Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Employee Reviews
Found 1,476 reviews matching the search See all 1,485 reviews
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challenging enviroment
Scrum Master (Current Employee) – Herndon, VA – January 20, 2019
great environment. Learned to work as a team and in a diverse culture. Management is helpful, and easy to get along with. The best thing about working here is the perks and the people and sense of accomplishment.
Great Culture but be wary
Business Consultant (Former Employee) – Dallas, TX – February 4, 2019
My experience with Southwest Airlines was generally good. There was a good work/life balance and co-workers were considered to be like family. Fun and freedom of expression is actually encouraged at work but proceed with caution for at heart, it is still a company with very conservative values.
After the initial honeymoon phase, the cracks will start to reveal: promotions are typically based upon which "Leader you know" versus skill set or merit. The process is typically to go through Leadership training courses but many times, good, old-fashioned nepotism wins out. This is probably the most frustrating part of working for SWA.
If you are genuinely looking for a steady, relatively low-stress environment, SWA can be an excellent career choice.
On a side note, don't be too enamored with flight benefits. Most of the time, the attractive flights are always full.
After the initial honeymoon phase, the cracks will start to reveal: promotions are typically based upon which "Leader you know" versus skill set or merit. The process is typically to go through Leadership training courses but many times, good, old-fashioned nepotism wins out. This is probably the most frustrating part of working for SWA.
If you are genuinely looking for a steady, relatively low-stress environment, SWA can be an excellent career choice.
On a side note, don't be too enamored with flight benefits. Most of the time, the attractive flights are always full.
Pros
Culture, Profit Sharing, 401k, Medical
Cons
Nepotism, Non-revving
Fun
Customer Service Supervisor (Current Employee) – San Antonio, TX – February 15, 2019
Varies on a daily basis.
Determined by weather
Great company culture
Good coworkers
Lots room to explore jobs
Hours are crazy lots of overtime double time
Determined by weather
Great company culture
Good coworkers
Lots room to explore jobs
Hours are crazy lots of overtime double time
Pros
Compensation
Cons
Long hours
Great place to work if you start young and live at home.
Customer Service Agent (Current Employee) – Baltimore, MD – January 22, 2019
The starting pay is very low, especially if you start later in life and have financial responsibilities. You can pick up extra shifts or hours to add to your income, but then you are working yourself to death. The hardest parts of the job are being on your feet 24/7, lifting very heavy bags and some of the passengers are just horrible. Be prepared to deal with all types of passengers, some are very nice and some are basically crazy. I do enjoy my co-workers, we always try and help each other and have some fun on the job. The travel benefits are good, when you can get off and there are open seats. This has been a very interesting experience, working at a mega station airport. Every time I think I have seen or heard it all, it is topped by the next week. Good company/culture to work for, just start young or maybe as a second job after retirement.
Pros
Travel, good health, vision, dental, 401k
Cons
Low starting pay, long hours on your feet
Great company.
Ramp Supervisor (Current Employee) – Atlanta, GA – January 22, 2019
Southwest is an outstanding company to work for with so many benefits. Honestly, the best. Station management can be difficult however the benefits of the company outweigh the struggle with station management. Training is top-notch and growth is plentiful. The overall culture is warm and abundant - internally and externally.
Pros
flights, culture, profit sharing
Cons
management
Challenging Work, long hours. Good Culture
Inflight Operations Supervisor, F/A Supervisor (Former Employee) – Denver, CO – November 27, 2018
Southwest Airlines is a very good company. The culture is very strong. The company invest a lot of time and money on training its employees. It offers a high 401K match, profit sharing and stock option purchase plan.
Pros
Good culture
Cons
Long hours
Amazing Work Culture
Ramp Agent/Baggage Handler (Former Employee) – Phoenix, AZ – December 27, 2018
Company has an amazing work culture, great management, Tons of opportunity for growth and development, Fast Paced, Good pay, good benefits,Travel perks are amazing, really regretted resigning from company.
Pros
Great work culture
Cons
Waiting on the Union for pay increases.
Old School Mentality
Program Manager II (Current Employee) – Dallas, TX – December 17, 2018
I would love to say that SWA has been everything it was cracked up to be. The benefits are amazing, if you have children or are prone to being sick. But, if you are young, single and looking for work-life balance, you might be better off looking somewhere else.
The attitude is very much 'good old boys' and they overwhelmingly promote people to leadership positions based on how long they have been at the company and very rarely ever on who is the most qualified. Because of this, most of the policies are very outdated and many modern concepts (no work from home, no flex schedules) won't even be discussed.
The other down side is the total lack of respect for people with an education. Senior leaders love to talk about how they never went to college but are now running a department. Those people with advanced degrees are almost looked down upon.
The attitude is very much 'good old boys' and they overwhelmingly promote people to leadership positions based on how long they have been at the company and very rarely ever on who is the most qualified. Because of this, most of the policies are very outdated and many modern concepts (no work from home, no flex schedules) won't even be discussed.
The other down side is the total lack of respect for people with an education. Senior leaders love to talk about how they never went to college but are now running a department. Those people with advanced degrees are almost looked down upon.
