Updates on SWA/Hiring

OttoPilot13 said:
Just curious, but are they still considered assistant dispatchers until they get a line? Or do you have bid relief coverage?
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I’m curious about this as well.

I know that there were dispatchers hired at American in early 2025 that were fully comped out and working desks before people hired in the early 2024 Southwest class were working flights.

So I’m curious how the whole process works at Southwest.
 
Theyre assistants until a line opens up. Theyve all had at minimum one recurrent comp check. I do think the max 7 coming on line will expedite some things for them. Maybe a class this winter? Maybe not
 
autosave36 said:
Theyre assistants until a line opens up. Theyve all had at minimum one recurrent comp check. I do think the max 7 coming on line will expedite some things for them. Maybe a class this winter? Maybe not
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Why is southwest they way they area? Just create lines for them like every other airline does.
 
NewToTheIndustry said:
Why is southwest they way they area? Just create lines for them like every other airline does.
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Union Contract is just written that way. Most idiosyncrasies in this industry can be traced back to a line in a contract from decades ago.

Southwest has always had some level of “living on the assistant desk” for longer than they should, but the reserve/relief system was entirely overhauled in the last contract and the number of assistants stuck in this position are way higher than ever before. Personally I don’t think we’ve seen movement on this because assistants are finally paid within 5% of a line dispatcher and aren’t stuck with the 25% pay cut of the past contract.
 
If I remember correctly, assistant dispatchers at Southwest made about $65k/yr before the current contract. Maybe a bit more, but it was a good chunk less than line holders.
 
autosave36 said:
Theyre assistants until a line opens up. Theyve all had at minimum one recurrent comp check. I do think the max 7 coming on line will expedite some things for them. Maybe a class this winter? Maybe not
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max 7 being certified is certainly good news, but we’ve got a bunch of old tired 700s that have been waiting for retirement. I think the only way we’d have another class is if the old tired dispatchers retire as well
 
NoCopy said:
Just wondering, how many dispatchers does Southwest Airlines have??
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About 550 total on the master seniority list. Excluding the classifications like ATC, Superintendents, assistants, And dispatchers in management it's around 400 people that are strictly dispatch.
 
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