Excuse me, I must have read this wrong. You don't think UndauntedFlyer has asserted himself?
Look, the pensions are a done deal and a thing of the past. The fact is that they were traded off by ALPA to supposedly keep the airline afloat. You remember, screw the senior guys, save the airline to keep jobs for the "get out of my seat crowd." Then UAL-ALPA (still controlled by the "get out of my seat crowd") did everything it could to again screw the senior pilots by trying to stop change in the age-60 rule.
Of course in the end the age-60 rule changed (too late for me) and there is complete turmoil at UAL. Major downsizing. So now everyone is screwed. The "get out of my seat" crowd is either in the street "screwed royal" with little hope of finding a job in aviation or hanging on for dear life, while the new “more senior group” will be lucky if the airline stays in business for them to ever reach age 60.
So, OK, that’s airline business.
Not long ago I had an opportunity to fly the 777 for Air India: Sim check complete, visa obtained and ticket to Bombay in hand, to then be based in JFK, 7-on, 6-off, 5-star hotels and 12K per month. Nice deal but a few hours before my departure I said screw it. I'm finally done with the nightmare of all this crap. Besides, I don’t like Indian food very much.
Now I mostly just do some GA work, raise my 17-year old who has his Private, Instrument and M/E. Plus I ride my Goldwing more. Life is good.
I hope all of you are as fortunate as I was in this business.