When I pay my AoA fee's , I think more of my association with IFALPA. I loss my license from 1998 -2000 due to medical complications. Without the help and assistance from IFALPA I would not have been able to get my license ,and position in the company back after only 10 months.
You cannot join IFALPA as an associate member if you are employed in a company that allows a union.
We can discuss the weakness of labor laws in Hong Kong at length, or CX's disregard for any union agreements, but to me it's comforting to know I am a member of a pilot group that can give world wide support when I am in jail for an aviation related incident.
I see it as insurance money.