The seniority a pilot attains by staying on a NB aircraft (..or in the right seat) is real -- very real

It determines their monthly schedules, city pairs, type of flying, recurrent training, vacation etc

Depending on where you live/how you commute, upgrading to another seat/aircraft could have a huge affect on your QOL

The current system allows one to choose

I've never interpreted "bid what you want to fly" as a mantra that merely refers to aircraft type

Rather, it refers to what you actually wanted to do --- aircraft and seat...and the associated schedule & pay...and QOL!

It was a warning to those who may be tempted to adjust their bid for other reasons --- Passover pay, bigger $$ --- but then upset when the results of those bids left them with a schedule/lifestyle they really didn't want....going to training again, long commute, sitting reserve again, etc

Now, I'll agree that we never should have agreed to the 757 paying "pure" narrow body rates --- no other airline does that/did that --- it always paid a little more

It carries more and is more efficient then the 727 it replaced

The 2006 contract, which provided higher A380 rates, stated both the 757 and 737 would pay narrow body rates regardless of which was selected to replace the 727 (..the company claimed in late Aug 06 it still hadn't made a decision)

At that time the 727 fleet had shrunk from a high of about 165 jets down to about 100 jets, and was on its way out within 10 years

The NB was viewed as a clear minority in a fleet of about 365 jets

Less than a week after the contract was signed & effective - Nov 1, 2006 - the company announced the selection of the 757 --- at the negotiated "pure" NB rates (...hmmm)

But hey, at least we secured higher rates for the A380, right??

...of course we all know what happened after that.