Commercial aviation will continue to change, just like it always has. Going from props to jets, from 3 man to 2 man crews, 10 year upgrade from working the panel to FO, regulated to deregulated, and so forth.

However, once labor makes concessions, don't plan on ever getting them back. A-funds are gone for good. B funds and 401(k)s are here now, but you can't guarantee that airline X will contribute towards them in 10 years.

I think the main difference now (other than fuel) is that there's an overabundance of people who are (1) qualified to enter the career field, and (2) more than willing to start out at horrible wages in hopes of someday getting to Captain's pay. The problem is that they might never get there.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't be a pilot. However, you should get a good education and always have something to fall back on. Don't plan on making it rich in the airline industry.