Originally Posted by sailingfun

I don’t know 1980 pay scales but in 1986 a Delta new hire made 21,600 a year flat rate. In the second year he made 28 a hour. In year 5 he made 56 give or take in the right seat. A L1011 CA made 160,000 a year. A 727 Captain about 130,000. Greenslips were virtually unheard of and there was no real soft money like reroute pay. Quality of life was however unquestionably much better if you lived in base. Commuting was virtually impossible in any category as a reserve.