Clamp,

You gotta throw the tax-free and the housing in there in the mix too, at least just for procedure's sake in order to come close to an apples-apples comparison.

For ease of calculation, just see how long it would take for a DL FO to make $132,000 after taxes. I used guarantee for my numbers, but you get my point.

This is not a jab at DL, didn't mean to strike a nerve there. Just grab them as an example.

I see your angle about trying to look at the big picture, the problem is that management and ALPA have failed to look after lots of regional pilot groups in terms of protecting their income on behalf of the mainline carriers they also represent without shame. I will not fault a pilot who pursues a flying job in the ME chasing money, after the same Union who cries "faul" at foreign carriers failed miserably at protecting this pilots' income, seniority and QOL through acquisitions, mergers, concessionary contracts, endorsements from big wigs to pilot groups to take concessions, the list goes on.

The moment ALPA stops representing mainline carriers as well as the regional feeds of said airline, then some may start listening to what they have to say...

Exactly. PSA just started holding our pilots from going to mainline because of staffing. Allowed by mainline to do so. They aren't concerned about our careers, they depend too much on standing on our heads. Now we are supposed to take up arms to protect mainline from competition? Sorry....

Look, if you mainline guys want support from your future dues paying members, and an increased pilot action group from the regionals, you need to tell your management to open up the coffers to the regional pilots. Economic reality trumps empty nationalistic rhetoric, always.

Yep, and I acknowledged that. He came out on top, of course... but should an A320 FO come that close to someone in command of the largest airliner in the world? That was my entire point. I work way less, too. The rosy picture yall are trying to paint with the foreign carriers is not true. It's better than the regionals, of course, but nearly every one of the expats that I know wants to come back to the states.

There has been significant stagnation with little top tier hiring in the last 6 years. That's changing, the leverage is in your hands now though. and the airlines are getting more desperate.

Fire all of the cat hearding flight attendants, replace them with credit card only robotic vending machines, problem solved!

I think what are seeing here is a very strong feeling of alienation that many regional pilots feel emanating from their mainline brand and even from mainline pilots. This is no bueno for anyone...neither for management nor pilots on either side of the regional/mainline border. Management may be starting to reap what they've sown from their divide and conquer tactics. ????

If foreign carriers open bases in the us, those expats won't be so quick to apply at majors. What would your friend be doing here still if he wasn't a 380 ca at ek? Probably getting shut down by delta or American for not taking concessions on his already poor pay.

There are not many average joes getting hired right now and who knows when or if that will ever change. The military is facing drastic cuts in funding now so we're about to see an influx of military pilots.

He left in 2006 to go overseas before the legacies started hiring again. No doubt he'd be at a top tier carrier here had he stayed as he's an incredibly sharp guy.

Why would mainline pilots support regional pilots? We took der jobs....