I've also read a bunch of nonsense about upgrading out of seniority. You know there is no such thing. The CAL Captains are not unusually junior than the UAL Captains. The junior nb Captain seat is within 2% system seniority of each other. Nothing significant about that. All that to say, is that when you filter through all the bs, both airlines offered roughly the same career options as the other. The only new dynamic with the combined seniority is the ability to bid a base the requires a shorter commute, or none at all. I know it's been said that CALs bases suck, and frankly, that's what I thought when I applied here. But having moved to Houston from SoCal in 2005, I can't see myself going back. We have made quite a home here; good friends, good schools, good church, good dog park, and ok beaches (but the food and entertainment in Galveston is awesome). My point is, just like seat assignment, the quality of a base is in the eye of the individual pilot.

I enjoy reading the posts from both sides. It mirrors politics, sports, and religion in the sense that everyone thinks that if everyone else would just see it objectively, they would see it my way. It's kind of comical when you think about it. That said, in my mind are three scenarios...one where I get a bump in seniority (staple furloughees), one where I get screwed (furloughs going ahead of active pilots), and what I think will actually happen. I'll say it again for the record, the committees that represent our particular sides are charged to do just that. Even though we're in arbitration, it's just another form of negotiation. Ask for the moon, settle for something less. Whatever comes of this, I will accept without animosity toward my fellow pilot. I hope we can all say the same while the outcome is still up in the air.