Hey everyone, currently a 91K FO, been on this side of the industry for all of my career, but recently have been wondering about what 121 is like. I like my job, I like my company, but the unbelievably inconsistent scheduling, red eyes, long tours, and lack of care from those building trips is taking a toll. This side of the industry is slammed and barely staying afloat, and that’s coming at the expense of us pilots. I know absolutely nothing about the airlines, I don’t understand pay structure, how the lines/reserve works, etc. Has anyone else transitioned from 135/91K to Southwest that could share some insight? I live in PHX currently (I do know that’s a relatively senior base), but I’ve never had to commute so not sure what to expect. Any info is helpful, just trying to see if the grass is greener and if my kid is gonna be able to see her dad more than a few days a month. Thanks in advance.

 

Very big picture: You can get PHX pretty quickly, from right out of training to a couple months later. At first 15 days on reserve per month, 3 or 4 day blocks, with 3-4 days off in between. Every once in a while, you won’t get used the first or last day of reserve. Once off reserve (depends on hiring pace, but probably inside a year), you fly 12-15 days days per month. Trips are from 1-4 days long, mostly weekends as a Junior guy, 2-5 legs per day. For year one pay, budget 100 tfp/ month. At 75.77/tfp, that’s $7577/month, plus 15% into a retirement fund. Then be pleasantly surprised when you’re actually being paid 125+tfp/month. You show up an hour before departure on the first day and just fly the plane. No planning/catering/fueling/maintaining/entertaining required. When you get to the overnight, you take the van to the hotel and not worry about work until 30 minutes prior to departure. When you end a trip, you forget about work for the next 3-4 days.
Hope that helps.

 

Get hired early in early 2023 and you’ll wake up at home on Christmas morning in PHX…probably.

Our overlords say they’re hiring more this year than anytime in corndog history. Even if the propaganda falls short by 50% you’d be in decent shape.

 

Yeah current school house projections are 300 more this year, 2160 next year and 1000 each year after for the foreseeable future. 30 some odd airframes on order between now and end of next year, regardless of the 700 certification, they will just take 800's.

 

I was an 11 year 91/135 guy that made the move about 4 years ago to 121. I had friends that went to the airline side so I started picking their brains a bit and realized the 121 side was gonna be best long term.

So far it has been.

The best part of 121 is you can be whatever type of pilot you want to be. If you want to work hard one month, you can do that, if you want to take it easy, have at it. You can call in sick and never hear anything about it. Its why we have a sick bank. We don't have to ask for raises, or vacation. You can trade, swap, do whatever you want with your schedule. There are limitations but compared to a 135 company its night and day.

We work in TFP here at SWA (1.149 X Hourly rate of a normal airline) If you don't know what that is, search it out here its been discussed at length.

We also have line bidding here. Research that a bit, but its pretty good at the conflict drops that can happen and you make more money to do less work. Airline dream amirite?

Ask questions here, we can answer, we have a ton of us who have done the 91/135/91K side to 121 or WN.

 

You really took that “The MAX is silent” thing to heart, huh? 😉

 

I'm not at SWA, but I went from a semi cushy 91 job to a legacy, and have zero regrets. The workload is so different.

 

Thanks for all the awesome replies, really helps explain how things work and the QOL aspect compared to my current employer. Does anyone have a general idea of what competitive times are? I’m near 3000 TT, 2000 Turbine and a couple hundred TPIC. Nothing special, no 121 but I’ve heard of some of my peers making the jump so figured I can’t be that far off. Also, when you’re on reserve, is it kinda like sitting standby at the FBO or are you just sitting in a hotel or your house? Once again, thanks for the info everyone, this insight is really helping me with the decision.

 

Here’s what you’ll lose leaving 91K: airline points you’re too tired to use anyway, waking up at all different sides of the clock, being treated like a wayward little baby tied to a company phone, and not having a choice in your schedules (ie AM or PM).
Commuting isn’t what it used to be….One month in OAK, 1 month in LAS. OAK was doable but unpleasant, LAS was easy. PHX in month 3….that was fast. Driving to work is great, but being PM reserve and never waking up with an alarm clock is glorious. I can get a blank line but PM reserve is actually pretty good and its nothing like the old days of reserve. Once this contract settles its going to be even better. They just have to present something good.

 

I can only speak for SWA, but reserve is usually from home if you live in base. Its a 2 hour callout to report time. 3 hours to wheels up. If you commute to reserve, you'll most likely have a trip on your schedule before you get to base. If you drive to base, then you can sit reserve from home. Or where ever you want. We DO NOT do airport standby. You either have a trip or youre free to do what you want as long as you can make a 2 hour call out.