Is Sothwest Airlines more likely to hire an internal, or external candidate for a Team Leader position?

I sent my resume into SWA for the position of Team Leader in one of their Reservation Calll Ctrs....- Today I received the call I had hoped for, however during the pre-screen the HR rep told me that they will interviewing both internal and external candidates- I worked at another airlines a few years back in the same capacity and although they interviewed external candidates it was more for legal reasons and was more for just show- An internal applicant always won out- I am asking this because this job is located 425 miles from me and I don't want to spend nearly a grand in airfare and hotel expenses if I have a zero shot- I am highly qualified, and have the confidence that the interview would go well, but ... am I am throwing my money away?