Southwest has 400 airplanes on order.
Jet Blue only has 350. JB currently only has 75 or so airplanes. Do the math.
Having to wait 5 years for your command is simply a lie or at the very least you are misinformed! You are probably looking at 12 to 18 months to command and you won't have to interview for that position either.
Having said that it will be on the EMB 170 and that only makes $80 an hour so that sucks!
Southwest in the highest paid narrowbody airline in the states right now and they top out at $200 an hour. That is after 12 years granted but they rarely work more than 14 days a month.
Everyone, and I do mean everyone loves working for those companies because they treat the employees with respect. The pay is not great especially when you start but that respect thing goes a long way. Something that can be learned in the sand but I keep forgetting that I am lucky to have a job or if I don't like anything I should just leave. Great management style! Goes a long way!