Geez, T. Sometimes you really have problems with the nuances of a discussion. Maybe if you spent more time actually reading and thinking about what I say instead of trying to find some inconsistency to play "gotcha"... you'd be able to come up with more appropriate comments.

Let's talk specific numbers that I am advocating and see how it compares with your take on my post...

The average SWA Captain (including reserves) makes $234,000/year. The average Delta MD-88 Captain (assuming 80 hours per month by the time you include reserves) makes $161,280.

In order to restore our current pay rates to C2K+COLA (all other things being equal), we need a 72.5% increase in rate.

In order to match our current MD-88 pilot W2 pay to SWA pilot W2 pay, we need a 45.5% increase.

I have clearly stated on multiple occasions that I believe our objective should be C2K+COLA and that, being reasonable, I would be willing to accept as a minimum pay parity with the average SWA pilot. So my range is from 72.5% desired to 45.5% minimum acceptable. Are you with with me so far?

Now, let's imagine a situation in which SWA pilots were to get a big pay raise. Let's say they get a 20% pay raise. (I'm not saying this is what will happen... I'm just making a point.) That would put their average Captain at $280,800.

Now, let's imagine a situation in which we are able to negotiate pay parity with SWA's current pilot pay. That would put our average MD-88 Captain at $234,000. Like I said before, that would be minimally acceptable to me. If SWA pilots get a pay increase tomorrow, do I care that they are jumping ahead of that? Hell no! I'd be happy for them. If anything, it helps us to more easily obtain future increases to hopefully get us closer to that C2K+COLA I think we should be shooting for. And like I said before, I don't see it as a competition. I just want to be compensated appropriately, and certainly not compensated as if we were still in bankruptcy. The current level of SWA pay is what I have identified as minimally appropriate.