Originally Posted by
aileronjam
This is a rediculous hypothetical scenario but since you asked... If you were hired at United today or Virgin today, you would make more money at Virgin. Since Virgin doesn't have a contract per se, it would be tough to compare apples to apples. That being said, people who work for VA are happy, people who work for UAL are extremely unhappy. That speaks for itself.
I see your reading comprehension is pi$$ poor at best. I never said anywhere in my posts that LCCs don't have an impact. I merely stated that to think that UAL's degrading contract doesn't impact the industry just as much, if not more, is not valid.
If and when a new company starts to generate a profit and is stable, don't you think the labor groups will start asking for their share? Every US airline paid their pilots like crap initially and over time the pilot groups negotiated for their fair share.
You can't start at the top, it doesn't work that way.
really a guy hired at virgin who went immediately to the left seat making $95/hour would make more than a united hire making $30. You're fairly sharp to point that out. A gold star for you.
As for who's happy, it's not a shock to see people happy who start a new job. It usually works that way. Ask a new flight instructor, regional or LCC or major pilot. They are generally happy to have the new job. I bet though if Virgin pilots took a 30% pay cut they might not be as happy.
As for those airlines that start making a profit which pilot group ever caught up to get their fair share? Did airtran, jetblue, frontier, america west? Southwest never even caught up until 9-11 and that was by default. I hear they have a TA. Looking forward to seeing it.
How big would you say a start up can get before you think they should be caught up? If ever? When do you think they should get their fair share?
Your last sentence is my favorite. "You can't start at the top, it doesn't work that way." I guess you can try by going to virgin and becoming a captain right away.