Originally Posted by
Mink
Not to sound like an a$$, but do some more research. Yes, things are that bad. There are guys that will very likely NEVER see the left seat in their careers at places like UAL, AMR, etc. Upward movement is non-existent. Labor/management relations are at their worst in decades. Heck, even at the current "industry leading" places like UPS and FDX, things are going in the wrong direction (UPS in the midst of a furlough right now).
I think you were being less than serious when you said you were considering a return to AD. I would get serious about it. I returned to AD after my AA furlough in 2001, and it was the luckiest move I ever made.
Don't be suckered by SJS (shiny jet syndrome). Go into the airline gig with your eyes wide open...if you decide to go.
Sorry for the sermon. Good luck to you.
A bit melodramatic aren't you? Yes there are guys that probably won't see the left seat, but they are in a very small minority. (Hired late in life, unfortunate in a merger etc...) But this is a cyclical industry like many others even though we are in an extended down cycle.. but the airlines WILL hire again. When of course is anybody's guess. When guys hit age 65, they WILL leave, and their seats will be vacant once again. As long as the majors hold the line on scope and don't allow the outsourcing of our flying, things will get better. We will probably never return (at least at DAL) to C2K payrates, but there will be improvements. I can't offer advice on whether to go back to AD or not, I would say for bull to do his research, and I think he is doing that by asking questions here. I do know this though.. if he has the opportunity to remain in the reserves and get the benefits of tri-care etc... I would DEFINITELY do that as a minimum. I wish I would have... NOW... at the time, a clean break seemed the correct move.