Will pilot pay EVER go back up?
 

I know this has been discussed time and time again, but I don't know if people have looked at it in this light. I was on APC and looked at some new startup airlines' pay scales. In particular, Virgin America, scumbus and Lynx. All pay scales are pathetic, yet I assume that none are having trouble getting pilots. Since the ALPA vote was shot down at SkyWest, I haven't heard too much union stuff on here lately. Are there any companies out there that have any hope of raising pay back up?

I saw Alaska is in negotiations. What about RAH, TSA, Pinnacle and whoever else is in negotiations? I assume with the economy, gas, etc. not much will get accomplished. Does anyone have any good news?

No good news at this point, but I am optimistic about the opportunity to turn things around. Hopefully with a new administration, whether or not I agree with their policies as a whole, we will be able to regain the ground lost over this last decade. The ability to strike is crucial if we want to turn things around. I also think if pilots were to adopt the mantra "a pilot costs what a pilot costs, just like oil costs what oil costs" we'll all be better off. I'm not sure who originally stated that on these message boards, but they could not be more right. I feel it's time to take a stand, or this profession may slide further into mediocrity.


Side note: if skybus offers point to point service between major city pairs to the wife beater and torn jeans community, why doesn't delta and other legacies differentiate themselves by offering luxury travel to businessmen through an EOS style business plan. For example offer larger and more comfortable seats and better service for travelers. They could also differentiate themselves by continuing to offer a large network of destinations. Let the burger kings of the airline industry be the burger kings and let those who are able to offer premium service offer premium service. People will pay for the better service, comfort, and flexibility. I have spoken to several business travelers, while commuting that have expressed displeasure with the level of service offered to them by legacies on domestic flights (I have not heard too many complaints about international travel, though some travelers preferred the destination country's nationalized airline's perks compared to the cost saving service of the US carriers). I feel a legacy competing head to head with a LCC will always lose due to higher labor costs, but if the legacies decide to differentiate themselves from the competition by offering a different product they have an excellent chance to succeed. Then again I have no business experience or expertise, so it is probably safe to assume I'm way off. I also enjoy hearing how completely clueless I am so fire away.

Pay
 

Pay will go up eventually, but only after negotiations have dragged out for years and inflation has turned the raise into a cut.

SkyHigh

well said .. :D

Not until reregulation .you want a raise then start pushing for it .

Ask any ASA Pilot, it already has.

My pay went up approx. 35% with our new contract. My pay has ALWAYS gone up and I'm made over $160,000 last year as a sixth year F/O.

Oil is $100/barrel, while pilots cost a dime a dozen to be exact

Based on free market economics, as long as the industry is willing to hire pilots for low wages (presumably willing to accept lower quality pilots), and the pilots are willing to work for those wages, then the airlines have no incentive to raise airline pilot pay. If the customer demands higher paid pilots, or there exists a shortage in pilots willing to work for the low wages, then the industry will have to figure out a way to pay more for quality pilots.

I hear everybody complaining about wages here, but have you heard of any airline, including the lowest paying ones, having trouble getting guys in the seats? I'm no expert, but I haven't heard of any issues with getting guys in. I haven't really even heard of them having trouble keeping guys there after they get there.

Am I wrong?

Yes, you are somewhat. Mesa is still losing 100 pilots a month so retention isn't happening there.