Originally Posted by PinnacleFO

Can anyone else believe what this has turned into? I am not even stressing about it anymore - if they get the list done sometime in 2011, good for them, if not - thats cool too.

Originally Posted by Bartok

What we need is a damn seniority list!

Originally Posted by Mesabah

It's a joke higney, the NWA pilots labeled their flying SUPER PREMIUM during their SLI with Delta. Wondered if anyone would get the reference.

Originally Posted by higney85

I'll give a nod to that.

The -900 could be a scope stopgap if majors let the ropes fall on scope. What we see in current day is only a step in the marathon that is this industry. We need to react for the current, plot for the future, plan for what currently is unrealistic, and learn from the past.

Originally Posted by Delta1067

The days of caving on scope are over. If anything, I see scope changing direction and going back the other way. Enough is enouch and anything over 76 seats wont be going to DCI. DALPA is very well aware of this and it's a deal breaker for our next contract.

Originally Posted by higney85

Not a knock on anyone but if we start taking each airframe and making a placeholder, what precedent does that set at the REGIONAL level. If the -900 is premium, what was the avro? What was the -200 in the early 2000's? The mindset has always been "more pax + more responsibility= more money" but that formula has coefficients of economy of scale, world factors, and managerial success. It all comes together to form Regionals vs. Majors. Those who have seniority to fly the larger aircraft will make more money. Those who get the experience under their belt AND a desire to leave have the ability to move to a major, where you are back to the fundamental formula of a larger aircraft and larger economy of scale results in potentially more earnings. A Saab driver does not necessarily have a better skill set than a -900 driver, but a Saab will make less than a -900 driver. The Q/-200 will be an interesting shakeout in time due to this mindset. If you recall the uproar over the Q rates were not from a Q driver being "better", but holding more responsibility.

Now, to complete this rant- take a look at the dc9-10 rates when the 900's showed up. Should there have been such a difference? NO, but the idea of "economy of scale" at the regional level (as compared to majors) is the only answer pilots can use as justification. We are simply paid an allowance by our parents (mainline). It's like we are helping the family by cutting the grass and doing yard work. Until we show that we are indeed "adults" in the market and are able to make our own profits (at risk flying, cost sharing,etc) while becoming an economy of scale the regional/mainline differential will remain at a farther spread than simply seat count.

Originally Posted by lolwut

Anyone think these disputes and delays could be nothing about the seniority list, but in reality certain members of union leadership positioning themselves for the coming election and trying to divide and influence the emotions of the pilot groups?