Exactly. Our mechanics got 11.5K signing bonus, which according to some mechs I have spoken with was app. 80% retro. Lets say we get something similar on a 20% pay raise (to equal DAL + a little). For me, that is 50K straight retro, and 40K would be 80% of full retro. For 12000 pilots, that would be 480M just for the signing bonus. If the average salary is say 110K, then a 20% raise would cost 264M/yr. So, in the first year alone, a new contract would cost the company around 740M. Followed by 260M/yr plus raises. Are they expecting that kind of savings thru the "synergies" of flying each other's metal? So for those who ask "what is the company's motivation to sign a JCBA?" I say there is none. Not now, not when they are ready to mix crews, not ever. Not untill this place is in meltdown. US AIrways is doing just fine. In fact, I believe they set an all time company record for a quarterly profit last year.

SLed