Originally Posted by alfaromeo

Each time that Delta gets a new more efficient aircraft the MEC has tried to capture some of that efficiency for the pilots in terms of higher pay rates. That is what we did with the 737-800, the 767-400, and the 777. Those aircraft all paid well above what their predecessors paid.

During the JCBA, the A-320 fit in between the MD-88 and the 737 in terms of size, efficiency, and capabilities. Certainly the A-320 is a more efficient aircraft than the MD-88 with longer range. The difference is now 1.8% when the MD-88 was put with MD-90 rates, hardly a ghastly difference.

The MEC, through the pilot survey, dictated what the negotiating priorities were. Putting the MD-88 up to the A-320 was not on the pilots' list of priorities. Putting the MD-88 up to the MD-90 was. I am not sure how much simpler that gets.