I'm wondering how many years I'm going to end up breaking $100k in aviation. Pushing 20 years, most of it in the 121 world (and not at regionals either), and I'll bet I'm at less than 50% of those years breaking 100K (and no, per diem DOES NOT count toward that number).

Remind me what a perk that is next time I'm in that "first class seat" in the middle of row 41 enroute from Dubai to JFK. Even when I was at a carrier with domestic sched service, the pass benefits were darn near worthless unless it was just me and MAYBE my wife traveling. Forget it if you have a family. That was perk, oh say, 30 years or more ago. Now that virtually every seat is full, not so much.

Sure, if you win a air carrier roulette and your airline stays in business long enough for you to get senior. For the other 50% or so, your hosed.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not convinced the USPS is the brass ring - but I'm darn sure the airlines aren't anymore.

Hey the link was there to show everyone that we are selling ourselves short. Airlines need us and the public CAN afford to pay us a reasonable wage. The question is: "how are we going to get it?" we need better overtime pay. Holiday pay and yes even weekend pay. If management starts working weekends then regular pay it is. But that isn't likely to happen.

Welcome to September 12th, 2001.

Look, if all you are interested it is money, sell drugs.

I do not use the travel benefits. I DO enjoy the work I do. I DO provide a service, and people appreciate that service.

Your question is better asked "why join the military?" After all, why would one want to get paid little to go in harm's way to protect people who don't appreciate my efforts?

Flying is what I do. I flew freight, and I flew patients. I fight to get paid a reasonable wage and have decent work rules. I do not expect to be a billionaire, but as a laborer, I want to make a living wage. Still, this is what I do.... what I was meant to do. If you need to ask why, then maybe you should not be in this industry. Maybe selling junk bonds is more suited to you.

Boy are you missing the point. This isn't about wanting or not wanting the job. Some people would fly for free just because they don't need the money and they like the job. It's about someone with a high school education making double what an F/O makes. It's about how undervalued and underpaid we are. And people that say suck it up are the problem. Maybe they aren't worth the extra money. But I am!

FlyJSH, I really believe you miss the point entirely, with a philosophy like yours we will never recover any pay and benefits whatsoever......Just be content and grateful is what the MBA's prattle to us, some absorb it some resist it.......bcrosier I think your post was truly profound and has the insight of a lot of history.....Thank you

Yes. Point way missed. I like flying. I love flying. It's what I'm meant to do as well. For the most part, I'm good at it. But what I don't like...

4th year of Part 121 flying...3 years total spent furloughed
Being gone 20 days+ per month.
Having zero social life due to the above.
Having few practical hobbies...see above.
Having ZERO job security.
Working every holiday, weekend, night.
16 hour days to earn 4 hours worth of pay.
The only job satisfaction comes from not getting fired, violated, or killed.
Zero benefits.


If we got compensated for the sacrifices we make and the work we do, we'd make alot more than the little we do.

Excellent post..keep at it.

I agree with flyfish if you have to ask dont do it. Its a passion and something that you love to do then its not gonna feel like a job. Most of the people hired in the last 10 years knew what they was getting into. So if you knew all of this why complain about after working for a couple of years. Its terriable to hear the way people talk about it like its one of the worst jobs. Suck it up or find something else.

either choice and you're "still just carrying the mail".