SWA new hire QOL
12-18-2010, 12:40 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 2
SWA new hire QOL
Hello everyone!
I am considering another career as I may be getting laid off soon, but I keep "going back" and do not want to give up aviation yet. Unfortunately, it has not been what I thought it would be.
I have been thinking about Southwest Airlines as this is where I thought I would end up flying. What kind of quality of life should I expect, say if I was to get hired in the next two to three years?
I currently live in the Los Angeles area and do not want to move from here. How hard would commuting be and again what are the flight schedules like? How many days on/off?
Thank you all!!
I am considering another career as I may be getting laid off soon, but I keep "going back" and do not want to give up aviation yet. Unfortunately, it has not been what I thought it would be.
I have been thinking about Southwest Airlines as this is where I thought I would end up flying. What kind of quality of life should I expect, say if I was to get hired in the next two to three years?
I currently live in the Los Angeles area and do not want to move from here. How hard would commuting be and again what are the flight schedules like? How many days on/off?
Thank you all!!
12-18-2010, 08:29 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: In the bunk
Posts: 394
Originally Posted by Pro-Line 21
Hello everyone!
I am considering another career as I may be getting laid off soon, but I keep "going back" and do not want to give up aviation yet. Unfortunately, it has not been what I thought it would be.
I have been thinking about Southwest Airlines as this is where I thought I would end up flying. What kind of quality of life should I expect, say if I was to get hired in the next two to three years?
I currently live in the Los Angeles area and do not want to move from here. How hard would commuting be and again what are the flight schedules like? How many days on/off?
Thank you all!!
I am considering another career as I may be getting laid off soon, but I keep "going back" and do not want to give up aviation yet. Unfortunately, it has not been what I thought it would be.
I have been thinking about Southwest Airlines as this is where I thought I would end up flying. What kind of quality of life should I expect, say if I was to get hired in the next two to three years?
I currently live in the Los Angeles area and do not want to move from here. How hard would commuting be and again what are the flight schedules like? How many days on/off?
Thank you all!!
Most lines are 3 days on 4 days off. Average about 16-20 days off a month depending on the number of days in the month. More days off if you're senior.
QOL is good. Great flexibility with your schedule.
12-19-2010, 03:16 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: 737 Right
Posts: 1,385
The three most junior bases in the system are OAK, PHX and LAS. All are an easy commute from LA.
If you're on reserve you'll have less days off but will get at least 15.
First year pay is crummy but better than most.
It's as good a job as you can get in Aviation. Excellent pay and benefits. Not saying other airlines aren't great too, but SWA is top notch.
If you're on reserve you'll have less days off but will get at least 15.
First year pay is crummy but better than most.
It's as good a job as you can get in Aviation. Excellent pay and benefits. Not saying other airlines aren't great too, but SWA is top notch.
12-20-2010, 08:36 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: 737 Right
Posts: 1,385
First year guys get paid second year rates for all open time above their bid line value. Some guys are able to make this work pretty good for themselves. A friend of mine made over $70k his first year by working this angle.
SWA keeps less on reserve than most airlines so you don't have to move up the seniority ladder very far to get off reserve. Right now it's less than 10% of total lines are reserve. Additionally, FO reserve gets used hard so there's very little sitting in a hotel or crash pad waiting for a phone call.
SWA keeps less on reserve than most airlines so you don't have to move up the seniority ladder very far to get off reserve. Right now it's less than 10% of total lines are reserve. Additionally, FO reserve gets used hard so there's very little sitting in a hotel or crash pad waiting for a phone call.
12-20-2010, 09:42 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: In the bunk
Posts: 394
Originally Posted by flybynuts
From what I've seen and heard. It is like the expression... Having your cake and eating it too. I can't wait till they start hiring.
Because we have very little people on Reserve, it means you're more likely to be abused. There's very little flexibility if you're on reserve also and our reserve rules are horrible. If you live on the east coast, expect to commute out to a west coast base.
QOL of a new hire will differ based on whether you're on the front end or tail end of a hiring wave. My New hire experience was good, SWA was still growing and I was only on reserve for a couple of months. I'm sure if you ask our bottoms guys, their new hire experience was probably different. Years on reserve beats you down.
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