Originally Posted by oldmako

When I was hired, surely the company placed some (likely grossly inflated) value on what average pass travel was worth and they probably used that number to whittle away at our overall compensation. I submit that we ought to try and reclaim that compensation in some other form as we move on.

Pass travel is not what it used to be and will surely only get worse. Load factors are off the charts. Last minute Internet ticket deals are becoming more sophisticated. What Crandall brought to Hallmark and AMR has exploded.

Given that todays new hires will likely earn 2-3X what guys my age/hire date earned and, given that the “free travel” canard has augured in and is now just just a smoldering depression, I suggest that we consider Sierra canning pass travel. Just Increase our compensation and then fly FC on vaca. Use the JS to get to work. Wasting heartbeats because you failed to get on at age 35 is one thing. Wasting them at 55 (and while raking it in) is another. Especially while on Vaca.

But I know pilots. We tipped the van driver a buck in 86. Most still tip a buck today.