Originally Posted by
e6bpilot
Not trying to get in a contest here, but there are some inaccuracies in this info.
First: age 65 would never have been passed without the support of ALPA. SWAPA did make a rather noisy play to pass it as well, but that was by about 500 pilots in a 6000 pilot union.
Many pilots here (not a lot) quit before 65. Those that don't, though, generally work turn lines and premium two days in their waning days. As one 64 year old who only works international turns (never goes to a hotel) told me "why quit? Between vacation and my sick bank, I only work 3 days a month for half the year. The other half I pick the 6 days I want to come to work. It's like I am retired already."
Good points - I imagine that guy lives in domicile? From what I can tell, very junior pilots can trip trade into incredibly efficient trips if they want. But they will have to work - they can get the high TFP days but they are still long days and no one at SWA that I know has ever thought their last trip was a vacation or really even not come home tired....from flying days.