SWA Quality of Life

[/flunkn]

Howdy All,

Just curious if anyone out there can direct me to a web site or something that lays out some basic info about a pilot’s life at SWA, specifically the first year.



Such as:

1. First year pay (ave. credit per month)

2. Health Insurance

3. Life insurance

4. 401k and/or DBP

5. Ave. Days off for Line holder

6. Ave. Days off for Reserve

7. Call out times for reserve

8. Length of Initial Training

9. Do they pay for Hotel during initial?

10. Junior Bases (time to expect to hold....say BWI)

11. Most Junior Captain

12. Uniform costs



Thanks ahead of time. I probably should have asked these questions at the interview but the only thing in my brain was TMAAT when....

 

[kelbill]

flunkn,

first off, good on you for getting the type rating. As for your requests, most of those questions shouldn't be asked at the interview because it implies you didn't do any homework, and hence we are just another company you are looking at, not really the top of the list. Here goes on the other stuff anyway.

1. First year pay (ave. credit per month)
$42.14/trip, guaranteed 85-89 trips/mo, but most newbies fly 100+. All trips picked up in extra fly/open time are at 2nd year rates of $71.11. Remember, we don't get paid by the hour, instead we get it by the trip, which usually equates out to 1.14hours/trip

2. Health Insurance
Multiple plans costing anywhere from $37.50/mo for my family and I with the HMO, to getting up to $50/mo back from the company for not getting any insurance.

3. Life insurance
Get to select up to 6xbase pay in group life coverage. $655,000 cost $39.40/mo. Spouse can get up to $150k, kids up to $20k.

4. 401k and/or DBP
No DBP. As for 401k, new hires are now included. Get to contribute up to 50% of salary, and company matches 7.3%. Don't forget profit sharing which historically averages about 10% of salary, though not quite as high last year. A couple other savings plans above the 401k for the high rollers, or folks who fly a lot and hence make a lot of dollars.

5. Ave. Days off for Line holder
For November, the average was 18 days, with 15 the low and 19 the high.

6. Ave. Days off for Reserve
For November, the average was 15, with 16 days of reserve, paying a min of 6.0 trips/day average, for 90 trips/mo.

7. Call out times for reserve
Be at the pilot lounge 2 hours after you hang up the phone.

8. Length of Initial Training
I forget exactly, but 6 weeks sounds about right.

9. Do they pay for Hotel during initial?
Yes, and you get paid $2500/mo or so while there. That was 4 years ago, so maybe you get paid more now.

10. Junior Bases (time to expect to hold....say BWI)
BWI, MDW, OAK. Time to hold depends on hiring. Could be immediate, could be 3-5 months. I was in MDW 4 months prior to PHX.

11. Most Junior Captain
Just saw 49,000 employee numbers in training list. 1998 or even early 1999 now should be upgrading.

12. Uniform costs
Depends on where YOU buy them. No uniform benefit. Leather jacket costs $350 or so.

Good luck

 

[/flunkn]

Thank you. That was fast. Enjoy the day.

 

[chase]

/flunkn

I'll answer some directly, others I'll ask that you do a search of the forum for threads specifically on "SWA compensation" that I have posted....threat author of Chase....there is quite a bit of info here, if you can't find it let me know. As to some of the most current questions

Such as:

1. First year pay (ave. credit per month)
$4200 a month (flying the avg... includes about $200 per diem...any hrs flown other than your own assigned lines are flown at 2nd yr rate $42 vs. $71...can really increase your 1st yr pay)
2. Health Insurance
PPO/HMO options....lots of variables...pm me with your email address & I'll send you a file that will explain all of the health, vision & dental programs)

3. Life insurance
Purchased in increments of one through 6 times your annual income for a pay out benefit....i.e. my premiums could be as a little as $18 for 1 yrs salary payout in case of my death or up to $110 for up to 6 times my annual salary for a death benefit
4. 401k and/or DBP
SWA has no defined benefit plans...we have a 401K that you can contribute & which the company will match up to 7.3% of your match up to the maximum level
This thread will have some of the answers....you can search under 401K, Southwest, http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=15865&highlight=401k+SWA
SWA has profit sharing as a form of retirement also. This thread will spell that out pretty clearly:http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=19405&highlight=401k+SWA

