Come on Check, give me a break. All I'm trying to say is you can't have it both ways. For years I lived under the illusion that Delta would pay me more simply because I was a better pilot (and better looking too). Never mind that I flew fewer hours than most others, had a better retirement than others, more sick leave than others, the best survivor benefit, a lifetime disability benefit, etc. etc. that no other carrier enjoyed. Somehow, I just "pocketed" that because I was better than everybody else - I was a Delta pilot.

Well, that illusion was shattered in bankruptcy. Southwest pilots make more than us for one simple reason -- they work for an extremely profitable company, and they are extremely efficient in their works rules. They've never had a DB, they paid for their own type rating, and they've NEVER led the industry in anything. They have virtually no training costs, because they have a single fleet. And yet, even now, they are treading water waiting for us to pass them in pay, so they can have their cost advantage again.

We should be able to make their wages, because our network can generate more RASM than theirs, and I'm willing to fight to get that. But this is a math exercise, not an emotional one.

And no one is giving up -- we will get exactly what we negotiate; but what we used to make is irrelevant. Totally irrelevant. The world has changed -- accept that, and make the most of it.