MEMpilot

"Hey, if the airlines are saving so much money by cutting down on all this bogus weight, share the wealth! They should dump all this saving back into the pockets of the employees who've sacrificed so much over the years."

Blastboy, I'm glad you think this way...this is what I'm trying to argue for. I feel as of now, airlines are pocketing all the extra cash they save on weight reduction as wages continue to drop. With the introduction of the 787 and other composite frame aircraft, I feel fuel efficiency is going to continue to get better and more money will be saved. This money needs to be used to preserve or increase pilot wages to satisfactory levels of income. If not, airlines will continue to save money, offer discount tickets all at the expense of employee wages dropping dramatically.

blastboy

Yep! Basically it's legal theft. I don't know the mechanics behind the managements filthy secrets but they must go through a few loopholes to get away with it. My dad says most of them have a thick background in business law or are ex-big business attorneys. Go figure, eh? If the wages come up, they should come up to at least pre 9/11 standards. AT THE VERY LEAST!!

aerospacepilot

Airlines are not "pocketing" the extra cash. The extra cash simply isn't there. Take a look at page 17 of the link posted on the first slide. The average 1,000 mile fare has dropped 7% over the past 7 years, while jet fuel (an airlines largest expense) has more than doubled! Fares need to be higher. That is it, plain and simple.

Airlines are experts in cost cutting. Why aren't they experts in raising revenue??

I really hope airlines continue to initiate those $5 increases in ticket prices. 90% get rescinded because a single airline does not follow suit. Now if all the majors got on the same page and raised fares by $20 average for a 1,000 mile fare, paying employees a good wage would not be a problem. Revenue is the problem. Airlines have cost cutting down to a science. Now they just need to do the same with revenue, and everything will be alright.

blastboy

By "airlines" not pocketing the extra cash I assume you mean the upper management. If the money simply isn't there then explain to me how dozens of top executives at major airlines are receiving millions in bonuses.

The ticket prices need to be raised at least $20 a peice not only to bring pay back to pre 9/11 standards but also to bring back the furloughed pilots and clean up the rest of the mess that management has made. I don't think the low ticket prices will continue forever just like low gas prices came to a screetching hault. If the ticket prices were raised, the public would pay for them just like they're paying $100 to fill up their gas hog SUV's twice a week. The public would whine and pout for a few months but eventually give in and pay; just like when gas prices were raised.

I agree with you, the employees need to be compensated appropriately! Nobody would disagree with that. The way the airlines are being managed these days is just plain sick.

skycowboy

Right yeah - I just don't know about that data... I mean I would like to see their experimental set up... there are a billion variables to consider.