I do understand the Seniority system, and unfortunately I am not sure how one would go about circumventing it. Obviously top sales producers in a business move up quickly and are given more responsibility and more money, but as far as flying an airplane . . . You are not producing anything. You are basically a glorified taxi/bus driver. An obvious professional though. How do you rate someone on ability? It takes the same skill to land a plane empty as it does full.

In regard to wages . . if you don't like it go somewhere else (airline or completely different career) It is a valid argument. We as individuals have many many choices where to spend our time in return for dollars. (Sell Real Estate, become a doctor, Work as a sales person, etc . . ) They too require learning and time investment but they could offer greater financial rewards, even possibly better QOL as well.

A few other comments not addressed in my previous post include:

WHAT THE GOVT. WILL DO?
They just relaxed the age requirement to 65 vs. 60. Here is a very current real time example of how Govt. is getting involved today. This will offset the pilot shortage by about 3,800 over the next 5 years. Just a small amount.

and I definitely forgot . . . .

OVERSEES COMPETITION
Many oversees airlines are hiring US pilots at far greater wages, they include free housing, no taxes, allowance for a car, etc. It's happening already. And U.S Airlines are NOT reacting. They are not going on the offensive to retain pilots with better wages, QOL, benefits, etc. They are trying to trim fat where fat doesn't exist, change regulations, merge, and do all sorts of other things instead paying an acceptable wage and focus on GROWING the business. Right now airlines are trying to keep the business that they have vs. concentrating on setting themselves apart from the others.

RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES
This trickles down to all areas of the company from management, to Flight Operations to In-Flight, to Gate Agents and CSR as well as Rampers. . . . These companies are now spending more and more money on training and retraining and hiring and doing exit interviews and hiring and training, etc . . . than if they just would step back decide to up the ante a bit (wages and benefits) and hire and train only once. Employees are QUITTING for greener pastures. Airlines are not firing employees. They cannot afford to. So what happens when everyone quits???


I fly many miles a year for business, many different airlines (purposely). Family has been involved in aviation and I am an avid Stock Market player skilled in the transportation sector. This site gives me inside knowledge to the state of the industry with regards to the people who are front line.