First off I'm talking about pilots not industry standard across the board. I don't negotiate for a completely replaceable FA (sounds harsh but true), get agents outsourced ramp services, managers, crew schedulers, dispatchers, or anyone in miramar. If they all want to be paid what is industry standard too then that's on them to negotiate but my Union doesn't include them at this point.

Spirit also doesn't just save money on labor. We do everything cheap. Real estate, training programs, optional features on the aircraft like mood lighting, etc. even the paint job was chosen because it's only two colors and cheap.

Our pay being best of breed will not make us United airlines or even for that matter southwest. CASM will not increase over $.06 according to the negotiators themselves.

The same reason a new people express will not wipe out spirit is the same reason we will not wipe out southwest. Critical mass. We will have enough critical mass for any startup to pose a real threat. When they do you buy them or crush them. If that doesn't happen then they are not a threat. This is the airline industry with many moving parts and we all know anything can happen but I'm not going to negotiate my compensation based on competition from some future nonexistent airline. That's silly. Let management do their job and worry about those things. I move airplanes and expect to get as much as I can for that service. It's that simple.