General Lee will work until he is 75, at Kmart

[General Lee]

"My pocket book is blue, JetBlue. His is red, bleeding red."



Well, My pockets used to be green, after our union got a contract we ALL(all pilots) deserved. (back when we thought Delta could afford it). Then, our company lost $10 billion in 5 years. How could that happen? Was it our fault alone? Sure, we kept the high paying contract for a long time, but the Leo Mullin SERP offshore bank account thing didn't help. Selling the fuel hedges really didn't help either. Miscalculating whether or not USAir would stay around also didn't help. But, I can't go back and change it single handedly. It looks like I will get another pay cut in the near future. That is the way it is. I hope Flying Freddie only has positive things happen in his career. I have watched good friends get furloughed, and have had one large pay cut with more to follow. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Godvek]

General,

Best of luck to you and your company!

Our industry is not like it used to be. In fact, what industry is besides the like of Energy? Even with future concessions, pilot pay at Delta and other Majors is still not a bad paycheck. What is the percentage of people in the US that make over $100,000, nonetheless over $150,000? We all have to be smart about our money and create our own retirement. The sign of the times.

 

[bafanguy]

Many who didn't give a hoot about anyone but themselves have left the building.

FBJ,

As one of those who "...have left the building.", I would only have one question to ask you: If I were to stay another 4 years and lose my lump sum, would you be willing to provide for me, my wife, and the daughter I just took off to college for the rest of our lives...or is that MY job by making decisions in the best interest of my family ?

 

[michael707767]

Even with future concessions, pilot pay at Delta and other Majors is still not a bad paycheck. What is the percentage of people in the US that make over $100,000, nonetheless over $150,000? We all have to be smart about our money and create our own retirement. The sign of the times.

I have to respectfully disagree with you. 100K is not a good pay check given the experiance and education most major airline pilots have. Think about it, pick almost any other profession which requires a college degree and significant professional training. How much are they making ten or twenty years down the road? My wife is in HR for a large company, about 10 years experiance now, and she's pushing 100K. My brother in law is an accountant for a large firm. He's about 12 years in and making 200K plus. Many of my buddies from college are now making that and more. A neighbor is a pharmisist, he makes about 150K. Another neighbor is a mortgage broker. Granted interest rates have helped but he's making more than I do. Sorry, there is nothing special about a 100,000$ salary, not for college educated professionals.

Now, do we have to be smart about our money, yes. Do I need to fund my own retirement, sure. Were some of the old work rules and pensions at major airlines unsustainable, you bet. But don't for a minute think that 100K a year is special.

 

[Godvek]

I have to respectfully disagree with you. 100K is not a good pay check given the experiance and education most major airline pilots have. Think about it, pick almost any other profession which requires a college degree and significant professional training. How much are they making ten or twenty years down the road? My wife is in HR for a large company, about 10 years experiance now, and she's pushing 100K. My brother in law is an accountant for a large firm. He's about 12 years in and making 200K plus. Many of my buddies from college are now making that and more. A neighbor is a pharmisist, he makes about 150K. Another neighbor is a mortgage broker. Granted interest rates have helped but he's making more than I do. Sorry, there is nothing special about a 100,000$ salary, not for college educated professionals.

Now, do we have to be smart about our money, yes. Do I need to fund my own retirement, sure. Were some of the old work rules and pensions at major airlines unsustainable, you bet. But don't for a minute think that 100K a year is special.

A college degree does not mean anything like it used to in all sectors of employment. Going to the governments website regarding compensation, the national mean average annual wage (in 2003) was $32,951. The mean average wage for pilots (#1 on the list by profession) was $114,576. I'm not trying to say concessions from pilots is a great thing, but even with them we are still doing ok compared to the majority of Americans (with or without degrees).

Of course there are pockets where you can make lots of money. You can go to the old saying that if all the money in the US was evenly divided between everyone in the country, the people who were previously wealthier would slowly rise back to the top. It is a great idea for a pilot to have a second source of income, and a plan-b for a possible furlough, loss of medical, etc. Like I said you have to be smart. As an example, everyone could have made as much or more money in real estate over the past 3 years as their airline W-2. Be creative!