5. Ave. Days off for Line holder
Avg 16.5 days for line holders (just flying the line, not picking up)


6. Ave. Days off for Reserve
In a 30 day month, you'll work 15 days, off 15; in a 31 day month you'll work 16...on your off days you can fly if you so desire but are immune for junior callout by scheduling...any flights you pick up that scheduling does call (in case you signed up for extra fly) will be paid at $71 an hr vs. $41....nice incentive to fly extra!

7. Call out times for reserve
2 hrs from phone call to the lounge....scheduling may tell you to go straight to the jet but always go by the lounge & check the read file & get the latest pubs you need for your own protection...my suggestion only...SWA only has one type of reserve call out at this time

8. Length of Initial Training
4.5 to 5.5 weeks depending on whether you are in the first half of the class (older folks) or 2nd half...younger group are given several days off before sims since the capability to put everyone in the sim at the same time isn't possible without staggering out the group

9. Do they pay for Hotel during initial?
yes, wives are invited for the first two days...either at the Renainassce (sp) or comparable place...food discount at hotel of 50%...van transportation provided for free also...very nice digs

10. Junior Bases (time to expect to hold....say BWI)
recently folks have been going to OAK for the first month & then moving on to BWI or MDW right away....if classes aren't occurring right behind you that may slow a little but to get to BWI you'll be there within a couple of months most likely

11. Most Junior Captain 49000+ in CA upgrade...upgrades are taking on 5.5 yrs for the first opportunity to go to upgrade...to be a line holding CA to include reserve (we have lance CAs who are FOs who are in the top 8% of FOs but are CP qualified) is probably around 6 yrs

12. Uniform costs
deducted from your paycheck at $30 a pay perioud or you can pay upfront...5th & 20th are paydays at SWA(no interest)...leather jacket is around $400, coat is around $150, 3 pants at $80, + shirts (???, your choice), it will probably run you under a $1000

.

Hope that helps....good luck if you haven't met the decision board, if you have already & have gotten the call to continue then congrats. cheers

kelbill...you're too quick!!!! good info,

 

[/flunkn]

Thanks again, both of you! It really helps.

I did get the call to continue. During my interview prep period the more I learned of these “quality of life” items the more nervous I got. I couldn’t believe how awesome it would be. So I decided to focus on company history, financial stuff and being myself. SWA was not just another airline I was looking at, but convincing me SWA was the place to go took no more then a 2 minute conversation with a buddy of mine at SWA who said “Dude, remember what you thought being an airline pilot would be like? That is what it is like here.”. That was all the info I needed to be convinced. The rest of this information is for my wife (CEO of the family).
Thanks

 

[jhill]

pay in training was $3000/month 2 years ago and has gone up since then. Maybe someone who has recently started class will answer this. It's livable anyway. No per diem but they do feed you a couple of times during class and you get a good discount at the hotel.

 

[TR4A]

Training Pay
6. New Hire Pilot - A new hire pilot will be paid a line guarantee as per the following schedule. New hire pilots who start after the first of a bid period will have the line guarantee prorated through the remainder of the bid period based upon the number of days in the bid period.

31 Day Bid Period 89.0 TFP (89 X $42.14/Trip = $3,750.46)

30 Day Bid Period 87.0 TFP (87 X $42.14/Trip = $3,666.18)

28/29 Day Bid Period 85.0 TFP (85 $42.14/Trip = $3,581.90)

 

[SWA/FO]

wow you get paid to be in training!!! And you don't have to rent a double-wide (in ATL) while in training... oh, sorry that is the "professional airline".

 

[PTinbound]

Hey SWA/FO, careful about those doublewide remarks!

