Qotsaautopilot

Now I’m not a SW pilot and I know TFP don’t equate to hours but isn’t 154 TFP about 135 credit hours for other airlines? How do you get that and more in consecutive months at SW? My understanding is that premium pay at SW has been pretty scarce with the max being parked.

At spirit our premium pay is wildly erratic and when you drop to make holes for premium it’s like going to a casino. You stand to lose more often than not.

I’d like to learn how to play the game you’re playing.

Tranquility

I’m setting mine aside for a German sports car to supplement my German sport sedan.

(This is not directed at you Al)

Yes that’s right, a German sports car, not that Japanese nonsense that begins with a ‘M’ and “drives sporty”..... That IS NOT A SPORTS CAR!

Let’s see how much I can derail this thread.... 😬

barabek

Man, I would like to know myself. I've been with SWA for 3 years and I never made more than 135 TFP. I can't imagine how people do 177 following 150+ TFP months in a row. I'm obviously not playing "the game", whatever that means. I can't pick up premium, nobody really can nowadays. Even before the MAX I couldn't touch anything with the "P" next to it, simply premium goes to senior FOs, mostly those who could have been captains for a while. I never commuted at SWA, and despite often bidding on everything I'm legal for, I get nothing, or just scraps. I fly with some captains who credit a lot but they work for it, often picking up straight out of base. I've seen some of their boards, and those schedules definitely don't have 15+ days off. I admit, I'm probably not trying hard enough. I usually have 17-18 days off duty and credit 90-110 TFP depending if I get any lucky reroutes or not. I can't really complain, the life is not bad here. Still, I would love to know the secrets of those who break the bank and sit at home for half of the month.

StayFrosty

I’m a third year pilot and average over 140TFP every month. It’s doable but doesn’t provide the QOL you have. The days off are more sporadic and expect AM/PM flops. While premium is dry I just did (few days ago) a 3 hour block pays 9.5TFP turn at straight time. Just gotta hunt and be available. Also EF from reserves when the well is dry, in base and out of base. Find what fits and have at it. It’s nice to get large paychecks but driving the wheelbarrow to the bank gets tiring when having to hunt and be away from home. It’s a give and take but in my place I have no choice due to the enormous pay cut I took coming here. I did it backwards and already have my Captain house and life 😂🥃.

Good luck and safe flying!

Smooth at FL450

Bidding premium on an open time trip isn’t the only way to get premium pay. You just gotta find a good place to jump into the chaos and let our work rules take it from there. Sometimes that means bidding straight, others times it means grabbing sone thing from Trip Trade/Giveaway. The premium is out there, you just gotta be where scheduling is calling the audibles.

busdriver12

Hmm, I'm not sure why people are even bringing up how many nights they spent in their own bed. Why is this relevant to the conversation? It's merely a function of whether one is a commuter or not, and what kind of trips they fly. It seems like some are trying to imply that these are days off. Like those who are bidding reserve and working additional trips on their days off.....and not counting days unused on reserve as work days. Look at how much I'm getting paid for how few days I work. Seems misleading.

HIFLYR

I agree we have earned a benefit but not been paid one! Hopefully we will all see the benefit but who knows!

Opakapaka

9th yr SWA FO
Salary including per diem ($1,800) $205,500
NEC B Plan $31,000
Last year PS $13,900
Only flew turns and a couple 2 day trips
788 block (way to much)
Total $250,000 I don’t hustle

Al Czervik

A German sports car is clearly an investment.

Tranquility

I like your thinking!