[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '
')Looks like both systems will end the same way - with workers saying "You pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work."

[dukey]

price comparison websites killed the industry
it was a race to the bottom
Now half the carriers are in bankruptcy

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '
')Looks like both systems will end the same way - with workers saying "You pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work."

[AirlinePilot]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'B')eing a pilot is apparently not very difficult. There's a huge surplus of available airline pilots. Maybe if the wages are low enough, some of these people might consider moving into a more lucrative profession which would benefit both themselves and their coworkers who are left behind to compete in a smaller pool.

[AirlinePilot]

For the sake of discussion I thought I'd give a metric. I am a narrow body airline Captain for Delta flying the MD-88. With a bit of manipulation due to my higher seniority level I can eek out about 160K a year working about 17 days a month. I have been with Delta for 21 years. Please remember that this still equates to about a normal amount of hours in a given week that most folks encounter @40 or so. We just do it over 3 or 4 days in a concentrated fashion.

I have lost my pension and 45% of my pay since just prior to bankruptcy 4 years ago. The regional airlines have not seen quite this drastic a level of pay reduction. The incentive for folks aspiring to my current job are far less than when I stood in my military job(Prior to Delta) looking at airline pay of 300K+ /year and a very nice retirement/medical package that is now GONE probably forever.

[FairMaiden]

While I don't disagree with your basic premise about skills/abilities/experience and compensation in the first post, one could argue that $300K/yr is overpaid in this economic climate. There are other benefits - the fact that you CAN work hard for concentrated periods and have longer than 2 measly days off at time. You can access free flights and actually do something with your leisure time. If there weren't - then why are ppl still lining for for the chance at these lower paying jobs? Maybe because ALL jobs are lower paying than they were decades ago (with inflation adjustment).

[AirlinePilot]

Another point I should make, while I agree that 300K a year is too much, I'm underpaid when it comes to other professions and commensurate levels of liability/responsibility.

I also very much LOVE my job, its what I always wanted to do.

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AirlinePilot', '
')
I also very much LOVE my job, its what I always wanted to do.

[JJ]

another nail:

from Drudge report today:



The airline industry suffered its largest drop ever in passenger revenue last year

http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/20/news/ec ... /index.htm

[Hoops_Mckann]

I am afraid that in 30-50 years, flying 6 miles high at 500 mph will be enjoyed only by the privilidged few. I am a private pilot so I guess i am a little biased but it seems that 95 % of fellow passengers while flying see this form of transportation boring and agravation and bore and that they resent having to travel this way. I am happy to have a well paid pilot in control, we pay bankers, politicians and lawyers a lot of money, and they still f*&@ it up most of the time. They don't take pay cuts. Flying a large (any) plane at that speed is just energy intensive. What ever happened to the prop fan?

[Kristen]

Yeah, but that's only starting pay, some make up to 75,000 a year.