Hi Ya'll,

I hate resurrecting this thread, but having spent the better part of a month doing my research, talking to folks I know, and crunching numbers, I want to run some stuff by the folks on this forum. Here's a pros and cons list I made: Pros:

AA:

- Widebody international opportunities
- Seniority movement. 76 FO in 2 years/77 or 78 FO in 4 years. DFW NB CA in 5 years (maybe less). WB CA in 18 years.

- QOL better if able to bid Reserve (able to sit at home for long stretches without being called?)

SWA:

- Solid Company, great brand and customer service; usually a top 3 ranked airline

- Better able to withstand an economic slowdown

- Growing Company

- More opportunity for premium and open time (when the MAX returns?)

- Premium for later land time and holidays

- Better profit sharing

- Better variety of quality domiciles
- Vacation

Cons:

AA:

- Terrible management; by far the worst in the industry

- Ranked worst airline (3 out of 5 years)

- Not in a good position to withstand an economic slowdown

- Contract is worst in the industry (will it get better?)

- Profit Sharing is a joke

SWA:

- 737 for entire career (maybe)

- Limited international

- Work more; more block, more legs?

- 10 year upgrade to Dallas CA

- Reserve rules? (no LC, and not able to “sit” for long stretches of time without getting called)

- Future commutability from Austin potentially more difficult due to AM/PM construct.

I ran a career- earnings spreadsheet using the current payrates for both companies, and the numbers are astoundingly close (I wish I could somehow post a copy of it on here). I assumed a 2% profit sharing at AA and a 16% Direct Contribution. For SWA I assumed a 10% profit sharing, and 15% direct contribution. I did not include per diem as I usually use it anyways, and its a wash for both companies. I ran it assuming a 5 yr NB CA upgrade, and 18 yr WB CA upgrade at AA (those are the current timelines for someone hired today, and being based out of DFW). I did not use the 2 year 76 FO upgrade at AA because those are going away, and I did not use WB FO in this exercise, because given the opportunity, in order to maximize earnings, someone would choose NB CA at that decision point (QOL consideration aside). I assumed a 10 yr CA upgrade at SWA for someone being based out of Dallas. I also ran it using 3 different credit assumptions 1) SC Guarantee of 76 for AA and 87 TFP for SWA 2) 15-day Average of 80 hours for AA and 100 TFP for SWA 3) High of 100 for AA and 140 for SWA. In using the average comparison, I tried to make an "apples-to-apples" comparison. In talking to folks, it seems that the avg AA guy will get about 80 hours for 15 days of work, while a SWA guy will get about 90 TFP for 12 days of work. Add in another 3 day trip, and that brings the SWA pilot up to 100 TFP on the conservative side.
Here's the breakdown:

1) For guarantee and the above assumptions, over a 30-year career an AA pilot will gross at $9,194,492.00, while a SWA pilot will gross at $8,315,644.73 in career earnings. That is a difference of $878,847.00 favoring the AA pilot.

2) For an average 15-day work month (using 80 hours for AA and 100 TFP for SWA), over a 30-year career an AA pilot will gross at $9,678,413, while a SWA pilot will gross at $9,558,212.33 in career earnings. That is a difference of $120,200.00 favoring the AA pilot.

3) For hustling, (using 100 hours for AA and 140TFP for SWA), over a 30-year career an AA pilot will gross at $12,098,016.00, while a SWA pilot will gross at $13,381,497.3 in career earnings. That is a difference of $1,283,481.00 favoring the SWA pilot.

I was really surprised at how close the numbers were, but I think the disparity can explained in that the majority of a pilot's career at AA will be spent in a NB, whereas widebody CA upgrade is still at the 18 year mark. Although SWA's hourly rate is lower, a "days gone per pay" is higher due to SWA's efficiency. Once an AA pilot hits WB CA, there is a difference of $46,732.55 per year favoring the AA pilot (using the average scenario).

Also, I don't know if anyone can explain SWA's vacation policy, but it seems the SWA folks get a lot more vacation than the AA folks. I don't know if I'm missing anything, but it seems that in almost every respect, SWA is better. Now, if only I can convince myself to get over the want and perceived "glamour" or widebody and long haul international flying, I think I'd be all in at SWA. I'm still really on the fence, but I hope this thread helps folks considering these two companies look at some comparison factors. Thanks!