Even if the fences were higher they would still have rediculously high training costs. the mesaba jet guys getting retrained to fly 9e, the mesaba saab guys getting re trained to fly something else, and some of the boston saab guys getting retrained to fly something else. add on that the jets for 9e were understaffed so they had to re train others anyway.
No. They should have kept all 3 separate for at least two years to ride out the economy. Mesaba would have downgraded and furloughed, Pinnacle would have hired, and Colgan would have hired their own. Everyone separate would have prevented re-training costs. Worry about whipsaw and one list at a later date once the economy improved. But no, the royal highnesses at Mesaba's union and Mr. Pushover SE unilaterally agreed that we must have one seniority list right away!
If you guys think this **** storm is bad, just wait until the Saabs are parked. Most Colgan Saab Captains were hired in 2007 and 2008, and a large amount (the ones hired on/before Feb 2008) have super seniority on the list (#s 1000-1400). They are more senior than the most junior Pinnacle Captains from Oct 2006 - Feb 2007. Pinnacle's worse case scenario will be that we will displace ALL our Captains on the 200, right down to only 541 total as protected by the quota, while Colgan Saab Captains get displaced off the parked Saab fleet.