Powerball willing, I'd retire as soon as the chief gets in the office Thursday (I would be on an overnight already, so I couldn't Wednesday night).

Only in a group of pilots would you find passionate complaints about the government easing a restriction on forcing you to retire... Funny/ironic how in a mostly conservative occupation that attitude is rampant.

If they do raise it do it as a 1 year increase every 3 years so we don sit for 5 years

In a world where seniority is everything, having that stagnate for half a decade is a big deal.

As for me, I'm doing everything I can to put myself in a position to retire at 60, or earlier if possible. I love flying but there are far more important things I'd rather do.

True. especially for the pilots that work at an airline that STILL had/has a retirement plan in place and went on an FAE formula. Especially if 1) he just recently went into the CA's seat and 2) got a new contract with higher rates. For them, it literally was a "lottery ticket". And chances are, there was a time in their career when the age 60 rule benefited them at some point. Helping them to climb the seniority list at some point. So yes, in the wake of 9/11 they literally had the time to plan for it. Many of them are STILL flying not only for the paycheck, but as had been mentioned, they "screwed up" in some fashion. Can't keep their d1ck in their pants and/or spent so much time chasing this stupid job that their wife and kids won't talk to them. Usually wife number 2 or 3, and set of kids 1 AND 2. And sadly, this job is all they really have.

For the guys that weren't so lucky, had crappy careers and were recycled at various airlines, it truly does suck. IE; Pan Am, Braniff, TWA, Eastern, etc etc etc. They really didn't have a chance to plan/recoup the losses they sustained when the company went t1ts up, only to go the bottom at another company, only to watch their pension plan terminated, etc.

Could you imagine being 40-50 years old, getting furloughed, kids are about to start college, and you're dealing with the joy of trying to start over at another airline. All in the process burning whatever savings you've accumulated to that point, if any. Being 50 years old, that eventual six figure income really isn't jack squat.

Has a legacy JS'er yesterday, it's his SIXTH airline. Hanging on on the bottom of the list on narrow body equipment. Didn't make it to the legacy till he was 40. Which means he's in his mid 50's now. He's maxed out on the pay scale. IF, IF he credits 90 hours a month for the ENTIRE year he'll barely gross 100K.

Nicely said, xjtguy...

It would be nice to retire at 60 (or earlier) but for a lot of pilots that is not to be...that is the (new) reality. At the very least, this gives some the option to keep working.

I'm hoping to get out at 60 (not likely) if the numbers work out (read, Wall Street has to cooperate!!).

Yes, I'd like to rest after my hard work is done, and enjoy life...but if I have a choice of working hard for a few years, I will. I'm not afraid of work...are you?

Totally agree with you. And 65 put another dent in that for sure. But it's been the least of our worries the last 5 years. Oil prices, economy, race to the bottom, all much bigger issues. Logic says if you're healthy to fly at 61, you should be allowed to fly. How that affects the rest of the dog eat dog airline system really should be irrelevant. The age 60 rule was there for one reason and one reason alone. SAFETY. When that starts degrade there is an argument against age 65. Until then I will respectfully believe it's all just politics and self interest.

I don't have to imagine it, I'm living it. You described my life perfectly except for the part about living with my in-laws.

That super sucks. When I used the word "imagine", it was for the (younger) guys posting that have YET to take their first career kick in the balls and see how truly ugly it can be when it happens. Even if one is a saver, planned well, etc.

I'm lucky in that I haven't had it as bad as many others. But A LOT is simply based on the fact that I put a lot of my personal life on hold and living on the p1ss poor modest income that a regional provides. Only been furloughed once and displaced out of the CA's seat twice, and I haven't even got to be in "the show" yet. And the way this career has been going, many of us, we will be/are just like the legacy pilot I described earlier. Mid-late 40's/early 50's before seeing a decent income. With most of that "decent" income being saved for retirement. Never truly being able to enjoy it while still semi-young.

I know that question was more rhetorical. But nope, not afraid of work. Raised blue collar and worked blue collar all through high school and college to pay for my ratings and college.

What I (and many others) AM (ARE) afraid of is having to work WAY longer than need be when I (WE) SHOULD be retired and trying to enjoy life.

Sucks that 9/11, BK's, pension terminations, Age 65, economic collapse/recession has lowered this career and moved the goal line farther and farther away.

Don't forget the world is supposed to end on December 21 so we may all get early retirement ;)