Anyway, back in my day when I started, (in March, when 1st year pay was only 37.65 a trip) I maxed out on just about all the bennies and took home $1300 twice a month. Now it's 42.14, and the base check on the 5th is a little over $1400. The 20th check includes per diem and overtime from the previous month, so the month AFTER your green line you'll start making more money on the 20th. Until then, your 20th checks are the same as the 5th. Since I've been online, my lowest 20th check was just under $2300 take home and my highest was over $3000 take home. Of course, I've been known to work my keester off trying to pick up second year pay as much as I can.

 

[mach zero]

I'm starting week 4 of initial new hire training tomorrow. Our entire class was assigned OAK. The fine folks from Crew Planning indicated to us that all newbies will be getting OAK for the next few classes (subject to change).

 

[Freddie Spencer]

Do you still have to provide the 737 type, or are they professional enough to give it to you when you upgrade?

 

[FatesPawn]

Do you still have to provide the 737 type, or are they professional enough to give it to you when you upgrade?

What are you talking about? Of course they give you your type rating. The only crappy thing is that all your tips come out of pocket. Unbelievable. They go through the trouble of getting you a personal driver and limo during your training, but they don't pick up the tips. I'm thinking about brining it up at my first SWAPA meeting. Hopefully, doublebreasted leather jackets will follow.

 

[Jim Smyth]

Well Freddie I guess we are still unprofessional then. Last I heard you can interview without the type (They keep chaging this) but will need it before your class date. Also preference is given to those already in possesion of the type. In the old days it was for insurance purposes because of the fast upgrade time. So I'm not sure why they still need it because as we continue to grow, it is getting to be a longer time frame sitting in the second best seat of the company. Chicago is running close to 6 years now. Other bases will be somewhat quicker at the 5 year point and the senior bases will take for ever!

 

[CF34-3B1]

What vendor does SWA use for the leather jacket? Is it Perrone?
If so, does SWA have a problem with someone who had the jacket from a previous employer just having Perrone swap the lining and velcro shoulder boards and name tags?

 

[T45Flyer]

CF-34,

Yes, SWA jacket vendor is Perrone. Bring your jacket to training. A DAL chief pilot will give it a look-see, if its still in decent shape, they will let you get the liner swapped over.

 

[SWA GUY]

That's what I did. It was $62.00 to have a new liner and new buttons added.

HC

 

[CF34-3B1]

Thanks for the info!

 

[akanodoz]

Rationale for Southwest's B-737 Type prerequisite

Relational facts:
As explained by a pilot recruiter in July: 95% of those currently getting called to interviews have it already. Not as much an insurance thing as an indicator of those who care enough to give their very best...WN is sittin' pretty enough to skim the cream. Her quote, more or less: "Right now we can still ask for everything in our applicants, and we're still getting those kinds of very strong applications." Wouldn't say it outright, but for the near-term, she did not make it sound like a Typeless resume would get you very far.

Experiential tale:
OBTW, just did mine and stroked the check with a smile on my face and no resentment at all.

Unsolicited twopenny thoughts:
It ain't cheap, but in the grand scheme $7360 seems a smart investment considering what it puts you in the running for...this assumes that the rest of the resume makes you viable, i.e. 1500 TT and a Type Rating may not make sense right now. It doesn't bother me at all that they want or require it - makes for a more dedicated, better-trained, and safer pilot group - which makes for a better airline. If that's a big problem, then there are a lot of other companies to send apps to.

Cheers,
AKANodoz

 

[Juan Tugo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Freddie Spencer
Do you still have to provide the 737 type, or are they professional enough to give it to you when you upgrade?


classy, Fred-o...

 

[AA717driver]

makes for a more dedicated, better-trained, and safer pilot group - AKANodoz

AKANodoz--I'll buy the first part, about seeing who is willing to do whatever to get the job. That's nothing new in the airline biz.

I've got a problem with the above quote. Just getting a type from a slam-bam-thankyouma'am school doesn't make you better trained or safer. That comes from a highly organized, structured and monitored training organization. That's why you still go to school at SWA.

Sorry to nitpick. SWA must be doing something right, to be that aggressive and have BUR as its only blemish is a hell of a record.

Have fun.TC