The real problem is leverage, despite all this talk and rhetoric. The leverage we do not hold at the regional level. You can hold the line and demand more, etc, etc all day long. The problem lies in the fact that there is no leverage on our side at the Regionals against he mainline partners.

Here is how this goes. This is an actual story of a discussion between a large regional and it's mainline partner.

Regional: We would like to extend these leases with you on many of these RJ's that have been flown for years safely for you.

Mainline Management: Sounds great, we'd love to discuss it.

Regional: Great. Well, here is the thing. The rate you are paying us to fly these is totally unprofitable. We would love to continue to fly these jets, but we need to renegotiate new terms that are better for us, and allow our company to be profitable and can afford us to invest in our company and people.

Mainline: Nah, we are only comfortable with what the current terms are. Besides, we can just move these leases to another cheaper company. That continues to help our profits, and the planes will still be flown. After all, it really doesn't matter to us who flies these planes.

Regional: Oh yea, well......who will fly those planes for this other company. There is a shortage of candidates wanting to fly for these airlines now?

Mainline: Oh, that's an easy one. Many of your junior pilots will take a job there hoping for a quicker upgrade.

Checkmate.

See, this is why we don't have all this power so many think there is at the regional level. Yes, we do the same job, are skilled and trained and have a lot of responsibility. However, we can't force our companies to pay us more, because they can't increase their revenue to cover the higher expenses. To correctly show the profits the partners are making is fine, but unless you can force them to spend it at the regional level it is moot! When someone shows how that can be done I'd love to know. They just - as they ALWAYS HAVE - move the flying to a cheaper company. Unless there is a collusion at the regionals to all charge the same rates, and for all the regionals to have one payscale for the same aircraft. Even that won't help much, because companies with less longevity will always be cheaper, and mainlines can (and have in the past) start up a new regional to usurp higher costs at others. Usairways started Potomac Airlines years ago to fly Dash-8's and undercut Piedmont and Allegheny. United is shifting flying from XJT to Trans States. Mesa has done this for years. This is why you can't just demand they pay you more because you are worth it.