For years I was always under the impression that we at Virgin earned considerably less than at The Rat. However, a while back I compared numbers with a mate of mine on the 737 at QF - & I remember being quite surprised. Same aeroplane & same job description, yes, but it's not quite comparing apples with apples as I thought. For example, we get tax-free allowance, & from memory I think his was non tax-free DTA. Then there's other factors like overtime threshold & a whole host of other considerations.
The thing to remember is that a true comparison can't be made with something like just the base salary, but rather the "real" take-home pay at the end of the day. When I looked at what I earned in the previous financial year vs what he earned over the same period, there actually wasn't all that much in it. And I'm working in a far more progressive & enjoyable environment. No, I think I'll stay right where I am.
