OK... I'm a 7ER pilot. It is a widebody category, eventhough we fly a mix of 757s and 767s. I don't make anywhere close to $145 an hour! Check APC rates for 757/767. I make approx $115 an hr. On reserve, I make a minimum guarantee of 70hrs. Some months I make less than that on a regular reduced line. To average it out, I used $110/hr. (If I use $115, it just increases the pre-tax income by just $300). So here we go:

Hourly pay: 110
Reserve guarantee: 70

Monthly salary before taxes and deductions: 70x110= $7700 ($92,400/yr)
After medical, dental, dues, taxes: Take home around $5500 a month
($66,000/yr)

I just said I fly widebody jets for Delta and make $7700/month. I fly half ER and half 757. Last I checked, I am paid widebody 7ER rates to fly both the 7ER and the 757, as negotiated by our union. My point is, the pay is dismal even compared to pilots in many thrid world countries. Have you looked at some of the interntional pay-scales of Asian LCCs lately? Much higher than DAL pay.

Go to Asia then. I'll gladly move up a # and you will be much happer since all you seem to care about is $$$. Oh, and no I haven't looked at Asian pay scales since I have no desire to move out of the country. I am more than happy exactly where I'm at. :eek:

I just got back in from a trip. Wife said while I was gone that someone representing DALPA called and was conducting a survey. I have no other details. Looks like they are polling the membership.

I used the Asian payscales as an example to use as leverage to negotiate a better deal for us, among many other things. If you think the company compensates you well, that's fine too. I'm a lot more ambitious. I already worked a contract in Asia... I might head back if contract 2012 does not deliver. You're welcome (for your seniority bump)! You might be happy with $5500 or even $6500. I guess we all have different expectations.

Got on board a westbound 747
Didn't think before deciding what to do
Ooh, that talk of opportunities
TV breaks and movies
Rang true
Sure rang true

Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl don't they warn ya
It pours, man it pours

Out of work, I'm out of my head
Out of self respect, I'm out of bread
I'm underloved, I'm underfed, I wanna go home
It never rains in California
But girl don't they warn ya
It pours, man it pours

[Instrumental Interlude]
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it
Had offers but didn't know which one to take
Please don't tell 'em how you found me
Don't tell 'em how you found me

Gimme a break, give me a break
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl don't they warn ya
It pours, man it pours

Nope... We fly globally. If other countries value their pilots that much more, we should be paid at least on par with them.

Not to mention those blue and red clown cars running around in ATL have their FO's making 30 grand more than me a year. I should be paid accordingly if Anderson considers us the best airline in the US... ALPA should be fighting for that.

Did I ever say we shouldn't? No. I just wasn't following his logic on how a "widebody" FO at Delta only makes $7700 per month so he clarified with a bunch of fuzzy numbers. Never said we shouldn't make more and I'm all for demanding big raises and scope improvements on contract 2012.

I agree with you about middle east. I cannot and do not want to live my entire career there. Same with my buddy who pulled the plug and went to Korean. But he got that opportunity because he left Delta and 'invested' few years in the sandpit. Good for him. I don't know how his schedules and days off work for him at Korean. He said he flies two long haul trips a month.

About job security, yes... these foreign companies can fire you in an instant if you **** them off. But with heavy left seat time, you can easily find a new gig in today's market. But then again, you get fired here too if you do stupid stuff.

Don't get me wrong tsquare. I would ideally want to work here at my home in the US for my entire career. But not for the current rates and career progression outlook. I have lived in the Far East before and I would do that again as my plan B, if they offer a deal which suits me and my family better.

Delta will have to sweeten the pot for people like me to stay. With all the retirements over the horizon and the record low numbers of commercial pilots graduating, we will have the ball in our court soon. The minimums at the regionals are going up too. But they are not going to hand out candy for free. We have to fight for it. If we accept the current status quo, they will take advantage of our pilot group again. There is no need for us to keep handing out milk for cheap.

Good luck to both you and me, and all other Delta pilots!

It's much deeper than that. Other countries value their aviation INDUSTRY more than does the US. Why else would we allow M R Rats to fly into so many places.. or BA to fly into 10-15 major cities in the US all the while barring us from Heathrow for so many years? Look at what is going on in Japan... Yet our politicians allow more and more and more... just wait to cabotage rears it's ugly head.. then we will see if we are a cohesive labor group or not.. Of course SWAPA probably couldn't care less about THAT...

Oh, and check your PM