I know there are lots of old threads on QOL out there but what is the snapshot for new hires at this time? I know things have changed rapidly recently. This is from the perspective of an "old guy" who would never see left seat at SWA before retirement, who has a good (though non-flying) job at the moment and likes where he lives, which is not any where near a low seniority domicile, and not even within an hour drive of a once-or-twice-per-day SWA serviced airport.

 

You'd probably want to start by telling us what your commute would look like. If you don't need to make a ton of money you could go for the quality of life and twice or three times a month commute by blocking your trips together. That's fairly easy to do. We cannot straight drop trips so at times actually getting rid of trips can be pretty problematic. With that said though most of your initial monthly schedules will be 12-14 days ON.

 

Blocking your trips together becomes an option once off reserve, but I don't think it's that easy while on reserve. Plan to be ON 15-16 days/month on while on reserve, depending on if it's a month with 30 or 31 days.

 

And on reserve plan on only 3 days off at a time and non commutable trips.

 

I will second this. The TA we are all looking at fixes reserve pay, but not reserve quality of life. There is a reason our reserves get 15 days off a month. 4-5 are spent commuting.
If you live in base reserve won't be terrible. For a commuter, though, it is pretty bad.

 

What would QOL be for someone who would be willing to move to HOU or DAL?

How many RON's could be expected?

Also would living in base make it easier to pick up extra flying?

Thanks!

 

This is an entirely different job when you live in domicile, with regards to QOL and pay. Especially when you're junior.

There are (occasionally) pure turn lines, which would be 0 layovers away from base, but they are rare and go mega senior. On a typical 12-14 day line, you're away 8-10 nights or so, but it does vary.

Living in base allows you a LOT more flexibility, especially for last minute premium flying. You can certainly work extra as a commuter, but you're gonna pay for it with your time off.

As a maxed out Capt, I figure that living a long drive (200 miles) from my domicile has cost(s) me at least $30k-$50k per year, due to (lack of) opportunity cost.

FWIW, many of the FOs I fly with make more than I do playing the system, because they live in domicile, and therefore, can.

 

Awesome, thank you for the response Slipkid!

I am hoping to get hired next year and plan on living in base.

 

I live in base and avg 7-8 nights away from home a month. As a rsv I'd have 3-5 days a month not used (Pass vs Fly pref). I'm sure other bases are different so YMMV

 

Without getting too specific, I thought I did. How about I say I live in the SE.

And thanks for all the answers, but remember, you're talking to someone who is not yet in your world, so about half of what you're saying is going right over my head. Keep it simple for those of us in a different world still. For example:

What is "straight drop trips?"

And when you say "blocking your trips together" do you mean there is no time off at all between trips?

And descriptions like "3 days off at a time" I understand but what is a "non-commutable trip?"

And "On a typical 12-14 day line" does that mean you are working 12-14 straight days in a row?"

Here's another question: Generally speaking, or should I say, as an average, how many actual hours a month does a junior FO work (lets say at a domicile for purity's sake)? In other words, the time from showing up at the airport in the morning, until leaving in the afternoon/evening/night.

A young guy wouldn't care about these things because he knows it doesn't matter - it is what it is, he'll figure it all out once he's on the line, and it's just the price he has to pay to get in the business, but for older folks with other options, it all goes into the decision making process.