Originally Posted by
Bluedriver
We have hundreds of legacy furloughs, that have seen both models, and elected not to return after the recalls. Our (JB) pay and benefits has, at times, exceeded legacy pay. This industry is ALWAYS changing and shifting. No airline has EVER been at the top and stayed there.
As a former LCC pilot, I take your point. There have been points in history where a particular pilot may be better off at a LCC.
Fact is, those times are the exception and not the norm. Your post raised another point. NK and B6 have guys furloughed from legacy carriers. They didn’t just get up and decide to leave.
No doubt, they’ve done very well for themselves, but the fact is that almost all the movement is from LCC to a legacy.
Should LCC guys get paid legacy rates? Absolutely. But it’s going to take time, and in that time, some opt to just go to a legacy and get the money now. All things being equal, they’ll come out ahead. They’re not any better just because their airline has been around longer.