My paycut the first year was about 120,000 dollars looking at W2's. It slowly recovered each year. The last 2 years I have done better then 2004 in total earnings.
So in answer to your question I would say from 2005 to 2009 my loss in pay would average out close to 100,000 a year. As you mention retirement is hard to quantify. I made some mistakes investment wise but feel I'm am looking at 75 to 80 cents on the dollar in recovery. It's all in my own name now which is priceless!

Are we talking about the same category, or have you upgraded since that time? I too am making more today than I was in 2004, but that is thanks to moving to a higher paying position and does not count.

He's been here since he was 9. He just won't get out of my way. :D

Same category

Open that 330 base in NY and I might move. I am tired of airline flying anyway!

I'm talking about averages, not just myself. How many guys lost 30 to 40% (or more) in their 401k/DC plans in 2008? Not everyone (many?) are fortunate to have been using the investment method I've been using and been able to sail through the market over the past 10 years. In 2008, I had a 15% cash flow yield in my 401k and 11% in my DC Plan. Also, the investment method I use (Snider Investment Method) is designed to produce income (cash flow) without having to sell off assets (principle). That makes it a much more powerful investment in terms of being able to provide income in retirement.

So, yeah, in my particular case... I am on track to have an income in retirement probably greater than what I would have had with the pension. Most other Delta pilots who've been here during the past 10 years... maybe not so much.

The $1 million I'm estimating the average Delta pilot has contributed to Delta's recovery over the past 10 years includes the lost value of the pension. Ask Timbo about that. I believe he has clearly stated his situation and how he will come out nowhere even remotely close to what he would have had with the pension.

If you just look at the difference in W2 over the time period, I think it doesn't miss the $1 million mark by all that much. Throw in lost value from losing the pension (remember, I'm talking about the average Delta pilot who was here during the time period) and a full decade of stagnation... and the true number might actually be NORTH of $1 million. Also, don't forget that published inflation is arguably quite a bit lower than the true increase in cost of living over the time period. :eek:

In any case, whether it's $500K or $1 million or more... the point I'm making is that we've all contributed a VERY significant amount to Delta's recovery. I'm not suggesting we be repaid for any of that. All I'm suggesting is that it be made right going forward. I think that is being extremely fair and reasonable. Your mileage may vary.

You'd look really really good in that airplane.

Really good.

However I only took high school French because the French teacher was beyond smoking hot and liked to sit on her desk wearing a miniskirt. I don't think I ever learned a word of French in that class and to this day the football coach is probably still wondering why most of the team took French.

My thoughts pretty much align with yours, re. the approximate amount. And remember, the Furloughed guys gave 100% of their pay!

I'm not asking for the lost $Million back, although that would be nice....but how about someone at DALPA adding up the total contributions from our entire pilot group:

1. LOA 46 pay cut
2. LOA 51 pay cut
3. Flushed DB plan vs. DC plan funding
4. NW's Pilot's pay cut
5. NW Pilot's frozen DB non-funding
6. Work rule changes like PBS, requiring less staffing

Why isn't anyone keeping track of that?

Seems to me it would be much easier to make the case for "Restoration" in C2015 if we could show exactly how much the combined Delta and NW pilots have "Invested" in Delta's recovery, since 2004. And if we could point to say, $2Billion of today's record earnings, as the "Delta Pilot's Contribution" that would at least put everyone on notice, that we have not forgotten how much WE paid to Save Delta. :rolleyes:

Excellent idea! Certainly the numbers must be out there.