The plan does not fix retirement for everyone. The IRS has not approved the optional nature of the plan. If the contract were written that we received 25% DC and if approved by the IRS we will have an optional MBCBP, we may have something to talk about. We are being led down a road where it will likely result in a mandatory plan that handicaps a majority of pilots retirement with substandard returns.

I disagree. The extra 9% into a retirement is a great thing if you are looking at a 10-30+ year time frame. If you are in a 1-4 year time frame it's not that great, just not enough time for the $$ to accrue.

What if we balanced the plus up by applying pay raises, additional training/vacation pay, improved DH seating and new WB positions created by scope language only to pilots under 61? Seems fair, since they won't be around to benefit from pay, QOL and scope.

Actually it doesn't seem equitable. The trade is a 9% increase for years if you are younger pilot, a plus up if you had the rules changed in the middle of the game.The pilot within a few years IF he is only interested in personal gain would lobby to trade any and all scope QOL contractual provisions for more pay. The senior pilot gains nearly zero from deadhead, scope, vacation improvements. Might as well sell it all for pay. He/She only has a few years left to tough it out, go for the money and let others fight for QOL later.