Milky,

Without writing a treatise, let me summarize a few of my main thoughts.

1. Unions do have value in that they level the playing field with management. They ensure that workers actually benefit when times are good. However, wage/benefit creep does slowly occur as compared with non union employees who are powerless to obtain fair wage increases to the point that eventually the definition of a "fair" wage gets re-defined to whatever the non union employees make, and then it will take a bankruptcy to reset the union contract back down to that lower level. That happened in the steel industries, then the airlines, and soon the auto makers. Unions will delay the process, but can't prevent it.

2. Many pilots are still living in denial. Our wages aren't ever going to return to the wages of the past. So long as you have a seemingly unlimited supply of 20 somethings willing to work for peanuts, why should the airlines pay any more than that? Having said that, I do believe wages have been reset and we are at/near the bottom.

When the average 22 year old looks at what it will take to reach a decent wage, many are realizing the journey is not worth it. Not sure how old you are, but you have made that same statement. You love to fly, would love to do it as a career, but aren't willing to go through so many lean years just for the HOPE of something someday. I don't blame you.

In fact, when asked by teenagers or young adults whether they should pursue this career, my answer is simple. If that person has a true passion for flying, then yes, pursue it and you will be happy. Making $90k for a regional (or ultimately $150k for a major) beats selling insurance or being a lawyer, even if you're making $250k doing that. Money really isn't everything. Many of my non pilot friends attest to that. The only sad thing is I used to make what they are making AND I got to be a pilot. But that's history now.

3. As for F/A's - I'll leave that to others to discuss. Sorry for the thread hijack.

PG