Just checked my year 1 W-2 and I made $21,500. I'm sure my take home was less than that after buying my bag, uniform, headset and chart bag. So glad to see that first year pay has kept up with inflation like the rest of our wages.

Is the advert a little extreme? Maybe. But no less than XJT claiming to have the best flow through to the majors or any of the other flat out lies that recruiters will tell enthusiastic CFI's to get them in the door. There are lots of things to be critical with ALPA in regards to how they treat the regionals, but I don't see this as one of them. Why do you think SW is wanting to raise first year pay so bad? They want to be able to have some reason to show they are different and offset the fast upgrades and signing bonuses that others are offering.