I'm looking at 3 years until the end of my military contract and am not sure whether I will be staying in or getting out. If I were to get out FedEx and Southwest seem to be the most attractive options as far as I can tell right now. I am looking for information on what the QOL is like at Southwest. What is an average month like for a junior and senior Southwest pilot. Time home vs time on the road? I am married with two kids and home time means a lot to me. Any input will me very much appreciated. Also, any advice on wether to stay in or get out or any personal experiences in regard to staying in/getting out will definately help my cause. Thanks in advance!

MCFlyer

Both of those airlines are great airlines. Before you make the choice, really look into the airline life itself before you choose. They are different worlds. Ask those who had the same path as yourself. Military vs airlines is not as cut and dry as in the past.

MC,

I am a SWA guy and my best bud down the road is a FedEx guy. I've been here for 5 years and he's been there for 9. Neither of us have ever complained about our respective QOL both with 2 kids each. He's on the MD11 and I'm on the 737 Obviously schedules are different, but I think we both get comparable time off. Their vacation is better. Other than that, I'm pretty convinced our time at home is about the same.

-fate

Former active duty, now USAFR close to retirement. I appied to both and got hired by SWA. I have a couple of close friends who work for FedEx.

Fedex has better money and generally longer trips at worse times of the day. Before I became an airline guy I thought that I'd like a smaller number of longer trips. Now that I've done the airline thing for a couple of years I think that anything over a three day is too darn long.

One thing you haven't mentioned is where you live or where you want to live. My personal opinion is the biggest QOL factor is living in domicile. It also gives you opportunities to be more flexible with your schedule, sit reserve at home or make more money by picking up short notice trips.

Since I live in domicile it's not unusual for me to pick up a couple of extra days of work in turns without spending any extra nights in a hotel.

My Fedex buds think that we work too hard. A four flight day at SWA is no biggie but evidently pretty rare at Fedex

At SWA you'll work 12-13 days a month. Usually 2-3 day trips, but we do have a lot of lines with nothing but 4 day trips that the commuters like to bid.

I certainly don't think they're working me too hard and the work rules allow you to work as much as you want up to FARs.

I think they're both great companies.

As far as SW domiciles what are the senior and junior ones? Thinking about LAS and PHX. Thanks.

LAS is junior; PHX is more senior; OAK is our most junior. That could change with the opening of another domicile?

When Southwest opens MSP as a base will that be junior or senior?

Any base will work if the airline grows. Lot more factors at play then choosing domiciles. Kids are a big factor, how many, ages, and schools. I would choose a domicile, regardless of the commute to a junior base. Eventually you will be senior at your base. Then Captain upgrade and everything starts over.

QOL depends huge on if you commute or not. If you commute and can get hired by SWA, FEDex, or UPS, then that is the best option. Actually, if you live in base any airline is tolerable as long as you don't get furloughed. So I'd try and get hired by the airline that is based where you want to live.

Keep in mind, what's a great airline today may be a steaming pile in a few years. All it takes is a CEO with bad vision.