Totally agree 411. And, when we are flying these incredibly expensive (per hour) aircraft, what we are paid doesn't even show on the bottom line. Double it or work for nothing, it makes no real difference to the total cost of doing business. But put one in the dirt......
If you are flying a 402 or Beech 99/1900 then the hourly rate of the pilot is significant - say you are making 40 dollars an hour. 19 Passengers on the 1900. Reasonable pay. 300 passengers....say what?
We have steadily lost ground in the 40 years I have been in this business. I could buy a NICE new car with the before tax Captain MONTHLY salary when I started and the airlines had smaller airplanes. We worked 70 hours a month, and had rules about how we were treated.
Sadly, we gave it all away. And, the incredible thing is - it didn't help the companies at all.