MaydayMark

That's only a small part of the issue. Here's a slightly different perspective ... I was fortunate enough to have already upgraded to Widebody Capt. prior to the age change. My seniority STOPPED that day, I'm but a few meager percentage points more senior now.

That means that EVERY MONTH I bid for a more junior line than had all the "gummers" (we used to call them ND's or "near deads" at FedEx), I think UAL called them Herpes (can't get rid of them), UPS - Favre's (don't know when it's time to retire) retired and gone away gracefully. It also means that EVERY vacation I bid more junior than if those old farts had simply gone out to pasture (Properly planned for retirement? The FDX guys haven't lost their retirements to CH 11?)

It will also make it more difficult for me to get my "high 5" (our FDX retirement is based on the average of our highest 5 years earnings).

I'm absolutely certain I'll get bashed for my "all about me" rant. To be quite honest, it is. The gummers had their careers, at some point it's time for me to have mine. The senior f/o's that haven't been able to upgrade because of selfish old guys are in a worse situation than I am (trust me guys I get it).

A slightly different twist on the "old guys" sticking around story ... when my legacy carrier shut down, how many over 55 guys (some OVER 60!!!) got in (the seniority) line ahead of us young guys and prevented us (me!) from having a career somewhere else?

So ... I'm sure there are some sad stories out there but how many of the "OVER 60" bunch are sticking around simply because they have no life outside of work ... they have no hobbies, they have no family life, they literally have nothing better to do but stick around and work for half of their pay (they get 50% if they retire, sit at home and eat bon-bons) ... and that my friend is PATHETIC!

(Here's betting JJ will tell me I don't know everyone's situation, he's probably right and FauxHunter has never even tried to make some sorry excuse for his holier-than-thou attitude)

Lippy

Maybe this will help...

Only after we put all the Tea Partiers in jail.

HDawg

Lippy

My buddy Elijah Craig disagrees, he says we should donate more PAC money to elect democrats to resolve this whole mess.

Fishfreighter

I hope you're not referring to me. I don't need an alter ego to tell you how I feel about an issue.

Again, you did benefit from it. You wouldn't have even gotten into the profession for five years if the law had been Age 65 when you started. The only people alive today who didn't benefit from Age 60 are 4 years and 2 months old today.

...if things go as planned. What if your wife has a stroke? What if you do? Life is full of unforseen glitches. Hopefully, you will be able to execute your plan. If not, and you find you need to work past Age 60, do you instantly become a hypocrite?

Hate to break it to you, Sport, but people who are bitter and hate their jobs....RETIRE or quit.

I guess it makes them feel better, even if their arguments are out to lunch.

Good for you. Stay as long as you like. Age 65 is the law and ALL of us have the ability to use it to our benefit.

EVERYBODY'S "career expectations" stalled regardless of where they are in the profession. Some of us have accepted it and moved on. Apparently, some haven't.

Jetjok

DLax85, You're right in that my math is a little off. Chalk it up to my advanced age. However, that said, of the approximate 4600 active pilots, just how many are still flying a window seat? I guess, from your point of view, even if only one is still flying, it's too many. Oh well, again I say, perhaps it's time to get over it and move on. Either that, or string those guys up.

Mayday, you're absolutely right in that your "it's-all-about-me" rant will probably make some other guys cringe. Guys who didn't make wide body captain before the age 60 changeover, and who probably won't understand why you would be complaining about having to bid a little more junior for your wide body captain's lines and vacation. As well, they won't understand your comment "The gummers had their careers, at some point it's time for me to have mine.", because to them, you have an absolutely stellar career going. I understand your feelings about the over 60 crowd, because I've read your comments for the past 5 or so years. Again, I'd say, perhaps it's time to get over it and move on, because as I explained to Laughing Jackal, a number of years ago, if one has no control over the outcome of a situation, it's detrimental to ones health to worry about it.

As well, I find your story about "old guys sticking around" somewhat parochial, in that it's not the fault of "older guys" who, upon losing their jobs (along with younger guys), due to an airline shutting down, managed to get hired by another company, before you, thereby preventing you from having the career of your dreams. You might hold the hiring airline accountable for that problem.

And since seniority is the root cause of these issues, how about addressing the way that FedEx assigns seniority numbers. After all, throughout the rest of the entire airline industry, seniority is assigned (within a new hire class) by date of birth, not the way FedEx does it, by the last four of your social security number. This method, in and of itself, can stifle ones career, from date of hire until retirement, effecting everyone in a new hire class except the #1 guy. Theoretically speaking, that is.

SenecaII, please explain your comment, "I agree and am planning the same.....its called being manogamous and living within your means.", because I've got no idea what "manogamous" means. If you're going to use big words, at least spell them correctly, or use spell check.

And as for you LJ, things are going fine with me. I miss the flying and some of the places we went, as well as most of the guys I used to fly with. Miss it all a lot actually. Health-wise, things are fine. The weather here in the North East, this winter has been unbelievable, allowing me to drive around with the top down most of the time. And of course I'm playing a lot of racquetball and squash. Since I saw you last I've won 3 national racquetball titles, so I've got that going for me. However, I'd give it all up in a New York minute, just to be able to hub turn through Memphis again.......NOT.

I hope you're still enjoying the Mad Dog, although it's not in the seat of your choice, and trust that you'll get back to the other side of the cockpit soon. Best regards. I'll give you a call soon, to catch up on old times and to find out when that party will be. I'll be there, as long as I can find my dentures.

JJ

LowSlowT2

I'm not certain how you gained that perspective by reading my post. I said nothing of the sort. I understand contracts - I was pre-law (which means I'm too lazy or too dumb to actually go to law school - probably both). I don't claim to speak to what FDX intended or not wrt furlough, but my post was not necessarily specific to FDX. Look at the industry - nobody else pulled off what FDX did when times were tough - they furloughed instead. Apparently, it was in your contract that they could do 4a2b, so they did. I'm sure all the furloughed guys agree with you - better to be collecting unemployment than a reduced guarantee. I didn't say it was good, or I liked it, I was trying to please my employer or even if it was warranted by FDX financials, I said it was better than the alternative.

I'm certain it could. Just like the rest of life, it's all about perspective and perception. Perception is reality.

Or perhaps the economy will change radically, or FDX retirement will go away like everyone else's and you won't be able to make it on $900/month and you'll HAVE to fly until you're 65. Hopefully, that won't happen and you can retire when you want to on your terms. I sincerely hope that you are able to.

Sound advice. Nothing is guaranteed. But that is based on the last 10 years of experience - prior to that, the experience said you would be fine living extravagantly and your cushy pension would carry you to your golden years. All of the 'Kit Darby' models said you were going to live high on the hog as long as you wanted. And while that's changed radically in the past decade, it was the status quo for several decades.

I never said I wanted to please my employer, I said it was my job to make myself valuable to him. There's a huge difference.

Velcro Captain

The young pilots I've flown with have all been very good, excellent in fact. Perhaps they are also talented enough to bid around people they don't want to fly with. Thus, it's possible some people aren't aware of the large pool of talented young pilots we have.

Sluggo_63

Actually, United Airlines assigns seniority numbers by the last 4 of your SSN. Just like us. Except that at UAL 0001 is the highest and 9999 is "The 8 Ball."

Jetjok

I stand corrected. Thanks.

JJ

MD11Fr8Dog

I can make $900/month working at Walmart or Lowes, with less wear and tear on my body.