Southwest pilot pay
 

I think that calling Southwest a low cost carrier is a misnomer. At least WRT what they pay their pilots.

12 yr. 737 captain:

SWA $190 per hour
Delta $173
Cont. $163
Amer. $158

5 yr. 737 first officer:

SWA $114
Delta $105
Cont. $91
Amer. $93

Those are some Legacy straight pay pilot costs :eek:

Good point, although the term "low cost" doesn't have to mean low "labor cost" as you've pointed out. SWA is successful because their managment has kept their total operating cost below their operating revenue and can bring their product to the marketplace cheaper than other airlines.

They do face significant challenges in hedging fuel into the future, although with the track record I wouldn't worry too much.

I think AA should be known as the "low cost carrier"
At least in terms of pilot pay.

Note to self: call marketing get them to come up with a new slogan

Can any SWA pilot quote me the scope clause to their contract?

Or e-mail me?

No scope language. Only mention about equipment pay differential is that if we acquire -400/600/800/900's and they can not be opperated interchangably with the -300/500/700's, then there will be a 5% pay differential. I do believe that it will be addressed in our next contract.
We could buy RJs tomorrow but then again, how would increasing our seat-mile cost fit our bussiness model?

Airline Domestic Unit Costs (Cents per Mile)
2nd Quarter 2005

Southwest 7.1

American Eagle 14.2

Comair 14.1

SkyWest 13.3

Pinnacle 12.8

Atlantic Southeast 12.3

ExpressJet 12.6

Mesa 10.3

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics; Form 41; Schedule P1.2. T100; T2 Data

Keep in mind that when the SWA pilots negotiated their contract (and extensions) they were no where near achieving an "industry leading" contract. SWA management, however, has lived up to their bargain and continued to pay the agreed-upon wages while other companies have continously sought concessions. Thus, SWA didn't so much rise to the top as all the others fell.

SWA is currently involved in an aggressive cost reduction program. Unlike other carriers, SWA looks to impact their employees LAST. SWA's pay scales are fully in line with the company's goals of maintaining an overall LOW COST structure.

Can anybody say what the first year of pay will be? I know I can multiply the rate by guarantee but what is typical first year pay?

What about 2nd year pay?

And what is a typical 3-day trip worth in hours?

Thanks

First year 60-65 K, second year 95-102 K. Those #'s include 5k in per deum.

I don't think a Delta 737 Captain makes more than 145 an hour these days, 12 year guys on the 757 makin' 155. Those are the pre 14% cut post 32.5% cut. Awesome profession...

I'm just curious. SWA doesn't pay by the hour, but rather by the trip. Is that correct? Do you get paid extra if the trip is over block?