Orca

3. Exec bonuses. The exec bonuses are fair. The number 400 manager at United makes about $85,000 a year. That is less than almost EVERY pilot at the airline. Executives are underpaid for their field of work, and a bonus is certainly within reason, especially sticking with the airline during bankruptcy. Executives are in high demand. Their compensation is not on par for their line of work. They deserve the bonuses.

4. Why do many people on this forum attack executives. If you are so envious of their job, why don't you try to become an executive??? Oh wait, you might have to work more than 20 hours a week. They are more important, they are in demand, they did their job. They deserve a stock bonus.

20 hours a week.... That is flying time dumb ****! How much of that time are they on duty for? You probably do not even know the answer! How much time are they away from family... You do not know that either... Holidays ect.... The list goes on!

With executive like you who needs enemies! Go get a job somewhere else and ruin a different industry!

rickair7777

I am an ex-military officer and ex-fortune 500 manager. I did very well by my mid-30's, which allowed me to go fly airplanes full time.

About 40% of typical corporate management is made up of politicians, professional liers, cheaters, and criminals. It turned my stomach on a daily basis to have to associate with that sort of filth. Several other military guys I knew bailed out to go back to the service or into business for themselves for this reason. The management at my airline is worse than typical, I don't know about other airlines, but the apparant track record is abysmal.

American corporate management is broken. Part of the problem is demographics...todays exec with that distinguished touch of gray is REALLY a self-indulgent, petulant little baby boomer who never got drafted and grew up in cocaine culture of the 70's & 80's. They're just a pack of itinerant scam artists who jump from one victim...er, job...to the next. They stay long enough to exercise their stock options, but not long enough to understand or really give a **** about the organization. Everybody is just grabbing what they can take, but nobody on the management side is putting back in...eventually the well's gonna run dry...

ryane946

For everyone who is so jealous of airline executives, why don't you become an executive. If it is SO much better than flying a jet for a living. I am 22 so I can do whatever I want for my career. I chose airline pilot because it is EASIER, LESS work, higher pay, and there is a certainty that I can do it for a living (As opposed to an exec). By the way, whats the path to becoming an executive. You need both a lot more experience and luck for that to fall into place.

LDmax

Don't look now, but your naivety is showing.

Read the last paragraph of Rickair7777's post, it pretty much nails it. Most of the guys with industry experience are commenting on just that - experience. That is, year after year working with, negotiating with, and fixing problems caused by the executives you hold in such high esteem.

When a pilot that actually has experience in the airline industry has something to say, try listening for a change, you might actually learn something. You claim to be a CFI although after reading some of your posts I doubt that. If you're the future of aviation - God help us.

rickair7777

You have a lot more certainty in management. You start out as a middle manager, and baring gross laziness or negligence, you get promoted as you get older. No medical exams, and if you're not real bright, just work a little harder and suck up a little more. Been there, seen it done. and if your company relocates to timbukthree, or you're not advancing as fast as you like, just go get a job at another company (no pay cut required to do that!).