When you accept the paycuts, just remember this number from a NY Times article over a decade ago

“Mesa’s stock, which has suffered the same wide swings as most airline stocks through the years. Mr. Ornstein, a stockbroker for nearly a decade before joining the airline business, admitted he had a recurring stock-picking habit, and said that in a good year his market gains could outweigh his substantial airline pay. In the year ended Sept. 30, 2006, Mesa paid him about $1.6 million in cash and stock and he had a $2.8 million gain from exercising stock options.”

-NY Times



Go ahead and make less money while the fearless leader you never see in the cockpit or crew room reaps the rewards. Never seen the guy in the whole time I’ve been here. Not once even in passing.