Southwest Lifestyle

[MarshallPlexi]

Hey guys, I've just completed my Commercial Instrument rating and I'm considering becoming an airline pilot. I would like to work for Southwest Airlines as they are based here in DALLAS, TX.

My question is this. Since I'm a family man and am planning on getting married and having kids soon afterward, how much time would a pilot spend away from his family in this career?

Obviously this is a major downside to this career, but I would just like to know how bad this really is.

When does this start to get better? What is the pay like working for Southwest and when does the pay go up? Where does a career pilot with Southwest max out in pay?

Thanks guys!

[ojay]

What a coincidence, because strangely enough once I've completed my PhD. in Astro-physics I'm hoping to become an astronaut and eventually fly to Mars.My question is what impact do you think this will have on my family life?How many lay-overs can I expect on other planets and will my wife still recognize me with 3 heads oh and by the way,how much does NASA pay?

[spudskier]

http://www.jetcareers.com/

Real pilot for Delta ,real wife, tells it how it is. REALLY good site, describes commercial life as well as Corporate life, schools, very in depth.

[Myron Nelson]

I just clipped 11 years at SWA. Historically, SWA has always been decent paying but certainly not the highest. Our pay system is quite unique and hard to make comparisons to. We are also set up so that you can work as much or as little as you want.
Our system is more productive (more flying, less sitting around) than our peers and what that means is that working the same amount of days we will end up with more flying hours in a year. Most of us that doesn't bother, but a few get upset about that.
We also have a unique contract that uses stock options to supplement pay. I was real junior when the contract went into effect, but I can't complain. If I fly my normal line and sell a year's worth of stock options I make over 200K annually, working about half the days of a month.
One of the attractive things about SWA has been the relatively rapid growth which brings seniority and its quality of life.
The recent gains in compensation made by other airlines (if they don't have to give it back) have made some of our ranks testy, especially the junior ones who haven't done as well with the stock options. We certainly have improvements that we need to make, but I am confident that we will.
If you want long haul international in widebodies, then SWA would not be the best choice. I have about a two hour butt and short haul seems to make the day go faster to me.
I have studied a lot of airline contracts. There are nits and cherrys in every one. I am very happy that I chose to come to SWA and look forward to the next 17 years I have left as I am sure that there will be many improvements along with sterling job security. It is not always easy to leave the family and head out for a trip, but it certainly beats working for a living!
Good luck.

[TR4A]

Typical schedule is 3 on, 4 off if senior and 4 on, 3 off if junior.
If you commute then days off reduced. Upgrade is about 5 years.
Dallas is the most senior Captain base over ten years to hold it but might change with retirements. As a first officer you should be able to hold Dallas within the first year. Starting pay for F/O's is about $37.85/hour. The top pay for Captains right now is about $143/hour. Max 100 hours/ month, 1000 hours/year. Myron mentions stock options. Unless you were here when the contract was signed the junior pilots receive fewer options and a high strike price (ie not worth much right now).

Trip Rates X 1.15 = Hourly Rates (Roughly)


TRIP RATES
Year in
Service 9/1/2001 9/1/2002 9/1/2003 9/1/2004

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

F/O
1 $32.90 $33.89 $34.91 $36.65
2 $55.51 $57.18 $58.89 $61.84
3 $61.80 $63.65 $65.56 $68.84
4 $68.23 $70.27 $72.38 $76.00
5 $74.73 $76.97 $79.28 $83.24
6 $76.83 $79.13 $81.51 $85.58
7 $77.71 $80.04 $82.44 $86.56
8 $78.60 $80.95 $83.38 $87.55
9 $79.49 $81.88 $84.33 $88.55
10 $80.37 $82.78 $85.27 $89.53
11 $81.26 $83.70 $86.21 $90.52
12 $82.14 $84.61 $87.15 $91.50