Senior Moderator; Moderator, Eco-Conscious Travel, United and Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,831
My husband works for the FAA and spends a lot of time in cockpits ... while commercial pilots used to come primarily from the military, that's not the case much anymore.
Pilots bid for aircraft based on seniority. Yes, many want to fly 747s, but not everyone has the seniority to get them. That's an issue for many pilots in the UA/US Air merger. Senior US pilots will be able to come and bid for 747 slots, pushing lower seniority UA pilots further down the line.
Additionally, if you've had your pick of slots on a smaller craft and now you're stuck with what's left after everyone else has bid their schedule - the red eyes, holidays, weekends - the raise may not be that appealing.
Fed Ex pays their pilots very well - more than most people haulers pay.
As for that "hefty chunk of change", in some parts of the country $200K a year gets you little more than the median-priced home.
Lastly, I'm sorry you don't understand that some people do put their families before financial gain. But, yes, many people do.
[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 07-11-2000).]