As a passenger, I regret the pilots' proposed action, because I had to cancel my EI flight and book with FR instead. Will that mean I do the same in future? No, because I dislike the general attitude of MOL and his cohorts.
Well there you go Lucy, FR may be cheaper, but you chose to fly Aer Lingus.
Why?
Perhaps because COST isn't always the sole motivation in choosing a product?
Aer Lingus has a particular product, which many people seem to like - just as you do.
So does BA, Virgin, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and many other carriers.
Why do you see the argument as a 'beat Ryanairs costs or die' one?
I don't know which Aer Lingus service you use, but Ryanair are a shorthaul airline, and Aer Lingus are a mix of Long and Short haul.
The guys in Aer Lingus who have reached the highest point of the pay scale are flying long haul, and are instructors. Their remuneration is in line with that of other Long Haul carrier instructors.
You must compare apples with apples.
It did annoy me though...(as did seeing the 44 days/yr holiday for EI pilots!).
Where did that figure come from? The "Meeja"?
Its rubbish. Just like the 'pilots work 18 hours a week' rubbish.
But even if it were true - what are you comparing with? Aplles with apples? Take a look in Flight International Magazine this week. There's a job there being advertised with 31 days on and 31 days off.
A long haul pilot works shift work at the back of the clock - flying through the night duties up to 16 hours long, when 'normal' people are tucked up in bed at home. They fly trans-continental services with consequent jetlag effects. They often must day-sleep in hotels, instead of resting in their own beds.
Time off for these guys has to reflect the kind of stresses they are subject to as a result, and comparing their time off with office workers is just a sick joke.
Keep flying the green flag.