Joetwo,
Expectation is the root of most evil, the rest comes from envy.
8000 Euros would be a Captain flying 800hrs/year at the 14 year point in EK. I would love to have the Air France pension, that is a serious wad.
I must admit when I joined EK I came for the cash and so did most people. Many even had 7/10 year plans that are disappearing off into the distance as the package degrades and that is why there are so many unhappy campers. The Nationals are fortunate enough to be in receipt of a large additional 'local allowance' that boosts their pay to correct for inflation. They also get a 2%/year pension deal from the government. If the expats were on that package, most would sign on for life with EK because their entire salary would be disposable and they would live like kings........uh sorry I just woke up.