Interesting thread.
I read about the ex- QANTAS guy only being offered 40,000? Odd when I left Ansett in 2000 I walked straight into a 52,000 job in QLD, mind you I moved from Victoria to get it and my wage has only ever gone up since with plenty of work to choose from, and I only have 15 years experience.
I dont ever plan to leave the industry, there is now too much money to be made with plenty of work out there if you really want it.