Low self esteem ? Hardly. Pragmatic and realistic ? Totally. We don't work for an organisation that is bound by a) any sense of loyalty b) any moral imperative to behave decently and most importantly c) is not bound to respect any form of leverage nor normalised industrial labour relations (excepting the bases that are mere drops in the ocean) that a first world employer does. Therefore it is asinine to keep comparing us to Delta, United, AA etc. Compare us to SQ, (no expats left save the cargo outfit ) EVA and you have a realistic view. And that is the saddest thing of all. How far this outfit has fallen down the ladder of once great jobs.
So,yes, the answer is if you have ticked all the requirements to be at a US major you wouldn't be posting on here as to how great a deal Delta are getting. You'd be long gone.
Well said.
I am constantly amazed by the number of pilots that step out of their western, developed world jobs to Asia and the Middle East who then complain that they are not supported by solid unions and fair industrial relations legislation.
Seriously, it will never be accurate to make a comparison with the likes of AA, DL, UA, BA, LH, NZ or QF!
When you make a decision to leave North America, Western Europe or Australia/New Zealand you are rolling the dice and taking your chances. If you didn't realise that before you went then unfortunately you leapt before you looked (Shiny Jet Syndrome can be a powerful force).
Not that you shouldn't try to improve your conditions...but you have to be realistic about the chances of that when you will always be fighting with one hand tied behind your back when not working in a western democracy.
Sincerely, Good Luck.
PG