The rate on the 747/777 is based on the Delta rate. It would never be greater than the Delta rate,
67% agreed to work for 8.5% less than a Delta pilot to begin with. If you compare the Delta 2013 rate to the UAL 2014 it is exactly the same, $254.74. So that is the starting point (do you really think UAL would agree to fly the aircraft for a higher pay rate than the Delta rate?).
We should all be happy that we brought more aircraft into the jumbo pay category. If you look closely at the pay rates (DAL 2013 vs UAL 2014) it becomes clear how the deck chars were shuffled. The rates below are the 12 year CA rates.
We gave a premium to the 787 in the amount of $10.12/hour and the
767-400 had a premium of $14.12.
One important note is that we also gave a nice premium to the A320 to the tune of $7.74/hour compared to Delta.
Now where did this extra pay come from? Simply put, if you are flying a 757-
200 today, we collectively kicked you in the nuts. The 757-200 pays $8.19/hour LESS than Delta. We also make less when we fly a 737-700 ($7.82). All the other aircraft rates are within $.50-.$76 of one another. One note, the blended rate of a combined 756/76T base would be $211.68 vs $213.22 at Delta.
On a cost basis, it is a wash. The premium to the 787 would impact 91 CA's, the 767-400 about 105 pilots but the A320 premium would increase the earnings of about 610 CA's (stovepipe method).
On the down side, 720 757-200 CA's & 214 737-700 pilots will make almost $8000 less than their peers at Delta.
If the 767-400 and 787 were paid a premium for SLI reasons, why did we give a premium to the A320?