Comments on: Delta Pilots http://www.commonfolkusingcommonsense.com/2006/03/19/delta-pilots/ My rantings and ravings in this interesting world. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:41:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Crazy Politico http://www.commonfolkusingcommonsense.com/2006/03/19/delta-pilots/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Crazy Politico Sun, 19 Mar 2006 13:56:07 +0000 http://www.commonfolkusingcommonsense.com/?p=152#comment-295 I don't agree with the exec packages with many of the airlines. The fact is that Delta, American, Northwest and United, the four "old school" airlines have huge employee costs that Southwest and the competitors don't, even without those executive perk packages. My guess is in the next 5-7 years all four of the old school airlines will either fold, or have to go to the Southwest pay model, which is lower, with 401(k) plans instead of defined benefits plans to cut their costs. I'm sorry to say that it will probably take one of them folding, and flooding the market with employees to show that the old model doesn't work anymore. I have a hard time feeling sorry for Delta Pilots at $212/hr for the smallest plane, and FO's making $114/hr at the bottom of the scale(from will fly for food) http://www.willflyforfood.cc/Payscales/DeltaPay.htm Compare them to Southwest who's top pay is $179/hr, and top FO pay is $118. Those numbers may have changed slightly since they were posted, but still show with a 65 hour/month guarantee that they aren't getting poor in the cockpit. I don’t agree with the exec packages with many of the airlines. The fact is that Delta, American, Northwest and United, the four “old school” airlines have huge employee costs that Southwest and the competitors don’t, even without those executive perk packages.

My guess is in the next 5-7 years all four of the old school airlines will either fold, or have to go to the Southwest pay model, which is lower, with 401(k) plans instead of defined benefits plans to cut their costs.

I’m sorry to say that it will probably take one of them folding, and flooding the market with employees to show that the old model doesn’t work anymore.

I have a hard time feeling sorry for Delta Pilots at $212/hr for the smallest plane, and FO’s making $114/hr at the bottom of the scale(from will fly for food) http://www.willflyforfood.cc/Payscales/DeltaPay.htm
Compare them to Southwest who’s top pay is $179/hr, and top FO pay is $118.

Those numbers may have changed slightly since they were posted, but still show with a 65 hour/month guarantee that they aren’t getting poor in the cockpit.

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