Disagree. Per diem is still part of your compensation package. Pay rates are only part of the big picture.

Well so is 401k match

Yeah well I guess it's all part of the package.. Sorry if it mislead anyone.

Haha I definitely don't do that now. Second year pay gave me some breathing room.

Well in that case I made $22,000 dollars 43 crew meals, about 600 waters and a few hundred showers at a crappy hotel. I'd say I was over compensated. Hope the government doesn't hear about those crew meals. Might get taxed on them too;).

LOL.. Yeah I forgot about the billion waters we get ;)

Per deim isn't pay
 

Per Diem isn't pay. It is compensation for having to fend for yourself on the road. Pilots love to try and justify their under performing career by adding in all kinds of things that do not count as compensation yet conveniently forgetting to subtract for airport cars, uniforms, crash pad, meals on the go and the like.

An honest accounting is most humbling.

Skyhigh

I am not getting into the per diem debate, and not re doing my math to include my pay without it. My first 365 days at Eagle I grossed 33,267. I pick up SOME OT, and try and work the system, but I do not kill myself, and usually fly in the mid 80 to low 80s. Last year I didnt really know how to maximize the pay so it was not that high credit wise. I was on RSV for 2 or 3 months, and held a line about 6 (training the other 3 with 24/7 per diem).

This 365 day period I am aiming for 50k with per diem. I now try and maximize pay, last 3 months I have been averaging traded value on day 1 of the month of about 100 credit, 95 flying, and by months end usually have about 95 credit with 80 flying due to CX/WX, and me trading to get an extra day off. I have been getting about 14-16 days off and happy with my sched. In Aug I only have 13 days off, but will be credited whats equal to 125 hours of flying, while flying again in the mid 80s, however last week I had a 23 hour 4 day become a 11 hour 4 day due to WX/CX. I was down to 11 days off and burned a vacation day from next year to drop a 2 day trip and still get paid.

I see your point. I don't incur most of those expenses you list though. My commute is easy enough I don't require a crash pad, I'm paid a uniform allowance separate from per diem, I pack my meals so it costs me less to eat on the road than it does at home, and my airport car is the same as my daily driver, which I only have to drive to work once a week, thus saving quite a bit in fuel costs. For me, its extra money in my pocket because being on the road doesn't cost me a penny more than being at home. In fact, it saves me money. I spend far less money on a 4 day than I do spending a weekend at home.

Each can decide their personal accounting techniques, but as far as I am concerned, its compensation if it ends up in any of my bank/retirement/brokerage accounts.

Pay is determined by supply and demand. Thats what gives you power in negotiations or destroys any real chance you have.

That is why it is in everyone's best interest for pilot qualifications to become more stringent. The less supply, the more power we all have to make pay go up.

We have already seen a willingness on the part of regionals to raise first-year pay if the pilot market gets tight. I wouldn't be surprised to see it $30K...but that won't help in the long term, because they won't be giving any raises beyond that once they have you on the hook.

It would not be surprising to see across the board pay-cuts while first-year pay is rising...especially for regional CA's.

And OBTW, no raise = pay cut, as inflation marches on.