I've heard on multiple occasions by a few AS pilots about this "windfall" that VX pilots have received. I'm still looking for the windfall check in my mail. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. But here are facts. Here are the actual numbers...

Pre Merger rates (2017)

6th year FO
AS- $128.68 VX- $112.00, Difference of 13%

TOS Captain
AS- $$216.45 VX- $180.00, Difference of 20%

AS pilots got a raise the same time as the VX pilots. AS pilots got their raise 3 years early because of the acquisition. Lets not make it sound like VX pilots got a raise and AS did not. We both did. Yes ours was bigger. Had we stayed separate airlines, VX was in contract negotiations. And while we will never know what our final rates would have been, I think its safe to say a 15-20% raise to match Alaska's would have been more than feasible albeit disappointing compared to what the rest of the industry was getting.

If we had been bought by the big 3, where their rates averaged to be $165 for a 6th year FO and $260 ToS Captain, and we just pigbacked on their contract, I definitely could see your point.

If you want to call it a windfall because we both got raises at the same time so that we can be 5th best at 10% below the big boys, have at it. I'll stop trying to bring reason into your life.