Slowpay ,

The NWA DB pension plan is frozen along with all the benefits due all participants . Nobody can increase their benefit by retiring early . Not only will they take a hit of 3% per year for going early , they will lose the lumpsum payment ( the "excess" plan ) . With the normal retirement age going up to 65 I'm not sure what the trigger date for the excess plan payment is now . When I retired it was age 60 and if you retired one day early you did not get it . Now as to pilots using the contract to their benefit . It has always been this way and it always will be . A pilot would be foolish not to do anything the contract allows to improve his retirement . Don't you agree ? If NWA pilots retire early it will have no effect on the current retirement plan funding . I know it is shocking that pilots will try to sharp shoot the contract but what else have you got to think about on a 12 hour trans-pac !!