air will allow use of any open seat for jumpseat purposes), I'd say MDW would be your best bet for commuting purposes from the Dallas area.

Bear in mind a couple other goodies about MDW:

1. You won't have to change time zones to commute (big PLUS there... ask any commuter who goes east-west.)

2. MDW is close to downtown and accessible via CTA trains. I think it was $1.25 to ride one way. Plenty to do in downtown Chicago.

3. Another commuting option is ORD (if you really need to use it to get to work). Then take the same CTA trains for $1.25.

4. Finally, you can walk to your crashpads... no need to have a car in Chicago... besides, you won't find parking on the streets around MDW anyway.

There is one drawback. Remember that "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" is from the south side of Chicago. He is THE baddest man in the whole d*mned town. Apparently he is badder than old King Kong and meaner than a junkyard dog. He obviously developed this temperament because he lived under the approach path of runway 31C at Chicago's Midway Airport, and he had to listen ATA's 727s flying overhead starting at about 0630. I hear Leroy Brown has mellowed out a bit, but I think it's because he's lost some hearing since the '70s.

Regards,
UAL737inLA

 

[SWA/FO]

All good UAL737inLA but the train now costs 1.50. Still a great deal. Crashpads are easy to find in MDW! I thought you were changing your name?

 

[RightBettor]

Yeah I know.

SWA/FO,

You're right I've been considering a new "handle," but I figured I'd wait until I am sitting in Dallas filling out a W-4 form.

How'd you like the reference to the Jim Croce song? I'm trying to be funny here guys... a little help please... wow, tough room. (crickets chirping in background)

UAL737inLA (how about "Joker")

 

[ivauir]

handle for UAL

You're right I've been considering a new "handle,"

a little help please... wow, tough room. (crickets chirping in background)

I dunno about "joker" - how about Jimminy?

 

[RightBettor]

OUCH!

Hey no heckeling on the interview board!! Say, that reminds me of a story: A guys walk into a bar carrying a frog...

Okay I won't use joker, and I'll spare y'all some of my lame humor.

Respectfully,
UAL737inLA

 

[t1apilot]

DAL Commute

UAL737inLA,

Dude,
Thanks for the great info.

T1apilot

 

[chase]

T1,

Sorry for the long delay in answering. In terms of seniority, OAK, BWI, & MDW hold the spot(s) for being the junior most base. This varies from month to month but generally out of any new hire class there are new hires that end up at each base. MCO isn't too far behind & then PHX, HOU. You won't get PHX or HOU directly out of the chute. To get to anywhere but HOU & DAL is likely within 3-4 months. To HOU it will take probably 5-7 months. DAL is running 18 months but that can vary a little obviously.

Crash pad discussions were pretty accurate for MDW. BWI isn't bad but MDW is probably the best due to the walking distance. OAK, no info, rough neighborhood I hear.


Stump, Sorry for the delay;

Capt pay. I'm posting the scale below:
3% 3% 5%
9/1/2001 9/1/2002 9/1/2003 9/1/2004


$109.68 $112.97 $116.36 $122.17
Yr 1
Yr 2 $111.02 $114.35 $117.78 $123.67
Yr 3 $112.37 $115.74 $119.21 $125.17
Yr 4 $113.71 $117.12 $120.63 $126.67
Yr 5 $114.97 $118.41 $121.97 $128.07
Yr 6 $116.41 $119.90 $123.50 $129.67
Yr 7 $117.74 $121.27 $124.91 $131.16
Yr 8 $119.09 $122.66 $126.34 $132.65
Yr 9 $120.44 $124.05 $127.78 $134.16
Yr 10 $121.77 $125.43 $129.19 $135.65
Yr 11 $123.12 $126.81 $130.62 $137.15
Yr 12 $124.46 $128.20 $132.04 $138.64


To get an hourly rate multiply the number by 1.189

Not applicable to this discussion but our Capts do receive more compensation than just this in the form of stock options. It gets too confusing to discuss & since no one on this site will be a Capt before the next SWA contract expires (Sept '04), to discuss the topic further is rather pointless in my opinion.

In terms of further negotiations with the company between the union & the company, let me just say they will begin anew here shortly. Just prior to 911 there was new tentative offer from the company to the union but the details have not been released. I'm pretty sure it involved an extension of the current contract & lots of options. We'll see what comes of it all in '02.

Hope that helps,

chase

 

[chase]

Posted on another web site.

DALLAS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - news), the No. 7 U.S. carrier, said on Tuesday it would take delivery of four previously deferred Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) airplanes and start two new routes as it cautiously resumes growth plans.
Southwest, the leading low-cost airline, was the only one of five major U.S. carriers last week to post a profit for the fourth quarter in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Unlike its rivals, Southwest did not cut back on its capacity in the form of available seat miles. It did, however, announce plans to defer delivery of 19 jets to conserve cash.

On March 10, Southwest will initiate nonstop service between Chicago Midway and Seattle with two daily round-trip flights. Also on that day, it will add a daily nonstop flight between Midway and Phoenix for a total of four daily nonstop round-trips in that market. On April 7, Southwest will initiate nonstop service between Chicago Midway and Oakland, California with three daily round-trip flights.

While the carrier considers itself still in a recovery mode, the airline said its performance since Sept. 11 provides ``the necessary foundation'' to take the four new planes.

***************

Also, rumor has it the ground instructor force is going from 50 instructors to 90! That can only mean they want more pilots too!!

Hang in there guys, the tidal wave is coming. For those already on their boards hang on, for those waiting to get on their boards, get on now, for those thinking of buying a board, spend the money ASAP, the waves are going to last for awhile, (God & Herb willing!) cheers,

chase

 

[Stump]

Thanks very much for the info Chase. Where'd you fly Hogs at?

Stump

 

[chase]

suwon, mbafb, pope, good to hear from you stump...where are you in the process?

hammer

 

[Stump]

Chase,

Same to you and thanks for all the great info you're putting out on this board. I know it has definitely helped me in my decision process.

I'm one year out and evaluationg options. Plan to get all of the reqs for SWA completed by this Jun/July and throw my name in the hat. We'll see how it goes. Thanks again. Hope to see you on the line some day.

Stump

 

[SentryIP]

OKC to MDW

Right Bettor,

Thanks for the info. I live near Oklahoma City and will try to commute to Chicago Midway. I'd appreciate any more info. Also, the People Department folks briefed there is a possibility of opening a base in Kansas City or Las Vegas. Has anyone heard more about this?