Airline Pilot Central Forums - Southwest pilots to "fly more"

1. This was not a concession, but a test (thru July) for the upcoming negotiations...not a popular one mind you...58% or so in favor, but we got a few things out of this...namely better open time rigs to improve productivity and the ability to fly on your vacation and make double pay if you're into that...the company got 0.1 more work days per pilot per month meaning every 10th line will have an extra work day per month. Oh yeah, SWAPA can call off the test at any time. The goal for both sides is to find win-win scenario resulting in better productivity. I haven't seen a change in the lines really other than finding a few 3 day pairings that paid 27 TFP (about 24 hours pay). It's not hard to give/trade your stuff away here though, so you basically work as much or as little as you want, but you only get paid for what you work.

2. I have been here almost a year and have flown 5 legs in a day only once (didn't like it)...I average about 3/day which is pretty easy work. This is a cake job (at least at my base)...some of the folks in DAL or HOU may disagree, but if you don't want to fly 5+ legs per day, it's pretty easy to avoid. On a side note, I sure as he11 wouldn't fly that many legs in a day...you guys are right, that is hard work. Of course there are guys out there that love that stuff so just let them have it...good for them.

3. The QOL/benefits here are pretty dam good...SWA is not bringing down anybody right now...that argument may have been true 5-10 years ago, but not now. The job is easy, the benefits are great, the QOL is great and you get paid pretty well even in the first year...probably a little more than 1st year FDX and over twice as much as 1st year UPS. HOWEVER, if you think you will EVER earn more flying pax than boxes, you are NUTS! I passed up FDX for SWA for QOL and am very happy here...i just hope it lasts!

Good luck to all...let's hope it gets better for everyone real soon!