Originally Posted by
symbian simian
KLM widebody captain (and to get widebody captain at any legacy in the USA you would need 20 years) makes around $300K. Biggest difference, he was hired into KLM at age 20, starting pay $80K, never displaced or furloughed, and retires at age 57 with 70% of his pay. Not saying that the EU LCC are great, but 4 year easyJet captain makes over $200K. WOW, Ryan, Vueling aso are very different.
4 year easyJet captain does NOT make 200k a year. Closer to half of that.
KLM is an exception in Europe, and the top pay for straight-up captains is not 300k, closer to 250k. Few make 300k but they often have other positions too.
Starting pay at KLM is around 60k. That's way higher than any other legacy. BA starting pay is around 35k.
BA top captains hit 200k, average is closer to 150k. LH is about the same.
AY, no-one makes more than 150k.
Also remember, these guys pay 50% or more in income taxes, and 20+% VAT etc.
Take home pay, apart from KLM, in European legacies is comparable to good regionals or ULCC's in the US.