On Your Six
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2004
- Posts
- 4,507
I somewhat agree with your sentiments here.
First, this guy was in his 40s and felt there were just too many pilots in front of him to stand in the way of an upgrade before age 56-58... plus he said he would never upgrade on anything larger than a 737.
Second, I have been to and lived in DXB as well. I agree, the 115+ degree wx during the summer months can be brutal.
Last, while the pay at EK sucks, their net take home is usually more than ours since they 1) don't pay taxes 2) don't pay for housing 3) don't pay for schooling (lots of kids can make this expensive) 4) Shower crew with a host of other benefits. So while the pay is low there the net take home and lifestyle is pretty much the same here... save the fact that their in the Middle East.... then again, with PC taking over our society and culture, we're living in a jail of sorts ourselves these days. But that's another thread.
One more thing, while Sheik Maktoum controls EK and can change things, the likelihood of that happening is slim to none. By contrast, another price war decimating our business here in America is considerably more likely to happen. Further to this, with Open Skies, Foreign Ownership and age 65 now given up by ALPA and the democrats, our business is going to be nothing but a rough ride for the next 10 years here in America. EK, by contrast, is insulated from all this.[/quote]
It's true that this business has changed and may continue to change. That being said, airlines like CAL and DAL are diversifying their flying by adding more international routes which will be less competitive and improve margins (at least help to compensate for lower margins in the US). If anything, I would say airlines like SWA and JetBlue are in danger given their inability to adequately hedge fuel costs (that impacts everyone but they don't have international to compensate) and the increased proliferation of LCCs - both Skybus and Virgin America may not last long but they could inflict damage on margins if they compete in similar markets. Where will AirTran put its 75 737-700s it has on order? What about JetBlue's 60+ A320s/E190s? What about Spirit's 30+ A319s? At least Spirit is diversifying to more Latin American destinations as a way to reduce domestic exposure...
Regardless of the tax-free pay package and benefits at Emirates, you are still living in a foreign country and you lose any legal rights you would be afforded in the US. On top of that, your family (if he has one) has to live in Dubai and be located far away from friends and grandparents, etc. Sure, you get to fly shiny 777s - who wouldn't want that? However, at Delta, there are numerous open slots for 767-300/400 positions that can take you to Europe and Africa if you really want that flying. Plus, if he really wanted to see Dubai, he could have stuck it out as an FO and bid the 777 which serves Dubai. What's wrong with getting some FO time in the 777 at Delta and then bidding the 737-800 or 757/767 seniority permitting later? That way, you fly the 777, you hit all the glamorous destinations and you get to live in the States. After 11 years at Delta, I am sure he could have bid 777 FO or at least a senior 767ER FO position. With potential E190s coming on line in the next year or two, he would have easily had a Capt slot had he wanted one.
In the end, you make decisions and you have to live with them. Hopefully things will work out for the ex-Delta pilot. For those considering US airlines, Delta and CAL are both good choices. Personally, if I were looking to return to 121 flying, I would definitely focus my efforts on Delta which has some very strong growth prospects going forward now that the bankruptcy has been completely successfully and the decks cleared (reduced debt, increased cash, expanding high-margin international route network, new aircraft ordered or about to be ordered - that 787 will be very nice)...
First, this guy was in his 40s and felt there were just too many pilots in front of him to stand in the way of an upgrade before age 56-58... plus he said he would never upgrade on anything larger than a 737.
Second, I have been to and lived in DXB as well. I agree, the 115+ degree wx during the summer months can be brutal.
Last, while the pay at EK sucks, their net take home is usually more than ours since they 1) don't pay taxes 2) don't pay for housing 3) don't pay for schooling (lots of kids can make this expensive) 4) Shower crew with a host of other benefits. So while the pay is low there the net take home and lifestyle is pretty much the same here... save the fact that their in the Middle East.... then again, with PC taking over our society and culture, we're living in a jail of sorts ourselves these days. But that's another thread.
One more thing, while Sheik Maktoum controls EK and can change things, the likelihood of that happening is slim to none. By contrast, another price war decimating our business here in America is considerably more likely to happen. Further to this, with Open Skies, Foreign Ownership and age 65 now given up by ALPA and the democrats, our business is going to be nothing but a rough ride for the next 10 years here in America. EK, by contrast, is insulated from all this.[/quote]
It's true that this business has changed and may continue to change. That being said, airlines like CAL and DAL are diversifying their flying by adding more international routes which will be less competitive and improve margins (at least help to compensate for lower margins in the US). If anything, I would say airlines like SWA and JetBlue are in danger given their inability to adequately hedge fuel costs (that impacts everyone but they don't have international to compensate) and the increased proliferation of LCCs - both Skybus and Virgin America may not last long but they could inflict damage on margins if they compete in similar markets. Where will AirTran put its 75 737-700s it has on order? What about JetBlue's 60+ A320s/E190s? What about Spirit's 30+ A319s? At least Spirit is diversifying to more Latin American destinations as a way to reduce domestic exposure...
Regardless of the tax-free pay package and benefits at Emirates, you are still living in a foreign country and you lose any legal rights you would be afforded in the US. On top of that, your family (if he has one) has to live in Dubai and be located far away from friends and grandparents, etc. Sure, you get to fly shiny 777s - who wouldn't want that? However, at Delta, there are numerous open slots for 767-300/400 positions that can take you to Europe and Africa if you really want that flying. Plus, if he really wanted to see Dubai, he could have stuck it out as an FO and bid the 777 which serves Dubai. What's wrong with getting some FO time in the 777 at Delta and then bidding the 737-800 or 757/767 seniority permitting later? That way, you fly the 777, you hit all the glamorous destinations and you get to live in the States. After 11 years at Delta, I am sure he could have bid 777 FO or at least a senior 767ER FO position. With potential E190s coming on line in the next year or two, he would have easily had a Capt slot had he wanted one.
In the end, you make decisions and you have to live with them. Hopefully things will work out for the ex-Delta pilot. For those considering US airlines, Delta and CAL are both good choices. Personally, if I were looking to return to 121 flying, I would definitely focus my efforts on Delta which has some very strong growth prospects going forward now that the bankruptcy has been completely successfully and the decks cleared (reduced debt, increased cash, expanding high-margin international route network, new aircraft ordered or about to be ordered - that 787 will be very nice)...
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