At Southwest Airlines®, our Employees come first.
It’s more than just a paycheck. A career at Southwest Airlines includes several benefits and perks, from our legendary Culture to travel privileges for Employees and their eligible dependents. Southwest® offers an excellent benefits package, including a generous dollar-for-dollar Company match in the 401(k) Plan, subject to vesting requirements and certain compensation limits, as well as a ProfitSharing Plan and competitive health benefits for coverage beginning on your first day of employment with select plans.
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Explore our benefits

Cargo, Operations, Provisioning, and Ramp Agents

Holidays Our Ground Operations (Ground Ops) Teams take care of our Customers daily. While we observe Thanksgiving and Christmas Day as holidays, having the day off is awarded by seniority. Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Ground Ops Employees (unless on unpaid leave) receive a holiday bonus equal to eight hours of their compensation rate. Employees required to work on an observed holiday receive time and one-half pay for their first eight hours, and triple-time thereafter. 
Vacation Vacation time is accrued based on length of service with the Company. During the first year of tenure,  approximately one day of vacation time is accrued for each month of service, up to 80 hours, to use the following calendar year. Part-time Employees accrue 75% of the vacation time that a full-time Employee of the same tenure accrues. 
Sick Leave The wellbeing of our Employees is a top priority. Full-time Employees accrue eight hours of sick pay, and part-time Employees accrue six hours for each calendar month worked, beginning their first day. Employees are eligible to take sick leave after a 30-day probationary period. Sick leave accrues at a maximum accrual cap of 2,400 hours, determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Questions we get a lot.

Click each FAQ below to learn more about the PTO/Benefits for our Ground Operations Team.

Disclaimer: pay, benefits, and time-off allowances are determined by Collective Bargaining Agreements and are subject to change. Employees receive Union contracts on their first day of employment.