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I could barely believe it when I read this story. American Airline pilots are asking for a 30% pay rise, to make up for a pay cut they took four years ago. This incredible amount would be accompanied by one time signing payments too.

Of course this would be passed off in extra cost to the passengers. At a time when passengers are paying more and more because of heightened security, I find it hard to understand how the pilots could think that this will make the company more profitable. I think I would be more interested in keeping my job than pushing the company into bankruptcy.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-05-04-aa-pilots-want-raise_N.htm

I don't know much about airline pilots - is that average wage accurate, or are most pilots on, say $20,000 a year and a handful earning silly money that pulls the average up a long way?

If they really are earning upwards of $100,000 a year then wanting a raise seems unreasonable to me.

This is what I found regarding the average salary for and American pilot.

QUOTE;
Entry-level pilots, according to the association, start at approximately $28,000 per year; and after ten years of experience, a pilot might see six figures.

So yes, it seems to me that this is very unreasonable.

I guess considering getting qualified must be very expensive, and that the entry level wage is just OK (if my understanding of tax in the USA is correct, a lot of your stuff is cheaper than in the UK, but you also get hit by tax a lot harder than us when you're on a low income?) - the younger pilots can be forgiven for wanting a raise.

Maybe they should slide the lower wages up a bit, and leave the top end ones as they are?

Nice find jojo. Unfortunately this is how unions operate.  Airlines and passengers are held as hostages by the unions.  I am sure that if airlines don't agree their next step would be to strike.  This is ridiculous.  And by the way, on average captains of large jets earn well in excess of $100K. And you are absolutely correct about passengers paying for all of it.  I remember just 2-3 years ago it was possible to fly from NY to London for about $400-$450 during Summer on Air India.  Now it is no less than $750-$800.  What else do they want???

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"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." - Albert Einstein
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And you think there is something wrong with that?

crystal:

And you think there is something wrong with that?

Not sure what you are refering to?

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"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." - Albert Einstein
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