Pros
Amazing company-wide culture
Cons
No flex schedules, no work remote, company refuses to modernize employment benefits, think's the only thing employees care about is profit-sharing and retirement
productive and fun place to work
Customer Service Supervisor (Former Employee) – New Orleans, LA – December 29, 2018
Handled several guests issues, irregular operations and overseeing the daily operation. The culture at Southwest Airlines is positive with employees and customers. Most difficult part of the job is when you were not able to accommodate a customer to their final destination. Being part of team you are able to learn from each other and the company allows you to learn in other departments. Always enjoyed interacting with the customers.
Pros
Great place to work for experience, pay, benefits, and advancement
Cons
none
Great company with Great employees
Flight Attendant (Former Employee) – Dallas, TX – January 18, 2019
Its a great company. Your co-workers work as a team. I would recommend working there. If you like to travel and great benefits and your a hard worker you'll like working there.
Pros
Flexible Relaxed enviroment
Cons
Long hours, Changing time-zones
Worth It, you feel the luv
Ramp Agent (Current Employee) – Albuquerque, NM – December 12, 2018
Let’s get this straight the day I leave Southwest is in a body bag. I work ramp right. Ok but this job is a career, and it offers movement of all types whether it’s up the chain or laterally in another department. If you put on your work you will get what you want. Ramp is union with pay scale online.
Pros
Benefits, flexibility, overtime, great culture
Cons
Mandatory OT at times but it’s 2x so is it really a con
Be careful if you hired and keep the second option of job
Ramp Agent (Former Employee) – Houston, TX – November 17, 2018
Company is great but the HOUSTON local management is not as great to provide tools and trainer ( fun loving trainer at DALLAS TRAINING CENTER ) to make you successful on your probation period not effectively looking your peers.You got hired after so many application and company spend good amount of money on your hiring process and terminate the knowledgeable and experienced aviation back ground employees because of the Non professional trainer on probation period. Local management ruin my career and put me in financial hardship not giving opportunity to deliver my experience and knowledge.
I WISH A GOOD LUCK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PROCESS OF HIRING OR ON PROBATION PERIOD, KEEP YOUR SECOND OPTION OPEN .
I WISH A GOOD LUCK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PROCESS OF HIRING OR ON PROBATION PERIOD, KEEP YOUR SECOND OPTION OPEN .
Pros
Great company structure with benefits
Cons
Non professional trainer
Productive and fun workplace
Ramp Agent (Former Employee) – Baltimore, MD – January 1, 2019
Southwest Airlines is a good place to work. The management team works with the employees to get the job done. Hard working, healthcare benefits are awesome. Best place to work.
Fast-paced and fun work environment
Ramp Agent (Former Employee) – Baltimore, MD – January 8, 2019
Management is understanding and easy to work with. Coworkers are the best people you'll ever meet. Work day can be a little hectic every now and then. Some days are slow and easy and some are fast from the get go.
Pros
Benefits
Cons
Travel distance
Nice company to work for
Customer Service Agent (Former Employee) – Baltimore, MD – November 12, 2018
The Southwest Culture is great in training. Some of the airport locations need a refresher to ensure that they are reflecting that same energy. Peers were a great help throughout training
Pros
Great flight benefits, great benefits
Cons
Pay needs to be higher for duties involved, Culture needs to be adopted by management in the airports
Non-Competitive Secure Environment
Sr. Analyst - Supply Chain Management (Former Employee) – Dallas, TX – January 1, 2019
The great job culture comes at a cost of a lower salary based on the market. The challenge is that the experience level is not as experienced as you would find outside the organization. They believe that since they are such a popular company to the public that anyone would do business with them and do not understand when companies do not subscribe to that way of thinking.
Fun Place to Work
Travel Service Specialist (Current Employee) – Dallas, TX – November 7, 2018
There is always something to celebrate! The culture here for the most part is very inviting and respectful of differences. I Luv our CEO Gary Kelly he is a real hands on CEO.
Pros
Access to travel
Cons
Salary could be better for entry level positions
Fun loving
Customer Care Support Supervisor (Current Employee) – Atlanta, GA – January 15, 2019
Great fun environment can be stressful must be flexible great compensation and competitive pay great retirement benefits. Everyone flies free immediate family only
Pros
Free flights
Cons
Mandatory ove
Great Work enviornment
Customer Service Agent (Current Employee) – Chicago, IL – November 1, 2018
A great place to work.
Friendly culture
Room for advancement
Overtime Opportunities
Great Benefits
The hardest part of the job is figuring out where you want to travel for free!
Friendly culture
Room for advancement
Overtime Opportunities
Great Benefits
The hardest part of the job is figuring out where you want to travel for free!
Fun place to work.
Airport Ramp Supervisor (Former Employee) – Tampa, FL – December 3, 2018
Good company to work for. Pay is good. Able to transfer to different stations/cities and different departments. Health benefits are good for families as well as travel benefits.
Pros
Able to transfer to different cities
Cons
Management
Overall rating
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Ratings from women
3.4InHerSight Score
3.3Personal Development
3.9Career Opportunities
3.0Family Support
Women rate the female-friendliness of their workplaces on InHerSight
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