Using this logic it would be best to ask for $100 over Delta, in order to settle at Delta. Do you think this is the best practice? If so, management would start at regional rates, only to meet in the middle at current Spirit rates.

Better to have an "ask" based on facts and logic vs "car lot logic" one would use wen buying a used Mazda.

Smoke and mirrors of the negotiating game aside, I would much rather have my NC come in with a realistic number, based on fact, and stick to that, for no other reason that that is the rate of pilots today.

It doesn't matter anyways. The morons who think we should be shooting for X Y and Z are so in the minority, they are simply, the minority and have no affect on whatever vote we have. There are some clear facts that pilots of this group need to accept that WILL happen in this next contract, accept it or move on to another airline. Change is coming, like it or not....and if you think 29/7 will be here in the next contract, you're delusional.