Originally Posted by UnlimitedAkro

Im so sick and tired of hearing the industry is on a cycle. "Up and down up and down" they all say. Any 4 year old with half a brain knows the airline industry is on a cycle.

But guess what is not on a cycle. OUR PAY. The industry takes a crap and our pay goes down. Then things in the industry get better, and our pay stays the same. Then things get worse and our pay goes down again. I listened to the whole "airline industry will always bounce back" speech in college, and I believed it. But one thing they never taught anyone is our pay will never go up again. And they sure as hell didnt teach us that I'll have to file taxes for less than 30,000 my first 3 years in the airline industry flying jets.

Hey, I love my job, I could be doing thousands of worse jobs and I know that. But I remember several professors giving the "you are all going to be worth 10 million dollars by the time you are 50 years old" speech "BECAUSE you attended this great college". Every single one of us should be ashamed for not standing up and challenging that speech.

And dont even get me started on the University calling me from time to time asking for alumni donations. I'll be more than happy to donate money if they want to pay off my student loans.

Its easy to believe in this airline dream because we all want it to come true. This job is fun, but dont come to it for the money. Dont believe the hogwash that you have to attend ERAU or any other great aviation university to make it in this industry.

The best way to find out about this career is to talk to someone 3-5 years ahead of you. Dont listen to the old professors who did this 30 years ago. Guess what Professor Grandpa, things arent the same anymore.

Rant over.