They claim IRS rules, but why do they allow it at other airlines and not here? The first year or two it would’ve been financially helpful to the transition coming here. Now I max my contributions to have the excess cash at the end of the year for back door Roth, taxes, Xmas, vaca, whatever.

In hindsight we managed without the extra cash and got past the effects of the pay cut. But most new guys now aren’t double-dipping military as new hires to help through those first couple years.