You must have me confused with your Dad. Since all the Majors declared bankruptcy, cut our pay 42%, flushed our retirements down the toilet, airline pilots don't make anywhere near what they used to. I made a lot more in 2004, as a 757 domestic pilot than today, as a 777 International pilot.

Oh, and I had $1.4 Million in my retirement plan in 2004, all gone now.

Was that the Bernie Madof 401(k)? or some Delta pension?

My 401(k) projection has me at about that amount.... if I take retirement at age 203...

Delta had what is called a Defined Benefit Retirement program. Due to favorable funding laws, they had not made a single dollar deposit to that fund in over 8 years, from 1996-2012, because the fund was growing fast, along with the stock market. But after the hijackings of 9-11, and the ensuing economic plunge, when they filed for Bankrutpcy in 2004, the fund was suddenly underfunded, buy about $4 Billion. So they flushed the Pilot's pensions and told us to talk to the PBGC. In 2004, after 19 years of service, my piece of the retirement pie was $1.4M. I got zip point nada.

To put it in perspective, I have many good pilot friends at American Airlines, which also filed Bankruptcy, but their retirement fund was not so badly underfunded, so they kept all of theirs. The guys I've talked to there with similar years of service to me (over 27 years now), have about $3 Million in their retirement funds today.

Now we have a 401K program, but we had to start from scratch, at age 50...and try to come up with enough in the short 15yr. remaining (for me), to fund our own retirements. It's all good though, our management team got huge bonuses...

I've got my retirement plan all figured out:

"Hi, Welcome to WalMart!"

Maybe different in central florida, but here in the stipper capt of the world (tampa) ... you really don't want to see the day shift in good lighting ...

I've been to Mons Venus on my Tampa layovers! I agree!

But I think I can probably get some cute ones shipped down from the Gold Club in Atlanta! Worst case, I'll have to import some from Singapore.

Dammit....That was my retirement plan. Looks like I'll have to go to plan B.

"Would you like fries with that?"

I've been telling my twin daughters, the ones with the 8 horses I just put through Auburn, "You'd BETTER get a good job, because as soon as you do, I'm moving in with YOU, and YOU can Feed ME for a change!"

I hear the Brits are eating horses now...I can't wait until we start doing it over here, I've got a lot of ribs still on the hoof, just ready and waiting!

You could always become a stripper and have Ding support you.

Thanks Jake....now I've got to spend the rest of my life getting that image out of my head.

Let me guess, management got thier pensions.

You are lost.

Oh yeah, and two Bonuses! First, they gave the 'Old managment team' a big Retention Bonus, to keep them from jumping ship at the 'critical moment'. Then, after in bankruptcy, they gave them a Severance Package, to Leave! Then, they bought out the New Guy, paid him $15 Million up front, to leave his Old Job, and take over at Delta. Since then (2007) he's made over $20M.

And yes, he's got a very nice retirement plan.

As they say, It's Good to be King!

Timbo, check your PM, message from my high school mate, and one of your fellow Delta pilots.

Could be worse, I'll probably be running a mop and handing or towels at the local cathouse.

Hey, look on the bright side Karl(s), it'll also pay...

all you can eat!

I'm going to be a meter maid....with a TAZER

"Don't Taze me Bro!"

;^)

you'll be the first on my list, Timbo... for even hinting "horses". It's hard enough to distract the grommets when we drive past horse stables and pastures without you continually reminding me the peril I face if any of them say "oooh! Horsie!"

Guys, You're just hanging around the wrong crowd.

I woke up this morning, it was cold, spitting snow, and I HATE snow. I'm thinking it's going to be a miserable day.
The phone rings and I hear "Dude, our driver bailed on us, we need you in Miami! Ticket is waiting on you at the Delta counter"

Now I'm sitting in the airport about to head south, my bag is packed with shorts, and my attitude is much better.

Melges Rocks!

Be like Mike.