Tinpusher007

Bingo! The flying doesn't suck, the JOB sucks. At times, the two seem almost mutually exclusive!

lawpilot

If I was offered a good 121 job right now I would sierously consider taking it.

JoeyMeatballs

well, a "GOOD" 121 job is at least 3-5 years of seniority at a major, anything less....................is mediocre at best. I dunno some days I am tired of the job, but after eating $15.00 worth of BBQ at Whole Hog in KLIT and having some laughs with the crew, I dont think I could give this job for anything

The Juice

It is easy to always talk about the bad and to complain about the bad, let's
Remember they're plenty of good times too. Glass full? Glass empty?

lawpilot

I miss the cuban food in KMIA...

bcrosier

Both at my present and previous carrier I work with some of the best people out there - anywhere. I've been fortunate enough to have had some wonderful experiences as a result of this job.

I've also missed out on many wonderful experiences - my youngest daughter learning to ride a bike without training wheels, numerous Christmases and birthdays, spring and fall breaks, just being home at night for a fire and a game of checkers.

I really don't care what a broker at ABC earns. I don't care what a doctor or lawyer earns. What I do know is that the aviation career I signed up for over 20 years ago has been absolutely destroyed by several factors (which I'm not going to get into on this thread). I know what I deserve to earn in exchange for my time and effort, and for the experiences I have sacrificed. Neither I, nor most of the other professional aviators I know earn what we deserve in exchange for substantial portions of our lives (and many attendant risks).

Enough is enough. I'm through subsidizing cutthroat airfares so John Q. Public can have a $99 transcon. It's not my problem that management's business model is unworkable. In the words of Phil Collins, "I just don't care no more. . ."

Whether the OP is full of it or not is irrelevant. Are you a professional who deserves to be compensated accordingly, or are you a day laborer? I can assure you, management will make sure there are plenty of shekels for themselves at the end of the day. The question is, when are we going to (as an alleged profession) quit selling out and demand to be compensated fairly?

MESABAxjALB

I think you guys are being pessimists!! Im a baggage handler (I know this forum is for WORKING pilots, sue me), and one day during the winter of '07 I was talking to a pilot on a launch flight. It had been raining/snowing pretty hard all night, and I was discussing with him our stations procedure for deicing, I remember so clearly him saying 'Living the dream..... but it's still a nightmare". I felt life telling him that I would give my left N*T to have his job.

COME ON GUY'S

Maybe he was joking, but seriously, all you guys are lucky working at what you are doing. You have responsibility, prestige, an interesting lifestyle. When you go to parties, what are people reactions when you tell them you are an Airline Pilot?

Another point, it sucks flying for peanuts, Im a baggage handler. I know what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck... Isn't it fun when you're not sure if your going to be able to afford dinner.... I think it inspires creativity! Necessity is the mother of invention.

JoeyMeatballs

prestige? Like the obnoxious pax asking me for a coke while i walk back to use the lav at 370? "Being an airline pilot" may be cool when people ask you what you do, but driving home in a hoopty because you cant afford a nice car blows more than the thrill of people reacting to you being an airline pilot

TchNgo

Agreed. I can tell everyone here from personal experience the "thrill" of breaking out the food stamp card at the grocery store. The prestige of driving piece of junk cars because you can't afford anything decent. The wonderful feeling you get from failing to adequately provide for your wife and kids....I could go on and on but won't. The point is, it may be fun to tell people what you do when asked at parties. Chilling during cruise looking down on the rest of the world may be great, and the job itself can be really fun and rewarding. But I honestly am having a hard time justifying doing it anymore. We ALL deserve more and are entitled to more compensation in this profession. Yes I said entitled. Unfortunately we are our own worst enemies. As a group we all accept the pay offered, and keep on going with the status quo. At the same time inflation goes up, and airline employees give up pay and bennies. It's like trying to keep up on a treadmill moving faster than you could possibly run. Essentially we are moving backwards instead of at least keeping up or moving forward. What was crappy pay and benefits in the early 80's ( I'm talking about regionals here) is outrageously unacceptable now.

bryris

Happiness, IMHO, is being able to play a game at which you have control, to achieve an end that you care about. So many people talk about the "dead end" job - the fact that it is dead end is what makes it bad, but not necessarily the job itself. Additionally, being in control is a factor. The stereotypical cubical worker has very little control over their own destiny. I told myself that I would never NOT work in aviation again, because it is one of the only things I care to do. The problem has become, in recent times, that making any money with aviation is a crap shoot. I am currently in school myself working on my CPA. To me it seemed the best use of my time - for now. I am in control, and am working towards something that I care about - if nothing else, it is an extra feather in my cap and a hell of an insurance policy. But, honestly, I am worried about what there will be to choose from when I finish with school at the end of this year. The logical choice will be to go find a job at a CPA firm, but unless it is the right fit, I'd rather work as a line guy chucking bags honestly. I am not built to sit in a cubicle. If I went the CPA firm route, I could open my own firm in 3-5 years, and work for myself in time. I'd set my own hours, run the show entirely, and earn every cent that the company makes - even though I do not have a love for what I would be doing. Perhaps that would be worth it. After all, freedom, is what matters to me. Being stuck at a desk, or anywhere, on someone else's determination is what I need to avoid - being driven by a desire to achieve a goal that I care about while playing a game that I am in control of - is sort of what happiness is all about.

The airlines, however, is a cool job. You get to fly, no question. But, when are you ever in control of your own destiny? When are you ever playing a game that YOU care about? It is someone else's game and you are fed just enough feed to keep you around to achieve THEIR financial goals. I love to fly as much as anyone - think about it ALL the time, but I have realized more recently than before that it isn't as much of a necessity to me as I thought. Flying to me symbolizes a freedom - but am I actually free? Crew scheduling used to call me, I ended my trips in fear of a junior assignment, etc. The perception was that I was free because I had the sun in my face and no boss over my shoulder. Beyond that perception though, what else is there? Its a cool view and the toys we get to play with are pretty kickin' - but at then end of the day, is that worth the plethora of negatives and the endless hotel rooms with family and kids at home sans father?