Ok so like 3500 every 2 weeks during training?

Get those observation rides done. If you jumpseat home, you can use that as an opportunity. Also, you can knock out a quick trip to SAT, AUS, or HOU after class sometimes.

Training footprint, days off, pay
 

More like $3000. Training pay is roughly 88 trips per month, so about $6100 gross. The check on the 5th is larger at 47.5 TFP, the 20th is 40.5 TFP, varying slightly by how many days in the month. Also, while the hotel is covered, there's no per diem in training, so it's a lean couple of months. Gets much better when you're out flying.

Also, at least with my class, they paid us a full paycheck on the first pay period. Then, a few weeks later, they withheld a full paycheck with the explanation (and I believe it to have been correct with no malice) that the first one was an advance knowing that we had expenses to cover. So at one point we went a month without incoming cash.

It is a bit of a tight couple months and the improvements don't start showing up in your take-home pay until a month into being out on the line.

Budget accordingly.

Your take-home pay will likely be lower than you anticipate due to deductions, depending upon which health care plan you choose, any HSA or 401(k) contributions you elect to make, etc.

Checking each pay statement will give you a detailed breakdown of the deductions, and there are plenty though many are not big each month.

The main thing to remember is that it is indeed a lean first three months or so.

Man this is awesome info! I'm attending the Job Fair on the 30th, hope to get the interview soon. I don't personally know anyone that works for Southwest and I've only known the corporate world, so all of this is really helping me paint a picture for what to expect!

Thanks for all the info. I was recently hired and waiting for a class date in October. Some of these postings have been a tremendous help in preparing for years 1 & 2.

What are lunch and dinner options? Any way to grocery shop and save a little cash?

Training footprint, days off, pay
 

There is a new training center that is supposed to have its own restaurant, although I haven't been there and neither have most line guys since it is still being completed. You can bring your own food for lunch too if you like.
There are lots of local shopping options around the new hire hotel. People will have cars you can use or you can just Uber. I was in the DT for new hire and I ate the majority of my meals out of the microwave in my room and bought them from Trader Joe's or HEB.

I had the van take me to the grocery store every other week and loaded up on food that I put in the mini-fridge. Ate breakfast and lunch out of my room/bag and the. Ate dinner with classmates at a random place on the way home from class. Good way to unwind after the day and still be social since I skipped the employee cafeterias during lunch.

If you are an Amazon Prime member, download Amazon Now. You can grocery shop on there. I did it last week. They deliver to your room in two hours, if available. Mine was 3. I found a $10 off coupon online. They didn't charge a delivery fee. Only a $5 tip.

I have taken my lunch everyday. A bunch of us are either gold or diamond at Hilton, so we eat free breakfast and the dinner they have in the concierge room.


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