Southwest Airlines — questions reported by pilots

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a company policy and how you handled it.

Tell us about a time you used humor or levity appropriately to defuse a stressful situation.

Tell me about yourself.

Describe your ideal working relationship with a captain on a pairing.

What does the Southwest culture of LUV mean in operational practice?

How do you embody Southwest's servant leadership model as a captain?

Why Southwest? What draws you to our culture over other major carriers?

How would you describe Southwest's competitive advantage in the airline industry?

Explain the autopilot limitations on the 737 NG at low altitude during an ILS approach.

What are the 737 NG or MAX limitations for crosswind takeoff and landing and what technique do you use?

Explain the differences between the 737 MAX MCAS system and the NG trim system and the training implications.

V1 cut on the 737, what do you do?

Your 737 MAX LEAP engine experiences a surge and compressor stall during cruise. What are the indications and what do you do?

Explain the 737 NG ground spoiler arming sequence and what conditions must be met for automatic deployment.

Explain the Southwest point-to-point network model and what it means for fuel and contingency planning versus a hub-and-spoke carrier.

What are the regulatory requirements for 10,000 ft briefing items and what does the sterile cockpit rule require?

A passenger becomes verbally aggressive toward a flight attendant during boarding. The CA wants to remove the passenger. You have a tight turnaround. What considerations apply?

Your CA begins a discussion about personal life issues during the departure flow. How do you handle it?

You are flying the CA's leg and believe they have set an incorrect altitude in the MCP. The CA insists it is correct. What do you do?

How do you brief a flight attendant?

You are the CA on a 6-leg day and your FO seems to be developing task saturation late in the day. What do you do?

Your FO disagrees with your decision to divert to Midway instead of continuing to Denver due to weather. How do you handle the disagreement?

You are taxiing out and notice a fuel truck still connected to the aircraft. Ground crew are waving you forward. What do you do?

Your CA is rushing through the descent checklist due to ATC pressure and skipping callouts. What do you do?

Tell me about a time you took ownership of a difficult outcome and what it taught you about leadership.

Tell me about a time you received critical feedback and how you responded.

Tell me about a time you had to influence a group to change direction on something they were resistant to.

Tell me about a time you worked with someone you found personally difficult and how you maintained a productive relationship.

Tell me about a time you caught a mistake before it became a problem.

Describe a personality conflict at work.

Tell me about a time you coached an underperforming crew member to improve.

Tell me about a time you had to make a fast decision in a high-stakes environment and you later learned you were right.

You are on a 6-leg day, last leg of the day, fatigued. ATC hands you off to approach and gives you a complex routing that catches you off-guard. How do you manage this?

Departing DAL on a short turnaround, you realize during taxi that the cabin is not configured and flight attendants are still stowing bags. Tower calls you for takeoff. What do you do?

En route from MDW to LAX at FL380 your engine 1 oil pressure drops to the low range. What do you do?

Climbing through FL280 out of LAS your aircraft develops a pressurization issue and cabin altitude begins rising above 8,000 ft. Walk me through your response.

You are the CA on a winter morning departure from MDW. You have been deiced and your holdover time expires in 10 minutes. ATC has you number 4 for departure. What do you do?

An engine fire light illuminates at V1 on the 737. You are the CA. What is your immediate action and how do you manage the subsequent flight?

You are holding over BWI due to a ground stop. You have 1.5 hours of fuel when you enter the hold. The stop is extended repeatedly. At what point do you act and what do you do?

On approach to HOU you receive a windshear warning at 800 ft AGL. The CA is flying. What do you do?

Why Southwest?