What would you value your flight benefits at?

**sydnerd** · 09-Feb-2009, 05:46 PM

I am considering a job change to a non-airline company and am trying to guage how much of a salary increase would it take to be worth giving up flight benefits.

I am 15 years from retirement; am a family of four and take about 8 domestic trips and 1 international trip per year (entire family).

The 8 domestic trips / 1 international trip (I get free domestic coach travel per my seniority at AA), I would estimate being worth about $20K / year (for four tickets, not all purchased at the last minute).

What about the loss of retirement benefits? We're talking about potentially 25+ years of travel x 2 (husband included!), as retirees (i.e., probably even more trips). At the same time, if I am considered "underpaid" and could make $20K or more / year over the next 15 years, wouldn't it be worth it? Would it be worth it for 10K / year more? 15K? What's the "break-even" point?

I would add that my new job would require a lot of travel (i.e., FF miles would rack up).

Any thoughts?

**Nick** · 10-Feb-2009, 01:16 AM

I'd say it'd be more than $20k a year, depending on how far the international trip is.

Any chance the company is gonna do a round of redundancies? Could pick up a bargain there... get a new job and leave on benefits etc

**sydnerd** · 10-Feb-2009, 09:26 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nick @ Feb 10 2009, 07:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I'd say it'd be more than $20k a year, depending on how far the international trip is.

Any chance the company is gonna do a round of redundancies? Could pick up a bargain there... get a new job and leave on benefits etc[/b]

Int'l trips vary. Last year, we went to MXP; the year before, Shanghai and Spain/France.

I missed my chance for voluntary leave over the summer; and I'm pretty sure I would have been excluded from eligibility.

I am thinking about how much harder it is getting to non-rev with kids in school, too. We can't always take off during low season like we used to; but, the idea of losing out on retiree benefits is really what's giving me pause here.

Thanks for your input!

**Jumper** · 11-Feb-2009, 12:33 PM

Really, seriously - you know that FF miles are a real PAIN in the ass to use, and personally 10K per year would NOT be worth giving up retiree bennies for flights.

Besides, you know that this is just the beginning of 'Early out' programs for airline folks, as we peons who haven't been around anywhere near as long cost them half of what the long terms do!

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