Wish I didn't jump in on this thread so late, because I've been thinking a lot about these issues recently.

The way I see it, most of us get it all wrong. We debate whether or not a 50 seat vs a 90 seat vs a 70 seat jet is a regional. Canadair is coming out with a 110 seat Regional Jet in a few years guys. We debate the lengths of routes to ascertain whether a regional flight stage length should be 250 miles or less, or a mainline should be more. Fact is that all these numbers are arbitrary; and as long as they are arbitrary, at some point management is going to challenge them to their advantage.

There is only one solution to this quagmire, The brand that you fly, should be the contract you work under! That means Eagle pilots should be employees of American under the same contract as AA mainline pilots. Ditto for Expressjet and Continental, Air Whiskey and USAir, and Comair for Delta. One airline, ONE pilot group . Until we realize this, we'll be forever whipsawed back and forth against each other!

The power to do this is with the mainline guys. Demand a single contract for all gauges of flying under your company's logo. Does this sound improbable...Yes, Is it impossible...No!