Originally Posted by
mike734
I still can't get my head around one basic question. Would the worst regionals have trouble finding pilots if the pay at the best majors doubled? Think about it.
The higher the pay and benefits at the big five the lower it can be at the rest. I heard JO say as much in a conversation I had with him many years ago. He will always believe it.
That's the basic flaw in the current model. But who can afford 5-7 years at regional F/O pay, then a 3-5 at regional captain pay, to then go to a major at even or lower pay. I sit next to guys who are in the 3-6 year range and are close to BK. Student loans are not deferrable for 8-12 years so the choke point is truly at the regionals. Who can afford 60-100K in student loans for a 20K job?
The model is broken and with a 10+ year deferred gratification goal line how many can! want and/or will sign on for the ride. It's gotten to be a bad investment.