Originally Posted by
Excargodog
As long as they have differing types they are by definition a separate category, unlike 319/320/321. A220 and A321 pilots are NOT interchangeable. The small difference in payscale between the two certainly mitigates the effect that will have on overall seniority but for everyday practical purposes (scheduling seniority and basing) having multiple types does have an effect. Even things as trivial as ETOPS/nonETOPS have their effects. It isn’t just payscale that affects QOL, particularly if you desire to live near a certain base.
You are confused. Category doesn't mean type. I'm not EXACTLY sure of the precise definition, but it basically means narrow-body or wide-body. It CAN be further broken down into small-narrow-body and large-narrow-body, if the arbitrator thinks it's important, but frankly the A220 and A320 overlap as it is. The A220-300 has the range and capacity of the A319. Airbus will almost certainly by the time SLI arbitration begins, will have announced the long anticipated A220-500, which will have A320 capacity and range. JB is likely to have an order placed for it by then as well. And our A220-300 pays more than your A320.
An arbitrator breaking narrow-bodies into "small" and "large" is more likely if you were talking B717 vs B757-300s, not an overlapping capacity pair of types that basically pay within the distance between Chevy Chase's butt cheeks of each other.