Using PBS totally depends on the staffing in your domicile and base. And SW does not have any requirements to staff with a proper reserve compliment. The main reason I left was because despite being in the top 30% of my base, I was unable to get trips my seniority could hold and could not improve my line using PBS because of non-existent reserve levels and everyone else getting awarded 90+ hour lines. Had I been able to have a decent QOL, I would've have been updating my app and attending job fairs.

Maybe things have improved in the last couple months since I left. But with SW willing to pick up all the flying they possibly can, and force that flying on their pilots for straight time vs paying 150% for those that want the flying, I would be careful about espousing the virtues of PBS and schedule flexibility. Maybe it is just an FO thing since most of the CA's I know had no idea how bad it was for bidding on the FO side.

I will say it is refreshing to have contractual limits set with the company and pilots. If extra flying needs to be done, it is done in a way that allows BOTH the pilot and company to make additional money doing that flying. Weird thing is that the company is still able to make money and provide QOL for their pilots. Weird concept I know...