Originally Posted by
stix'nstrings
Pelican, thanks for starting this thread.
There was a time when I wore my blazer and hat to reflect the professional look of an airline pilot. But that ship sailed 10 years ago when I took a 30% pay cut, lost vacation, pay more for healthcare and forced to vote on a contract to sell out new hires. If the company wants me to resemble their airline pilot image while walking through a terminal than they can buy me the uniform. I've already paid for two (blue shirt seniority) with accessories and won't be buying a 3rd. I'll wear whatever I need to accommodate the practicality my trip, including a north face jacket and not something that produces the pretentious or silly look of someone who has experience but doesn't. With over 25,000 hours of flight time I have nothing left to prove and couldn't care less about the Company's or public's view. After all, this job is about providing safe transportation, money and time off; not what we look like getting to or from a flight while walking the terminal. Over the years I've spent 'thousands' on the look and it has gotten me LESS take home money.
OTOH, maybe I just need to retire.
I have felt the same way for nearly ten years now. And I never fail to remind our VPs that they owe me nearly $500k in back wages. But, lately I've been upgrading my uniform, making PAs from the front of the cabin and engaging passengers on most every flight. And you know what? I'm happier, my blood pressure is lower and I'm less distracted. I enjoy going to work again. I even ordered a hat!
I've been flying with an FO that wears the full uniform all the time and hands out cards to the kids. As I watch him interact with the pax and kids I can see how they are happy and that it makes him happy. I'm tired of being angry. If we have any chance of winning the Battle for Seattle it's going to be because people would rather fly on us. And it's not going to be our shiny new jets that keep them comming. It's going to be competitive fares, convenient schedules and a pleasant experience. I still want my $500k but Even more than that, I need this place to continue to exist long after I retire.