Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I believe the MD88 is a valid comparison with SW and should be the baseline aircraft. I don't however get the math on your pay raise numbers. Going into the contract our MD88 rate will be 168 an hour. The SWA rate will be around 212 an hour. We get 4 percent more DC so adjusted that is just over 174 an hour. It takes about a 21 percent raise to get to SWA if you use the MD88 as a baseline.
The reason you don't get it is because you're not making the same comparison I am. I'm looking at W-2. That is the metric that mostly determines the standard of living a pilot can provide for himself and his family. The DC contribution isn't a factor in that comparison. Also, I believe SWA pilots get a raise in between now and 2012 too. I'm making a comparison of how things stand today. Looking at 2012 shouldn't change the percentage much if any. The math is extremely straightforward. Our average rate (MD-88 and MD-90) for a 12 year Captain is currently $163. I am making the assumption that the average MD-88/90 Captain is flying 80 hours per month. I doubt it's any higher than that. From that point, it's a very easy comparison. The published number for
pay for an average SWA Captain (note: not a 12 year Captain, just an average SWA Captain) is over $230,000. To bring our MD-88 Captain making $156,480 up to $234,000 requires a 50% increase. Simple math. Apples to apples comparison of FLIGHT PAY.
Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I got a kick out of guys using the SW pamphlet to the Airtran guys picking parts and then miss representing them. Here is a example. SW lines average 12 to 13 days a month. Very true. Delta lines are about the same on average. Good ones are as few as 9 days bad ones 15 or 16. Then they state the average Captain makes 226,000 a year at SW. Also true. The problem is the average guy does not do that working 12 to 13 days.
Your "facts" are inaccurate, sailingfun. Here's what the "SWA pamphlet" stated. Compare it against what you just wrote. You're wrong.
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Industry leading B737 Pay Rates. SWA Captains average over $230,000 and First Officers average over $140,000.
Approximately the last five years, SWA pilots averaged 105 Trips For Pay (TFP) per month, or about 1260 TFP per year.
Approximately the last five years, SWA pilots averaged just over 18 days off per month.
Per Diem rates are among the highest in the industry: $2.15 per hour away from base.
SWAPA considers our Duty and Trip Rigs to be the strongest in the industry, as they protect pilot productivity and efficiency.
Minimum Daily guarantee is 6.5 TFP; Ex., a 3-day trip pays a minimum of 19.5 TFP.
Duty hour rig is .74 TFP per hour, minimum.
Reserve guarantee is 90 TFP per month; but actual
months pay average around 105 TFP.
Reserves are allowed to pick-up extra flying.
Holidays pay 150 percent.
Open Time trips pay up to 150 percent.
Junior forced assignment pays 200 percent.