Originally Posted by
hockeypilot44
I'm not going anywhere until I see what our next contract looks like. It will take me 16.5 years to reach the 50 percent mark at Delta according to the crystal ball. That assumes everyone leaves at the mandatory retirement age of 65 and the list stays the same size. I have news for you. Very few pilots are leaving early. I've flown with 63 1/2 year olds on the MD-88. Our list is shrinking. The retirement age might rise to 70. If that kid's post on the other website is true, he is making $72,000/year more than me to fly a smaller airplane. I like my current employer, but that's a hell of a lot of money per year. I would like someone to publish W-2's. ALPA tells me I'm not far off from Southwest, but the Southwest pilots are telling me different. I would like to know who's telling the truth. It's pretty sad how you just want to get rid of me. You would think you would want this place to be a premier place to work and not just a stepping stone. I have a junior buddy of mine who bid to the 737 recently to just get the type rating so he can move on. I know a 7er pilot who went to UPS while furloughed. He was furloughed from UPS and is back here. I asked him if he is going to stay when UPS recalls him. His answer was "hell no." The reason is UPS just pays too much more. It all comes down to the money and time off. I don't get much of either as a commuter on reserve.
I couldn't care less if you leave or stay. It's up to you. If you want the money so bad.. and it really is that much better.... then go. Nobody here is gonna stop you. As a matter of fact, I am sure there are a few guys junior to you that would be happy to see you leave too, just as you would those senior to you. Get the type... go to SWA.. make lots of money.. be happy. I'm guessing you won't crack the top 50% there for at least as long as here too.. Same grass.. different septic tank.
Oh, and I think that DAL IS the premier place to work. Life is not all about the money.