Still though, what do you suggest this guy should have done. He didn't by pass applying to the higher paying places, they wouldn't take him. He didn't try to beat the system. Does he sit home and collect welfare until UAL called? Multiple places shot him down and he still has bills to pay. He most likely invested some money into being an airline pilot. Does he have to not be an airline pilot because a choice company didn't hire him. I got shot down by one airline and several others that I applied to decided I wasn't worth their time. I got hired at other places and I got several type ratings and became a checkairman. I have thousands of hours of letter of investigation free PIC. So nothing was wrong with me. How much did your first flying jobs pay and were they paid at or above industry standard?
Is it fair to say that over 90% of the pilots on this board have worked at places that did not have industry leading pay? Weren't all those pilots that accepted jobs at companies without industry leading contracts helping to bring the industry down?
Not me. I purposely avoided applying at those industry leading companies and only applied at LCCs whose stated purpose was to bring down the industry. There, I've said it and I feel free. I had no desire to work at a company with good pay and good schedules and instead concentrated on those companies where I knew I would be getting less pay for flying the same aircraft. Isn't that the American way.
Now, here I am stuck flying MD-80s for less than I could get at one of those industry leading companies and doggone it, my company is starting to pay pretty decent. I think it is almost time to start sending resumes out to more of the lower paying companies and see if I can get a job there and continue to "bring down the industry."
If you are at one of those industry-leading companies (not totally sure who that is anymore), congratulations. It is great that you are set for life and have a good retirement program. Just realize that because my family needs shelter and food, I have to work. I may not be in what you consider the best job (or even a suitable job), but I am doing what I have to do. We all do - even the guy who cleans out portapotties. I am sure he isn't exactly where he started out wanting to be.
The only fly in the ointment to my plan to leave here and go find a lower paying opportunity is my family. They like me being home every night and off a lot. Isn't that just the way it goes?