Originally Posted by OnCenterline

I come from a background of economics, and I disagree with the notion that size doesn't matter--part of our higher pay for a larger plane is based on the notion that the equipment that generates the most revenue pays the most. Another way to look at it is to assume that the position of the most responsibility pays the most, and in this case responsibility is measured in the value of the equipment, cargo and lives. That's why even non-union nations pay more for larger equipment--flyDubai will never match Emirates because one flies 737's and one flies heavies.

The fact that some airlines have agreed to pay multiple airframes the same rate is simply a matter of convenience and expedience for both the company and the pilot group, as it saves money on training cycles because we have no incentive to chase certain upgrades, but we get the benefit of bidding what we want to fly based on our own personal criteria.

The same phenomenon occurs in nearly every profession, even sports: news anchors earn more than in-the-field reporters; quarterbacks get paid more than other players; the lead actor gets paid the most; senior partners in a law firm get the larger share of the profits; a VP will always get paid more than an entry-level manager. I could go on, but I think I've made the point.

Has seniority been the fault for a lot of other issues? Yes, and it would be folly to say otherwise. However, a national seniority list is dead in the water before it starts for three main reasons: senior pilots will never go along with it (and in some cases, neither would locally senior but nationally junior pilots [see America West/USAir]); it is a concept that would fail spectacularly without the support of ALL the pilot unions, and getting ALPA, SWAPA, APA, IPA, IBT, and USAPA to agree on something like this would be an exercise in futility; third, and most important, the airlines themselves would never go along with it. We sometimes forget that everything we have must be agreed to by two parties, not just demanded by one (bankruptcy not included).