See imho part of the issue is what many think is mainline and what is not. I see the 70+ seat jets with two class configs and know that those are mainline jets.
I have no issue with market rates on them, I do not care if someone needs to start in the right seat of one. I am fairly certain that DAL would still have qualified pilots lining up to fly for DAL in one of those CRJ or E-Jet models. Why? If is a direct path to a 744/777 seat. No maybe, no interview, they are DAL pilots.
I have also never seen an airplane no matter how junior or how low the pay not have someone bid it. There will always be pilots in the seat, because that is the way the airline staffs it. It would not be a "B" rate, it would just be the "market" rate.
If we were to use the "profitability" measurement for mainline jets, heck nothing should be flying here!
As I have previously posted, the pilot group and MEC leadership really need to decide if going after that seat segment is what needs to be done now. Reality is half of this list will retire under the next PWA and it is simple to see that most want money are retirement dollars. I do not believe pilots want to sell flying for any gains, but to buy back this flying may not be high on the majority of our pilots priority lists. That is the ugly truth, it may not further unity, or the profession, but those appear to be the facts most of the 55+ guys I fly with see.
I also know that if there is a true push by the company for 77-120 seat flying for DCI, they have shown their hand. It proves that the current seat segment is dead and they need something to keep DCI going. If that happens this group and this corporation are at a crossroads. I personally do not see a huge push for it right now. If we are in contract talks in 2014-2015 that may change.