You can never go back. High paychecks (circa 1960s) and work rules are gone forever. Markets change. Industries change. When was the last time you saw a downtown airline ticket office? When was last time fligt attendants had weigh ins? or get fired for being married? Times Change. You can be flexible and adapt, or go out of business. Many of us have not realized this fact. Stop living in the past....

I'll bet GM, Ford, and Chrysler wish everyone bought a new car every 2 years. It not fair that Toyota and Honda built high quality cars that got good mileage and took market share when gas prices spiked in the early 80s. But that's what the customers wanted.

Now Hundai is making a move on Toyota and Honda. The "wheel of retailing" continues to turn.

It's not fair that shopping malls essentially closed "downtown" shopping in the 70s. Then Wal Mart, K-Mart, and Target and big box stores finished off small town mom&pop stores in the 80s/90s. Now shopping is moving away from malls entirely, and the classic "anchor" stores are suffering. But that's what the customers wanted.

People have come to expect low fares. Someone will provide them. In the end, there will be a finite number of planes/seats flying around the country. The only question is what color will they be painted.

 

I agree. Look at how effective Amtrack has been and of course, there is the Mustang Ranch in Nevada. That was quite a financial succcess after Washington took over operational and financial control.

As for Government regulation of the airline industry, "neva happen G.I." despite the wishes of those in Washington who want to run our lives for us.

G'Luck Mates....we'll need it !!

 

I don't disagree with you except that, the customer isn't always right. Sure, Walmart says so but they don't really believe that. Otherwise, they too would go out of business.

We could use this depression as a way of reconditioning the American public to the real costs of flying airplanes.

Ticket prices would not have to become overly expensive in order to increase pay for the crew. A $5 or $10 increase in fair would be enough.

 

I agree. The cost of operating should be passed on to the customer, just like everywhere else. Do doctors pay for their own malpractice insurance? No. They pass the cost on to you when you go to their office. I can tell you this - if we treated doctors in this country the way we treat pilots, we wouldn't be having these big discussions about the cost of healthcare. What do you think would happen if we jacked up ticket prices and when the flying public asked why we told them it was for our "Mal-flying insurance?" I'm sure that would go over well.

By the way, Wal Mart's business model has been helping drive jobs out of the U.S. and into China for years, causing layoffs, which in turn is harmful to the economy and our employers who, in many cases, have responded with layoffs of their own. Not all Wal Mart's fault. Just making a point.

 

Do you ever hear about internet, no airline needs a ticket office anymore.

 

Exactly my point...the entire dynamics of the industry have changed. The internet eliminating ticket offices is one example. Unfortunately, many similar type of things have forever changed the environment. As a result, the "high" pay of a bygone era are just that: Bygone.

Don't mis-understand: I don't like. I don't advocate it. But that's how it is. Rather than lament the fact, I encourage my fellow pilots to deal with the realities of the day.

 

C'mon...you ever been to the Ranch? The Bunny Hut next door had better looking assets.

Of course the Ranch did have cold beer. In the 80's we used to do a Reno layover. Late night arrival, dinner, snooze and grab the F/A's in the morning, take a rent a car, stop with them at the Ranch for a cold beer, then up to Tahoe for the day...the F/A's had a big laugh everytime. Women are CRUEL! but the commentary in the car was funnier than hell....

 

The advances in communication, specifically the internet, and globalisation are changing all industries for ever.

AL

 

[quote=SkyHigh;571150]They can promise you the MOON at these school's but that does not mean that you will get work after completion at said school.
Did that regional hiring phenom also include lowering of the pay scale's?
Fred.

 

[quote=DYNASTY HVY;574521]Pay Scales, Viable Pilot Working Agreements, QOL Standards, Decent Work Rules, and all in all a lower industry-wide working standard.

The trade-off was MORE, Lower Quality Pilot Jobs for LESS, Higher Quality Pilot Jobs. I know most complain about first year regional pay, but one also has to look at the drop in minimum flight times to get hired as a entry-level first officer. Those have also dropped significantly over the years, so maybe that was the trade-off that evolved in this industry. If we were to try and reverse this trend it would undoubtably lead to less pilot jobs.

Additionally, I don't think anyone, anywhere is entitled to a job solely on the training they received. Everyone should have the same interview and be tested to the same qualifying standards.

If Airline Manamgment is able to manipulative and control it's pilots through promises of career progression, then they will always use said promises as a substitue to Higher Pay and Better Working Agreements.
Promises don't cost managers anything, and managers will always use promises to entice its' pilots. It's up to all of us, as pilots, not to be memsmerized with these frivulous distractions and ask, How Much and Under What Rules.