 

[General Lee]

It's all about knowing your limits. If you had a great pay check and then your three daughters went to Harvard, then you may be sunk. If you think you may only make a certain amount, and budget for it, and then make more---that is great. Living within your means is important. So, never go into buying a boat on your own. Always find another $ucker who will go into it with you.



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[miles otoole]

I have to respectfully disagree with you. 100K is not a good pay check given the experiance and education most major airline pilots have. Think about it, pick almost any other profession which requires a college degree and significant professional training. How much are they making ten or twenty years down the road? My wife is in HR for a large company, about 10 years experiance now, and she's pushing 100K. My brother in law is an accountant for a large firm. He's about 12 years in and making 200K plus. Many of my buddies from college are now making that and more. A neighbor is a pharmisist, he makes about 150K. Another neighbor is a mortgage broker. Granted interest rates have helped but he's making more than I do. Sorry, there is nothing special about a 100,000$ salary, not for college educated professionals.

Now, do we have to be smart about our money, yes. Do I need to fund my own retirement, sure. Were some of the old work rules and pensions at major airlines unsustainable, you bet. But don't for a minute think that 100K a year is special.

For every example you provided, you can also provide one which makes a counterpoint. Take teachers who have more education on average than the typical pilot and what do they make-$50,- $70K? Doctors have much more education than pilots and don't average much over $125K per year especially considering all of the HMOs and malpractice insurance. Don't need a HS degree to be a mortgage broker, yet many have made well over 100K within a year of coming into the industry-few barriers to entry. Many $200K accountant jobs will be outsourced in a matter of few years.

You are rationalizing the Pan Am, IBM days of the past. No, 100K is not a great pay check for what airline pilots do and the education they have, but on the other hand, 200K is too much money for a 25 year old mortgage broker with no college degree (or is it?) The only way in which 100K per year is great is if you live as though you make 50K (which many happy people who have more education and work harder than you do.) 100K is not, great, nor good, but it is decent.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Living within your means is important. So, never go into buying a boat on your own. Always find another $ucker who will go into it with you.

Still riding around your bass boat in that pink thong?

 

[General Lee]

Still riding around your bass boat in that pink thong?

Yes, it attracts bass and old women.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Yes, it attracts bass and old women.

Bye Bye--General Lee

Large Mouth I'm sure.

 

[miles otoole]

Yes, it attracts bass and old women.

Bye Bye--General Lee

Or old bass and large mouth women.

 

[General Lee]

Or old bass and large mouth women.

You describe my wife perfectly---not an old bass though! She had to be the other.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[701EV]

Didn't Kmart buy Sears and whats wrong with Kmart.

And speaking of the mart stores, did you know that Walmart owns Ambercombie&Fitch. It's supposed to be one of the hottest stores for the teen crowd. My son told me this.

General, best of luck. Who knows what the hell is going to happen. I thought GG would have had a better plan. I know the price of oil is killing all of us. But we have to stop giving tickets away. A friend of mine told me he was flying LGA/MCO on Song for $79.00 each way. You can't drive from LGA/MCO for $79.00. Go figure.

701EV

 

[General Lee]

You're right about increasing ticket prices. That LGA to MCO market is a tough one, with AA flying 3 flights a day, Spirit flying two airbi a day, and Song flying 4 daily 757s. Then throw on the flights on Jetblue from JFK----12 daily Airbi, Song from JFK---4 daily 757s, Continental from EWR--8 flights a day (mostly 757s), and Song from EWR--1 daily, and then the occasional USA300 Airbus---it isn't hard to see that the market is saturated. With those low fares, it is best to fly planes with the most seats available to spread out the costs. Song 757s have 199 seats, and CAL flies some of their 753's on the EWR run which may have more than the 199 seats. We will have to lower costs to compete, no doubt. As far as GG having a better plan, I don't think anyone was planning on $65 a barrel oil. Our plan was on track, and with possible pension changes--it might have worked well. But, we will have to compete in this new high oil world----along with everyone else. Fares will hopefully come up enough to cover some of the "new" costs.



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[freightdogfred]

I am not gloating. I have been to many airlines in my career. Delta won't go away and that is good. We don't need more pilots on the street. Delta's financial situation will change GL's outlook on age 60 . He will vote using his pocketbook. We all do. My pocket book is blue, JetBlue. His is red, bleeding red.

Sierra Mike, I'm surprised at you.... bad karma's a bad thing and you invite it upon yourself.