Old Fella!
So you left in 1991, right. ( My Maths is still amazing). Unless you have been in some kind of bubble where you don't keep up with any aircrew working at CX and only notice the 'moaners and whingers' who frequent Pprune, you simply MUST know that the rot (aka bean counters) set in at almost exactly that time as accountants started to slash aircrew COS - a process that continues today - wait for it - 23 years later! So CX aircrew have had a continuous period of nearly two and a half DECADES under the cosh. We now have young SO's joining on 10000$HK a month housing for example - think what you got 23 years ago just before you left, factor in rampant inflation and then imagine where most of these kids are living ( if it's not with Ma and Pa)!
Most pilots are already doing a private version of CC because they feel so undervalued and unappreciated that it's the only action they can take without leaving. Why don't they leave? Generally, because they have families who are 'in the system' and the risk/ disruption is just too much. The people I think will start the exodus are the youngsters joining lately on truly average packages who will find, as they grow older, that they can simply not afford to bring up a wife and family in Hong Kong with any sort of style.
So, eventually, the accountants will win. They will have no pilots to pay so the airline will run super smoothly and there will be no need for an AOA or a GMA. The DFO will be running CX from a dark room with ex military folk qualified as drone pilots controlling the aircraft from some cheap dive in China. Same team- same dream.
No you didn't lick the plate clean but consider yourself lucky that you had a proper plate. Some other 'Old Fellas' still do and live the good life but, as the years go by, they will get fewer and fewer and the boys and girls leaving CX in 2037 (still stunning maths) may not look back on their employers quite as kindly as you do.
Nothing wrong with that as long as you appreciate that you saw the best of Cathay Pacific - big time, Sir.
