Originally Posted by
Kellwolf
I'd love to have FedEx or UPS in the peer group, but they don't fly any of the equipment (or even comparable equipment) to what we fly. If we have the right to ask for them, then management might as well say they want regional carriers operating E170 and -900s in the peer set. Let's just stick to keeping it realistic and make sure Delta, Uni-Cal, etc are in the peer set. They fly A320s. We fly A320s. The 717/MD-88/MD-90 isn't THAT different as far as seats/routes go than the E190. We're not flying to Tokyo or the middle east, so I think asking for UPS and FedEx to be in the peer set is a little over reaching.
Except that regional carriers are are not major airlines and are not considered "destination carriers" per the agreed to peer set definition. Thus they don't count. As for like aircraft at UPS and FedEx. FedEx has a small vs large aircraft pay scale (use the small one) and UPS pays on pay rate regardless of type (use that one). As to the idea of where they fly should make no difference. To me, a major airline is a major airline.
Now, I have no problem keeping the current peer set, but that means no Virgin America, no Spirit, no Allegient till they become major airlines per DOT. But you still have to ask are they a Destination Airline? In addition, USAir needs to become a single entry (aveage east and west together), vs two entries in the average (both driving the average down).
By the way. Something that everyone forgets about peer set averages is that we then base our pay on how well other companies run their airlines. Do you really want to base your pay on how well other airlines Execs run their airlines? Do you want to base your pay on how well other pilot group negotiate, especially a pilot group that is unwilling to honor an arbitrated SLI (like USAir) and get a JCBA, thus bringing down the average (and thus our pay too)?
Just my opinion.......
FNG