As a line captain on FR contract (with the new increased package) and 70 hrs a month on average the take home pay is about €7000 per month. If one pays pension say €600 per month then is €6400 but in the pension fund €1200 are deposited, since the company matches it. After 3 consecutive years in the pension scheme then you take the full amount away, or if you leave before, just your money. Now deduct all other things ( loss of licence insurance, medical, parking, food and drinks on board etc), for me is about €500 per month.
So now the math is easy. Roughly €6000 in the pocket, and €1200 saved in the pension every month. Is that ok? Well for a home base, on an admittedly good roster, or whatever delivers a desired lifestyle then the glass is probably half full. Otherwise the good news is that there are plenty of options. At home and away.
This is not a Ryanair apologetic post. On the contrary. It's the facts. And of course things can get much better, on a lot of things.
National contracts, medical, loss of licence, just to name a few. Hopefully soon.