Southwest_careers
Southwest_careers

Ready to soar at Southwest Airlines®

Take your career to new heights

Working at Southwest Airlines® is more than a career. It’s a calling. And life as a First Officer at Southwest® is about more than flying airplanes—it is about connecting people to what is important in their lives. First Officers have the unique opportunity to work with some of the best Teams and Crews in the world to deliver our mission to the Customers we serve each and every day.  

Our Pilots are not just safe and efficient in their flying skills, although smooth flying and soft landings are important. Our Pilots are overall Leaders who take care of our internal and external customers to create a one-of-a-kind experience only found at Southwest Airlines.
Let us know you're interested!
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Bring your whole self to work.

"Southwest Airlines strives to foster a safe and welcoming environment where everyone can feel comfortable and valued regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
Headshot of VP of Ground Operations, Chris Johnson in front of a grey background. Chris started as a Ramp Agent in Detroit.

Steven Tustin

 Southwest Captain and NGPA Board Chair

"Southwest Airlines is a Company that encourages you to be yourself no matter your race, gender, orientation, creed, color, or religion."
Headshot of VP of Ground Operations, Chris Johnson in front of a grey background. Chris started as a Ramp Agent in Detroit.

Anita Weaver

 Customer Service Supervisor

"I'm proud to be an LGBTQ Employee at Southwest because our passion for spreading love and acceptance isn't limited on our aircraft."
Headshot of VP of Ground Operations, Chris Johnson in front of a grey background. Chris started as a Ramp Agent in Detroit.

Tom Eisele

 Flight Attendant
slide 1 of 3 I am naturally a fun-loving, free-spirited person who loves to be around people—helping, serving, and building bonds. Our Culture is every one of these things and more. Southwest has given me the opportunity to be me. I get to turn it all the way up and enjoy myself at work. Roshaun Casey Inflight Instructor and U.S. Army Veteran

Our Heart starts with our People.

Want to work in a unique, People-first Culture, with competitive benefits and a solid record of job security? Southwest Airlines is growing, and we’re looking for top-notch Employees to grow with us.


Benefits for First Officers you'll love: 
  • Fly for free on any open seat on all Southwest flights, see all the destinations Southwest serves (your eligible dependents fly, too)
  • 15% non-elective contribution (B-Fund) deposited into your 401(k)*
  • A ProfitSharing contribution toward retirement—when we profit, you profit*
  • Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents
  • Opportunity to purchase 10% off Southwest Airlines common stock, LUV, traded on NYSE
  • Company-paid Loss of License

*ProfitSharing contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company. 

Every. Single. One. Of. Us.

At Southwest Airlines, we’re committed to our diversity journey, we value equity among our Employees and Customers, and we drive for an inclusive workplace and business.
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Why Southwest?

Portrait of female ramp agent smiling and standing in front of a full baggage cart.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We’re committed to a work environment where everyone can be themselves and be recognized for the unique perspectives they each bring forward. Diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords—they’re woven into the way we run our business, and they’re reflected in our world-famous Culture.
Read about our diversity initiatives
Image of two ramp agents laughing in a cargo bin.
Culture
Our Culture is integral to all aspects of our business and our Employees’ lives from the way Employees treat each other to the way that our Company puts our Employees first. Three vital elements of our Culture are appreciation, recognition, and celebration.​​​​​​​
Explore our Culture
Military
In addition to the Cohearts photographed above, we’re proud to have more than 7,200 veterans and 1,550 military spouses in our Southwest Family. Our colors may be red, yellow, and blue, but our support is for the red, white, and blue.
Learn about our military programs
Image of female ramp agent stacking bags inside the belly of an airplane.
Benefits
More than just a paycheck, a career at Southwest Airlines comes with several benefits, from our legendary Culture to travel privileges for Employees and their eligible dependents.
See our benefits

How to apply:
Apply to an open job posting at careers.southwestair.com.
Using the same email address create and update your profile at swa.pilotcredentials.com.
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Licensing/Certification
  • U.S. FAA ATP/AMEL
  • FCC - RTOP
  • U.S. Driver's License
  • Passport
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Education
  • Four-year college degree preferred
  • High School Diploma or GED required
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Medical
  • Must possess a current FAA First Class Medical Certificate
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Flight Experience
  • 1,000 hours of fixed-wing turbine flight time required
  • 1,000 hours fixed-wing turbine PIC preferred
  • Actively flying two of the last five years preferred
Pro tips:
  • Don’t include simulator or rotorcraft flight time.  
  • Time logged as WSO, RIO, FE NAV, EWO, or UAV also doesn’t count.
  • If applicable, don’t forget to select High School Diploma or GED on Pilot Credentials, as this is a minimum requirement.

You've applied! What's next?
  • ​​​​​​​We’ll get to know you starting with a virtual interview, conducted by a Pilot interviewer and a representative from our People Department (HR).
  • Expect to spend about 45 minutes discussing your career path to date, your aviation experience, and your career goals.  
  • We’ll let you know by the end of the week if you’ll continue in the process.

​​​​​​​Pro tips:
  • Try out your technology set-up prior to interview day. We understand things can go wrong but we’d really like to see and hear you! We currently use the WebEx interface.
  • Please send your letters of recommendation prior to your virtual interview. You can upload them to Pilot Credentials, or if your letter is written by a Southwest Airlines Pilot, have them complete the recommendation form on their EFB >Comply365 >Forms >Pilot Recommendation.
  • Remember you need at least three letters of recommendation that can attest to your flying ability!  
  • We’d love to meet you in person, so we’ll fly you to Dallas and invite you to spend a half-day with us at our beautiful facility on the edge of Dallas (Love Field).
  • You’ll conduct a logbook review with one of our Pilots, and a Line Oriented Interview exercise with two other Southwest Pilots.
  • We’ll also take you on a tour of our training facility and answer any questions you may have for us.
Pro tip:
  • You’ll receive detailed instructions on what to prepare for your logbook review. Please follow them!

