One more thing, when ALPA was formed the nonunion mail pilots avg was $200/month while the ALPA pilots got $800/month. That is what you expect with union scales.
Fast forward today. ALPA is a tool to artificially create LOWER than market rates. Proof - look at all the regional FO's leaving. ALL of the ones I see are going to jobs, flying and nonflying that pay more than get at the regional. The market place is screaming that the retention factor for FO's is not there.
CA's are enticed to stay for Rick's reasons but FO's will chase a quick upgrade OR promised flow.
Which brings up a final point - FLOWTHROUGH models are pilot retention tools not cost alleviating tools. They market them as cost reducers to the naïve but the real purpose is to get pilots to stay in poverty bypassing the career expectations enjoyed by nonflying peers to one day enjoy that juicy carrot. Rant over