7576FO

I understand SWA pilots are in negotiations with their management. Just curious what (how much) pay rates raise are you asking for?
I'm at AA and the media and the company are trying to portray APA as greedy for proposing a 50% pay raise for pilots.
Just FYI, AA pilots wages have not increased since 1992. 1997 contract no raises, stock options in lieu of. 2001 contract voted down 12 days before Sept 11 2001. 2003 23.5 % pay cut. 2004 8% back from the 23.5% pay cut.
AA also says we've recieved pay raises since 1992 (only yearly annual 1-12 yr scale raises though for those hired shortly before 1992 or after).

Thanks for anything and best wishes.
7576

HuronIP

I haven't been at SWA very long, but from the sound of things I think that we will be lucky to keep what we have. Since we are the highest paid 737 pilots we don't have any barganing power. I think at best we might get is a COLA raise. The last update on our union page said the company has not been willing to discuss any economic issues thus far.

mulcher

Thats because our union is filled with koolies. We should ask the FA's to bargin for us. Then something might get done. Concessions arent going to happen, but like he said propably in the line of COLA. With some changes to QOL and 401k for FO's.

ACEFLYERSWA

No more stock options. Hopefully a 4% pay raise, and more than that for the 6-12 year FO's.

iahflyr

Southwest pilots are still paid less than many of the legacy 737 pilots before 2001. And think of the inflation that has occurred since then. The precident has already been set.

I think Southwest is going to need a modest raise to get their pay rates to pre 9/11 legacy levels. That way when the legacies get their pay raises (American, United, Delta, Continental,...), Southwest pilots will be paid about the same as other carriers, and not paid less (like they were for 30 years).

If you need the FA's to bargain for you, that is fine. As long as you get what you deserve. Your company is consistently making hundreds of millions of dollars every quarter. Southwest has the money.

Good luck Southwest pilots.

flaps 9

Thanks, we're going to need it. I look toward the future with "guarded optimism"

exp96

As far as hourly rates go, SWA pilots make more than AA pilots on the same equipment but there is more to the story.

Let's assume two pilots are hired at AA and SWA. Here are some numbers that show what their total compensation will be over a 20 year career. These numbers assume upgrade in year 10 at both, 75 hours of credit a month, and today's wages (as posted in ALPC). I also assumed the AA pilot is on the 737 for his/her whole career and the SWA pilot will recieve 5% a year in profit sharing. I also did not factor in the AA A-fund.

Pilot A $2,280,600 in wages, plus $250,866 in a b fund. TOTAL $2,531,466

Pilot B $2,761,200 in wages, plus %138,060 in profit sharing. TOTAL $2,899,260

and yes, I have too much time on my layover.

ewrbasedpilot

One factor that has to be "included" though is that the SWA pilot is going to have to fly a whole lot more to get his money than the AA pilot. I'd rather fly one or two long legs a day, than 4,5, or 6 hops every day for my entire career. Less work is more filling. JMHO

ACEFLYERSWA

Well this is not a true statement, because most guys know that we are paid by the trip not by the hour. To put it in terms of a guarantee it would be 75 and ours 90.

While we do work more when at work(more legs). Our trips pay a lot more. So therefore I could actually work less by having more days off for the same pay.

flaps 9

So do I. Here are expamles of the trips I bid for.

3 day trip

Day 1

PHX-BNA 3:15
BNA-MCO 1:45
MCO-MHT 2:45
Block 7:45 Duty 10:05 Pay 9.2 Layover 16:00

Day 2

MHT-PHX 5:55
PHX-LAX 1:25 Block
Block 7:20 Duty 8:40 Pay 8.6 Layover 16:30

Day 3

LAX-MDW 3:55
MDW-LAX 3:45
Block 7:40 Duty 9:30 Pay 9.2
3 Day Total: Block 22:45 Duty 28:15 Pay 27.0

Here's a 4 day

Day 1
PHX-LAS 1:05
LAS-PVD 4:50
Block 5:55 Duty 8:45 Pay 7.5 Layover 14:00

Day 2

PVD-MCO 3:05
MCO-BUF 2:35
Block 5:40 Duty 7:05 Pay 6.6 Layover 19:00

Day 3

BUF-TPA 2:50
TPA-BNA 1:50
Block 4:40 Duty 6:05 Pay 5.4 Layover 16:55

Day 4

BNA-OAK 5:05
OAK-PHX 1:55
Block 7:00 Duty 8:20 Pay 8.2
4 Day Total: Block 23:15 Duty 30:15 Pay 27.7

The 3 day trip is a high paying one and the 4 day is low pay. Our pairings are built "AM" or "PM" so you can stay on the same sleep schedule. No Red eyes or flip flops. The above pairings were PM's with mid afternoon show times. Very easy on the body. So while we do have those that love to do the "Texas two step", you're not doomed to 6 legs a day if you don't want to.