Condescending???? Get over yourself. If that's your perception on the focus of the discussion concerning AA's post, you need not reason in this topic.

What AA wrote is spot on. I guess you failed to do the simple math on the equation:
Look, when we took our pay cuts I also took a 38% pay cut. I went from old 767 pay rates to MD-80 FO BK style pay rates. And guys who went from Captain to FO took in some cases a 50% cut. Lastly the furloughs to 100%.

For all the "Altruism Flag Wavers": (note: not trying to spike TS's Blood PSI)
Just b/c you get a 'shiny new quarter', does that mean you need to go buy the biggest house/best new cars/fastest boats....or in some cases, all 3??? I would dare bet that type of mind frame puts most 'pilots' right against the ceiling of living at the top of their means?? If that's the case, hate to rain on your dream.....shocker, the slightest ripple & your apple cart is endanger of turning over when you live your life-style that thin. In the end, it's called being 'fiscally responsible'. It has been kinda a "vogue" topic in today's financial world.

TTOCSMCC, you said "A lot of folks these days are in dire straits financially, and it's not just furloughees".....you are correct, and again in a large amount of cases (outside those who are furloughed), it's called not being 'fiscally responsible' and "living outside of your means".....that simple. It's Econ-101 folks.....PLAN for the WORST, hope/dream for the best. Doing the inverse has been displayed by many over the last 24 months.


During the good times (pay raises/new aircraft/company expansion/positive career progression), it's funny to watch the 'arm-n-arm' group cohesiveness of pilot groups. When things are "not so much", it's alarming to see how many people justify their "me-me-me" mentality in pulling up the rope by saying "how do you expect me to still live on $150K+ AFTER taking a 30%+ pay cut".....Newsflash....Living beyond your means?? Not Rocket Science.

It's not a shocker, the industry we work in is volital to say the least......Ebbe & Flow - hiring one minute, and furloughing/pay cuts the next. To an extent, WE (pilots) can NOT control fellow pilots getting furloughed, but we (individuals) sure as heck can control living a "nice life" and still doing it within our means that DOES NOT cause us to use the excuses displayed in this thread when economics turn south.

One good/simple point that Oscar made regarding flying "OT with pilots on the streets" speak volumes (who's wife holds a degree from the best University around):