Hello all, I am currently a dispatcher for the government, however I might be looking for a position in the civilian side. I am sick of potential shutdowns and the uncertainty it brings. So I am wondering what life would be like at Southwest if I were lucky enough to get hired there. I live in the OKC area and would commute for awhile. Any Southwest dispatchers care to share how life is for a newbie and how commuting to OKC be?
Any Southwest DXers care to share
- Thread starter E6Birdman
- Start date
Flagship_dxer
Penske Material
Very good working environment, great pay and benefits. Management takes good care of the employees and its a culture of work hard and fun. Travel benefits kind of suck but not much different than the others carriers sans flights to Europe and Asia.
I would not commute from OKC. Lots of AA and SWA pilots commute to DFW/DAL from OKC. Construction on I35 makes the drive painful as well. If you want to work for Southwest, it is a good idea to move closer.
I would not commute from OKC. Lots of AA and SWA pilots commute to DFW/DAL from OKC. Construction on I35 makes the drive painful as well. If you want to work for Southwest, it is a good idea to move closer.
Thanks Flagship. Basically if I was able to, I would definitely not do it every day. I would get a crash pad and come home on my days off. Thoughts?
Flagship_dxer
Penske Material
When you're a SWA new hire and get upgraded, you will go to a reserve schedule that has you working a lot of 21 day months with your days off scattered randomly throughout the month. Work trades and selling your shifts can help but I wouldn't recommend commuting until you are a line holder. That might take a few years depending on hiring. When you hold a line you will have a more steady schedule.
I would be more concerned with just getting hired. Southwest tops out at nearly 160K after 15 years longevity. You will be over 100K in 4 or 5 years. If you get the job, you make it work wherever you are. Not many jobs have that kind of pay and job security. You only get one chance with them. Turn them down and forget being offered a second time. Most Southwest new hires are either internals with boatloads of time in the company or externals with regional, LCC, supplemental, or major experience. There are outliers but that is the norm. Focus on getting the job first and then worry about making it work.
I would be more concerned with just getting hired. Southwest tops out at nearly 160K after 15 years longevity. You will be over 100K in 4 or 5 years. If you get the job, you make it work wherever you are. Not many jobs have that kind of pay and job security. You only get one chance with them. Turn them down and forget being offered a second time. Most Southwest new hires are either internals with boatloads of time in the company or externals with regional, LCC, supplemental, or major experience. There are outliers but that is the norm. Focus on getting the job first and then worry about making it work.
PHL_Approach
Well-Known Member
As odd as this goes against the norm for most corporations, that's not true. In fact there is someone on this forum that had another job offer come up and turned them down. Southwest gave that person another shot a few years later and that person now works there... If they like you enough they'll keep coming after you.