Originally Posted by Pineapple Guy

OK, let me rephrase. First, you have to assume that transitioning from our current system to longevity based pay is a zero sum game. It's just a different way of allocating a fixed pot of cash. Or, if you want to assume we get massive pay increases, such that a 777A doesn't take a paycut, then that means his raise is much less than those junior to him. So either, way the math works out the same.

We have 34 airplanes (777 and 747) at the top of the pay scale. Out of 742 (according to APC). That means 4.5% of our pilots are at the top of the pay scale. Under a longevity system, that means your seniority number would have to be roughly in the top 4.5% (#559 out of 12,200) to equal that pay. Yet, we have guys with seniority number of 2200+ on the 777.

As for my thoughts overall on longevity pay, several things come to mind:

1) You're not producing any more revenue for DAL just because you've been here longer, so the economic case to be made is tougher. Longevity based pay is also how ALPA ends up with $70,000/yr secretaries, which you acknowledge is ridiculous, as do I.

2) By removing a significant incentive for moving to different aircraft, you have the effect of flattening the seniority on each aircraft, and thereby reducing your options from a quality of life perspective. It would be like we have 1-2 different categories and that is it. Whereas now, a pilot with a seniority of, for example, 2000, has the choice of:

a) Super senior on the M88
b) Senior on the M88
c) Average seniority on the 767
d) Not too senior on the 764
e) Junior but able to hold the 777

So this pilot has almost limitless choices to pick just the right mix of quality of life, trips, and pay. Eliminate the pay differential, and you basically only have domestic and international as a choice, and with DAL mixing categories even that gets blurred.

Meaning, when you first get hired, you can count on 5 years of reserve, followed by 5 years of moderate seniority as an F/O, followed by 5 years of good seniority as an F/O or reserve as a Captain. Then same once you make Captain. Under the current system, if willing to stay on a small aircraft, you can be very senior fairly quickly. That option disappears under longevity based pay. That's my primary problem with it.