Originally Posted by
satchip
Simple answer. If FO wages are two low for you, go do something else. Go earn a better living. Stop whining and asking the Government to make your life better.
Wages are based on the marketplace. Entry level regional FOs are paid crap because THEY CAN! They can make 'em like potato chips. Crunch all you want, we'll make more! Maybe, just maybe, the new law requiring an ATP and 1500 hours will change the marketplace. There is your government action.
And here you are correct again. This speaks to my earlier comment about
malinvestment. The RLA and airline regulation created an unrealistic industry in which captains were paid fantastic wages (sure would be nice) that could not be supported by a true free market. But we still think we can "get back to the good 'ole days" of 400 dollars an hour.
We used unions and taxpayer money (price regulation) to subsadize our pay an benefits. We are simply in a no-man's land between regulation and free market; it is not pretty.