Any increase would be nice.
In 2000 being a new inexperience 727 FO for a private owner I made 6500 USD a month add 175 USD per diem (including food allowance) free laundry etc perks. Average was about 11800 USD a month. Good to remember that in that time most European currencies where tied to Euro or Ecu and the exchance rate was about equal. Ie you could get around 1.1 EUR with a Dollar. Nice when living in Europe. I flew around 300 hours a year but spent most of the year in 4 to 5 star hotels in real shaitholes like Bahamas, Bermuda, Venice, Paris, London, Nice and many other dives
Naturally hotels, transportation and all other expenses where taken care of by the company.
After flying 747's and 767's as Captain, my take home pay today as A320 Captain is around 6000 Eur a month as an average in 2009. This year promises about 8 % less per month. There are no perks, no retirement or pention. No ID travel benefits. I pay for my own accomodation in the city I am based (Subject to 1 month notice from company for base change). My hotel class has dropped significantly to living in a dump like Ibis when ever there is a need to stay somewhere. I fly around 800h a year with a very tight roster.
My salary is about 2900 eur a month less today as a Captain than I made May 2nd 2000 as a very young pilot. If you use the exchange rate of May 2nd 2000 exchange rate the associated loss of income is around 6000 eur a month. How's that for degradation of conditons. Oh yes don't forget about inlfation since 2000 and the associated increase in cost of living.
I really hope that the insatiable appetite of China for pilots will force the salaries up elsewhere. As much as I have been against moving to the east for family reasons, the packages offered by Chinese airlines are really starting to sound attractive.