Airline Pilot Pay justification

[pilotyip]

You missed the point, YIP. It wouldn't be just AirTran, it would be ALL carriers. Everyone pays at least the minimum. . . . . That's the point.

Oh I see a return to 1976 and regulation. Not union enforced but gov't enforced, kinda like a min wages for pilots. Life was good for a few pilots under regulation. There are probably 4-5 times as many pilot’s jobs now as there was in 1977. Back in reg time it was about 90% military that went to the majors. Dereg opened up a lot of airline job to non-military pilots. To return to regulation would raise ticket prices, reduce the number of passengers, and therefore reduce the number of pilots needed. Good for senior guys, not so good for everyone else. Hey go for it if it floats your boat.

 

[Dizel8]

SWA is not always the cheapest ticket, but has the perception of being the cheapest. Same with AirTran. many people just go to the airline's proprietary site and book.

If you go on most search fare search engines, the only major airline that doesn't show up is SWA, and as you said, many times they are not the cheapest, however, kudos to SWA for making the travelling public believe they always are and making people book on them without researching fares.

As for the cheapest ticket being the allure, sometime it is, however, many will gladly pay a a few bucks more for a direct flight, for a bit more legroom, assigned seats or better departure and arrival times.

 

[Dizel8]

There are probably 4-5 times as many pilot’s jobs now as there was in 1977.

Yep and probably 4 or 5 times more passengers today than in 1977, yet the airlines continues to be in a financially precarious situation. Which leads us to the next question, do you honestly believe, that if every ticket, on every airline cost $30 more tomorrow, that you would see a drastic drop off in passengers?

I for one am not buying it, airfares, even if $30 higher would still be historically cheap, particularily if adjusted for inflation. Sure, some people would contemplate taking the car, but the time loss, the cost of gas and sometime hotel cost wouldn't be worth it, NY-LA in a car, 3 days of great fun. How about the wife and kids NY to Mouse world, oh yeah!

4 People can fly from NY to LAX and return for $1120, or they can drive 3 days each way for a cost of, back of the envelope math, $1024. Yep, airline travel certainly is overpriced! Never mind the fact, that with all that driving, a weeks vacation would turn into 24 hrs in LA before said people turns around and go back.

Better yet, let's take Amtrak, a goverment subsidized bussiness that you and I are paying for. It's going to be coach seats, not very pleasant for 3 days each way but cheaper and after all, it is all about cheap, well that little jaunt is a meager $1800.

I know, I know, that airline ticket is looking better and better, but there has got to be a even cheaper way, oh yeah, I got it, Greyhound. Sure it isn't great sitting on a bus for 2.5 days each way with the wife and two bored kids, but think of all the money we'll save, enough for a hotel night or two, hmmm, now let's see, 4 people NYC to LAX....WTH, it's $1464.

"Hey honey, I found a really great airfare for the four of us!"

There is a price to be paid for convenience and time savings, one that doesn't involve the new hire F/O being able to collect food stamps! Of course, you being management, you probably diasgree with that!

 

[pilotyip]

drastic drop?

Yep and probably 4 or 5 times more passengers today than in 1977, that if every ticket, on every airline cost $30 more tomorrow, that you would see a drastic drop off in passengers?

"Hey honey, I found a really great airfare for the four of us!"

There is a price to be paid for convenience and time savings, one that doesn't involve the new hire F/O being able to collect food stamps! Of course, you being management, you probably disagree with that!

Define drastic drop? 5%, that would result in 5% reduction in seats available. And 10% reduction in F/O's and a 5% reduction in CA seats. Air travel is a bargain coast to coast, no doubt, but lets look at DTW -TPA/ MCO, busy route. It can be easily driven in about 16 hours, compared to 9 hours on AT. You 1 hr drive from to arrive 2 hrs early to fly to ATL, 1.5 hour, 1 hour changes planes 1.5 hour to TPA, 1 hr wait for baggage and pick up rental car 1 hr drive to the condo. For a family of 4, the $30 per seat will be a motivator to drive. I know pilots have trouble thinking that anyone could be crazy enough to want to drive when they could fly. But many people view it as an alternative to flying. If prices go up too much many will elect not to travel at all, after most people are not as well off as airline pilots. This is not a management view this just an observation from talking to family, neighbors, and others. Pilot should do whatever they think is best for themselves, Adam Smith's way, but there are unintended consequences of the market movement that are well beyond the ability of any group to dictate how the market will react. If you fly because you like to, you don’t worry about this stuff.

 

[Mamma]

You are correct YIP. If you fly because you like to, don't worry about this stuff. If you have a family to take care of; care about the profession or want to help improve quality of life then please worry about this stuff. Apathy is no answer if you care. But, if you fly just because you love it (I call that a hobby), have a pension from the man (mil pension) or whatever reason, I guess you don't have to worry. Have fun!

 

[waveflyer]

I think what the original post is forgetting about is the thousands of other employees that make up an airline. the 2 pilots are only 2 of those thousands.
Also, fuel costs more than wages anyway. so that $300 ticket is already down to $150.

still though, get all you can, just don't use an argument resembling this.

Why not?
It's not arrogant to say that most passengers could care less how well their rampers and gate agents and even flight attendants are paid- but they care that pilots in this country are the best at what wevdo and don't mind paying the price of a starbucks to ensure it.

The economics guys like Yip ignore is that the really great among us who have gotten wrapped up in multiple furloughs have bailed on this industry bc of pay. Why would they stay when their talents command more in other industries? I have too many friends who have made just this decision.

 

[waveflyer]

It does remind me of the old joke we used to say- how we'd all get paid a LOT more at the commuters if we were allowed to put a tip jar out.

The absolute 1000% truth of it was what made it funny. Too many of my relatives were shocked at how little we made-