"Chris" is at the top of the SWA pay scale. The salary he or she mentions is the result of a brutal flight schedule plus overtime, plus holiday pay. Not the average income. However, Southwest is at the top of the industry in wages. Many of the airlines don't even come close, especially the regional carriers

Also, it's "hours" per month, not trips. Heather should have made it clearer that the monthly lines can only be blocked for those hours per month, as not to violate FAA regs and valuable rest times. There is little restriction on the amount of hours one can pick up on their days off, or trip trade.

A big consideration is quality of life at work. What is the company culture? How often is a reserve going to fly above the guarantee? Remember that with almost all of the airlines, you're going to be on reserve for many years.

It used to be that flight attendants made decent wages, could raise a family and although not accumulate wealth, have a good life. Not any more. Starting out, flight attendants would have roommates, not a crashpad situation reminiscent of migrant workers. The job has really deteriorated for new-hires.