After reading the full award, I come to the following conclusions:

1) Arbitrators do not consider AS equivalent to the big 3 + Southwest, mostly due to size and "global network" scheme. If anything, AS is a lot closer to Hawaiian than anything else. So any attempt to bring up Alaska to the level of the big boys in regards to full pay scale, 401K contribution, etc will be denied. They'll grant just enough to rank it as number 4-5ish, not top 3.

2) Management did a helluva job selling their pitch about how scope would hinder growth plans and blah blah blah...and arbitrators bought it, as they argue that even though there is no current scope protection, management has at least respected the 76 seat limit so far, when they were not obligated to do it. Arbitrators give management a pat on the back and say to pilots "y'all don't need basic scope on paper as requested by your union, because management has already been respecting it so far without having to...". :rolls eyes:

Not looking purty...