I think you guys don't understand the old NWA system - you could never bid over the high time threshold to get 1.5X. It was just a different way of allocating the premium flying that showed up in open time. The staffing formula was the staffing formula - there was never the ability to manipulate reserve levels to have more or less pilots in a category so that they could be picked up by high time swaps or pick ups. Of course we also had a more rigid position bidding system that did not allow under and over manning of a category and the resultant monthly APA - which also was more rigid in training requirements. The result of this system forced the company to be more responsible in their staffing. Of course the downside was the potential of furloughs, but those are self limiting due to cost just like they are now.

Sounds like the issue here is not whether it's 1.5 over 80 or GS, but the contractual flexibility the company has with actual manning within the staffing formula. Under the NWA system they would have been contractually required to hire to staff the 717 instead of the current AE shell game underway.