Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Salary and Benefits

Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines earn an estimated amount of $26 per hour and someone on their first month can reach up to $3,502 monthly salary. They also feature a number of perks and benefits for their crew. This airline is based in the United States and offers competitive salaries to its employees based on US aviation standards. How to Apply Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Hiring

Also Read: What is the Best Flight Attendant School?

Southwest Airlines is one of the main airlines of the United States and the world’s largest low-cost carrier. It is based in Dallas, Texas, and provides scheduled service to 121 destinations in the United States and 10 other countries. The airline was founded in 1967 operating as an intrastate airline entirely within the state of Texas, initially flying between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. It began regional interstate service in 1979 and expanded nationwide over the next few decades. A wide service coverage makes the salary of Southwest Airlines FAs way better than other low-cost airlines. Here are some important details you need to know about their salary and benefits package for FAs.

southwest air flight attendants and crew
Image: Southwest

Southwest Airlines Cabin Crew Cash Salary Breakdown

According to Glassdoor, a famous job review website, a new flight attendant at Southwest can earn $26 to $30 per hour. As with most careers, you may expect to earn more money as you gain experience, especially if you opt for career progressions

  • Basic Salary – Southwest Airlines flight attendants earn an estimated base pay is $3,502 per month.
  • Flying PayFlight attendants also receive additional pay which is around $26-30 per hour.
  • Layover Allowance – Southwest Airlines’ per diem layover allowance is $2.30 per hour. Near international flights, such as those to Mexico and the Caribbean, can cost up to $2.85 per hour.
southwest flight attendants female
Image: Southwest

Benefits

  • Free Flights – FAs receive free, unrestricted travel rights on Southwest Airlines for themselves and eligible dependents. Dependents who are eligible include a spouse or committed/registered partner, eligible dependent children under the age of 19 (or up to the age of 24 if a full-time student), and parents. FAs can also choose their own trip thanks to pass arrangements with other airlines and discounts with rental car companies, hotels, amusement parks, and other businesses.
  • 401k – Southwest FAs can Invest for retirement with pre-tax or Roth after-tax contributions with 401k Plan. FAs can select from a wide range of investment options and transfer any qualified funds from a former workplace.
  • Profit Sharing Plan – Southwest’s FAs have Profit Sharing Plan, which compensates employees for their contributions to the company’s profitability. Southwest was the first airline to offer a profit-sharing Plan.
  • Stock Purchase Plan – FAs can purchase Southwest common shares at a 10% discount through payroll deductions after six months of continuous service under the Employee Stock Purchase plan.
  • Medical Insurance – Medical coverage alternatives for employees range from preferred provider organizations (PPOs) to high-deductible health plans. Southwest pays a significant portion of the expense, making the monthly premium for medical and prescription drug coverage for employees and their families comparably reasonable.
  • Temporary disability – If an illness or accident lasts more than one week, non-contract Employees are covered by a Company-paid short-term disability plan.
  • Disability for an extended period of time – Southwest’s flight attendants can enroll in long-term disability plans to protect themselves if they become disabled and are unable to work for an extended period of time.
  • Fundamental Life Insurance – All employees are provided with free basic term life insurance. Employees enrolled in a BenefitsPlus program receive one-time annual base pay (minimum of $50,000, maximum of $1 million) in basic term life insurance and may elect optional life insurance up to ten times their salary, selecting from various levels of life insurance for their spouse/committed partner and children.

Video: THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE APPLYING FOR SWA AIRLINE AS A FA 👩‍✈️ perks| base | Salary| 401K

If you are eyeing Southwest airlines as your next career hub, here is a video that might help you. When applying for a job, you need to check on the duties and responsibilities, perks, benefits, and of course salary rate before pushing through. The good thing is that FAs at Southwest airlines get a lot of benefits that you might want to check.

Frequently Asked Questions 

The following are some of the common questions asked about Southwest Airlines:

1. Do Southwest Flight Attendants get paid well?

The average yearly income for a Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant in the United States is roughly $48,109, which is 40% higher than the national average.

2. Do Southwest employees get free flights?

Southwest employees can visit practically any part of the world and turn recognition into something meaningful with SWAG Points. Southwest Airlines Gratitude (SWAG) Points Gratitude is a way of life at Southwest Airlines.

3. Will I be compensated for my time in training? 

No, you will not be paid during your flight attendant training days. Nonetheless, you will receive $1,200 Initial Training Pay minus applicable taxes and benefit deductions within five working days of your Flight Attendant graduation. You will also receive a $425 dining stipend in the form of a pre-paid Visa card during training.

4. What does the schedule look like?

Flight attendants often work 12 to 14 days per week and log 65 to 85 flight hours per month on average, not including overtime. There are two sorts of flight attendant schedules: reserve schedules and fine holder schedules. Flight attendants on reserve schedules are available 24 hours a day and frequently handle flights rejected by senior personnel, which can result in extended legs or layovers.

5. Is Southwest a decent place to work?

Based on 4,063 anonymous Glassdoor ratings, employees rank Southwest Airlines 4.2 out of 5 stars. From the year 2010, Southwest Airlines employees have voted their firm to be one of Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work.

male flight attendant of southwest air
Image: Southwest

Summary

Because Southwest Airlines is one of the most trusted airlines in the United States, finding a job as a Flight Attendant here is quite challenging! But all of your hard work will be paid off by this airline. Southwest provides a competitive salary, perks, and benefits for FAs, so grab the chance!