Ok, jumbo, so I asked you to quantify what these "nice pensions" were that ex RAF in Virgin and BA are getting and you reply
Well however much it is it’s more than the young guy, way down the seniority list, with a mortgage, loan, kids, etc..
How about some facts: to give you a clue somebody who left the services as a junior officer 30'ish years ago after 15 years service could now be drawing a pension of around 600-700STG a month before tax, plus or minus..
And anybody can still be supporting family, have a mortgage, have other outgoings......that can be a factor at all stages of seniority.