It's not "just the money"...as l-ual pilots love to say. Their company is strong and their employees are happy to be here. Says a lot about the quality of the company and management.

I am glad to be at United and think we will continue to improve. But SWA is great company with good employees and they do make a lot of money.

 

That's a good point.

A guy that posts on here was hired at UAL in his 20's in the mid 90's, was able to be a 737-200 CA BEFORE he even turned 30. Then, 9/11 happened. He wasn't furloughed, but how long do you think it's taken him to get back to the CA's seat? That is, if he can get back in to the the CA's seat. Never mind the lost income of the concessions, the canning of the retirement, the devaluation of the ESOP and on and on that lasted roughly a decade of his career.

The points you make about it being more than just the hourly is valid. Because in the big picture, they new UAL rates are relatively "new". And aren't really much more than the BK concession rates adjusted for inflation.

Although a SWA FO's tenure in the right seat may have just been prolonged (relative to the growth they enjoyed after 9/11), I don't think they'll be "hurting" for money so speak. But hey, for some 150K a year to jerk gear on a 737 at a company that has CONSISTENTLY made money just ISN'T ENOUGH for some people............

 

"teeny, tiny, itty bitty regional jets" hahahaha

 

I'm honestly not in touch with anyone at SWA anymore so I can't give anecdotal evidence to the contrary. Seemed to me when I was still in touch with SWA guys if they had any seniority at all they didn't work more than about 14 days a month unless they wanted to and the "hourly" rate didn't tell the story, though they don't have the retirement or probably the benefits of the other majors. To get all those days off they flew their tails off when they were at work, but I don't mind working when I'm at work as long as I'm getting more time at home. Anecdotally, a line holding UAL Captain buddy of mine was seriously considering leaving UAL to start over at SWA a dozen years ago. Having said all that, like you, I'd rather be here than there... for now. I won't have a final answer for you until I retire.

FAR 117 has hurt total days off on the wide bodies and most of us aren't as concerned with what we're flying as much as we are how we're being compensated and how much time off we get at home. Besides, like many of us, I'll spend over half of my career in a narrow body anyway.
I don't think an "hourly" rate comparison tells the whole story either way, but they've got a higher percentage of pilots making $216/hr than we do.
That's what I have a problem with. We all go to work for different companies for different reasons, but thinking we're better than "that" is how we wind up doing things like giving away scope. I think our future is bright and SWA is having a tougher time implementing its business plan, but betting against them is a fool's game. I firmly believe after the nuclear winter, the only things left alive will be roaches the size of footballs and Southwest Airlines.

 

Why the redundancy?

 

Don't worry; nuclear winter will be offset by global warming.

A football the size of a 737?