Originally Posted by
Scrappy
I agree with everything you say but I sure wouldn't want to be hired there now as a young 30 something. With all the AirTran 30 something's ahead of me there won't be any upgrades in years to come. However great company no doubt.
That's a good point.
A guy that posts on here was hired at UAL in his 20's in the mid 90's, was able to be a 737-200 CA BEFORE he even turned 30. Then, 9/11 happened. He wasn't furloughed, but how long do you think it's taken him to get back to the CA's seat? That is, if he can get back in to the the CA's seat. Never mind the lost income of the concessions, the canning of the retirement, the devaluation of the ESOP and on and on that lasted roughly a decade of his career.
The points you make about it being more than just the hourly is valid. Because in the big picture, they new UAL rates are relatively "new". And aren't really much more than the BK concession rates adjusted for inflation.
Although a SWA FO's tenure in the right seat may have just been prolonged (relative to the growth they enjoyed after 9/11), I don't think they'll be "hurting" for money so speak. But hey, for some 150K a year to jerk gear on a 737 at a company that has CONSISTENTLY made money just ISN'T ENOUGH for some people............