Originally Posted by
de727ups
"Low pay and Airline Pilot never existed in the same sentence."
Yeah they did. 20 years ago UPS Capts made 80K a year on a DC8. Entry level regional/commuter jobs paid from 10K to 15K, and you needed 2000 total and 500 multi to get looked at. Lorenzo had broke the union at Continental with ads in the paper for pilots. 75K for Capts. 50K for F/O's.
It's never been an easy career. Not 20 years ago, not 30 years ago. It's never been a high paying career to start out. You have to pay your dues and put in your time. For some, it just turns out not to be worth it. For others, it is. To each his own...
20 years ago transition from a regional to major was the obvious choice. Today people stay at a regional carrier because they don't want to take the
pay cut. 10 years ago Delta FO made more money than two regional CA put together.
Is it that hard for you to understand that not everyone is as lucky as you? You made it the UPS in 7 years. 1 out 5000 will make to the top at this industry, the problem is that hard work has nothing to with it. You got lucky! Congratulations. Just because you won the lottery it doesn't mean that everyone else will. Pilots are wasting half their lives chasing the dream that has very little chance of success and you encourge them to do it. Let not forget that some may have their four stripes at a major but no family to come home to.