Facility tour dependent on COVID protocols at the time. Travel to/from Dallas provided from an airport served by Southwest Airlines free of charge. Ground transport and accommodations are applicant’s responsibility.
Pending a successful interview, you'll typically receive a Contingent Job Offer the business day following your in-person interview. From there, our Pilot Hiring Decision Committee meet within one week of in-person interviews and make their final interview decision. Offers are contingent on successfully completing all pre-employment background requirements.

Flight Operations FAQs

Click each question below to learn more about what it's like to be a Pilot at Southwest Airlines.
During New Hire training, you’ll spend approximately two months at our state-of-the-art training facility in Dallas. Known to us as the LEAD Center, our training facility is for Leadership, Education, and Aircrew Development. 

Our LEAD Center, which is growing, currently houses:
  • Eight Boeing 737 MAX simulators 
  • 12 Boeing 737-800 simulators 
  • Four Boeing 737-700 simulators 
  • 48 simulator briefing rooms
  • 29 procedures trainers and briefing rooms
  • 21 classrooms 
  • Many instructors dedicated to your success
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During your time in training, we’ll provide you with single-occupancy hotel accommodations, transportation to and from the training facility, and full pay. Also from day one, you and your eligible dependents receive full benefits such as medical and dental insurance, life insurance, and travel benefits. We’ll also provide you with an Electronic Flight Bag iPad and everything you’d possibly need for a world-class training experience.

  • Matched with a Southwest Airlines mentor
    • Your mentor is a current Southwest First Officer with similar flight experience
  • First day at Southwest Airlines
    • Celebratory welcome dinner with a guest to meet Southwest Leaders
  • 50 days to complete your Initial Training Period
    • Celebrate passing your Boeing 737 Type Rating check ride
  • 25+ flight hours: Initial Operating Experience
    • Fly with a Southwest Check Pilot to build Line Flying experience
  • 30-day period: first month of on-line flying
    • New First Officers are assigned a flying line for the first month to transition to the line with the added bonus of not sitting reserve
  • Four months from start: check in and get to know your Chief Pilot
  • Six months from start: First Officer Leadership course in Dallas
    • Two-day event covering CRM/RRM, Safety data and trends, and the opportunity to meet with Senior Leaders
  • Nine months from start: meet with your Chief Pilot
    • Another check-in with tips on how to prepare for your upcoming check ride
  • 11 months from start: complete your first AQP check ride
  • One year from start: celebrate your first Southwest anniversary
    • Receive your second-year pay increase​​​​
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  • Atlanta (ATL)
  • Baltimore/Washington (BWI)
  • Dallas Love Field (DAL)
  • Denver (DEN)
  • Houston (Hobby) (HOU)
  • Las Vegas (LAS)
  • Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Orlando (MCO)
  • Chicago (Midway) (MDW)
  • Oakland (OAK)
  • Phoenix (PHX)

We run a monthly vacancy bid, giving you the opportunity to change your domicile 12 times per year!
We have ETOPS Pilots based in Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), and Oakland (OAK).
  • Southwest Airlines Pilots enjoy one of the most flexible scheduling policies in the industry. We offer all Pilots, regardless of seniority, the ability to modify their schedule extensively to suit their needs.   
  • We don’t use Preferential Bidding (PBS) so you can see what your exact schedule is before you bid on it.   
  • Our vacation overlap system allows you the option to drop any flying that touches your vacation week, potentially gaining you many more days off.
  • Pilots can trade their trips with each other via a web-based system, even with Pilots in a different base. Vacation trading works the same way!
  • Pilots can trade their flying with the Company for different trips that suit their needs.
  • A Pilot can drop their flying line down to zero (with some restrictions)—there’s no minimum you must fly.
  • You can increase the amount of your flying, up to FAA limits (with some buffers).
  • Pilots are paid 100% credit for every leg they deadhead.
  • We group the majority of our flying into an a.m. or p.m. pattern for circadian rhythm. Whether you're an early bird or a night owl, we have something to suit you!
  • 8% of our trips are a single day out-and-back
  • 11% of our trips are two days long
  • 63% of our trips are three days long
  • 18% of trips are four days long
  • We currently don’t fly red-eyes
  • On average, Pilots fly 2.7 flights per day*
  • Our reserve Pilots average 15 days off per month
  • Our line-holder Pilots average 17.6 days off per month
  • Our average flight is two hours and 30 minutes long*
  • Our shortest flight is 40 minutes long
  • Our longest flight is six hours and 20 minutes long
  • We currently fly 68 ETOPS flight per day between the Mainland and Hawaii*

This schedule is based on the average trips in 2021
*Based on 2021 Fourth Quarter
Since 1997, Southwest Airlines Pilots have visited classrooms and led activities demonstrating to students how curriculum such as science, geography, and math is applied in "real life".

Learn more about our Adopt-A-Pilot Program.
Are you interested in where we fly? Check out our route map for the most up-to-date destinations. 
  • We offer Roth and Traditional 401(k) options*
  • We’ll reimburse most of the cost of your FAA Medical and EKG (when required)
  • We’ll pay for your passport renewal expenses
  • Access to CASS to take advantage of multiple jumpseat agreements
  • Enhanced gender transition benefits**
  • Adoption Assistance Expense Reimbursement Program**
  • Employees and eligible dependents receive access to free counseling resources and work/life balance tools

*401(k) and ProfitSharing contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company.
**Benefits vary depending on the workgroup.
Join our Talent community.
We will notify you about relevant positions and keep you in mind when we have interesting opportunities.
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