Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
No, I am sure that truckers and factory workers face layoffs and pay cuts as well. The big difference is that they didn't pay 150K in training and education ,waste four years in college plus a decade in a crummy regional for the privilege of being downsized at middle age.
In addition most other careers have the benefit of being able to transfer their accumulated knowledge and experiences into other lines of work and possibly even better jobs. Airline pilots are all nearly worthless outside of the seniority system.
SkyHigh
Well, first off, four years of college is only a waste if you get an aviation degree. You should get a degree in something you can fall back on. For instance, I got a nursing degree. If I get laid off, I can get a hospital job making $50/hr in a day. If I lose my medical, I would go back to school to be a nurse anesthetist. Getting an aviation degree is a waste. It would be nice to get the word out there to kids starting college to ABSOLUTELY NOT get an aviation degree.
If you paid $150K in flight training and college, you are not very smart IMO. I think college cost me $17K and flight training was around $30-35K.
If you don't live like a rock star and have something to fall back on, you shouldn't be financially devastated if you lose your job. If you CHOOSE to live like a rock star, spend all your per diem at work eating out (because it's humiliating to you to bring your food to work), blow your cash when you are making it....well, then it's hard to feel for someone like that when they lose their job. The only thing that's guaranteed in this life is death and taxes. You can't live your life looking for the 100% guarantee because you will never find it.
I do agree that the seniority system sucks when you lose your job. It sure is nice when you are senior though!
