Originally Posted by
FAULTPUSH
Let me say it for the third time: windfalls are only an issue if they come at the exense of the other group. Increase in QOL and pay is a windfall, but it doesn't cost the SWA guys anything. There is no "13 year" increase in seniority for the AAI guy. That DOH is a number that has no meaning except in the context of your peer group - as 80ktsclamp said, that's longevity, not seniority. For a SWA pilot, that 13 years puts you at the top of the SWA list. For the AAI guy, you don't need it to be at the top of their list.
Here's another way to make the point: How is a SWA pilot negatively impacted by being in the same relative seniority after the integration?
Bingo. The fact that the merger will mainly produce an airline that has one or two types of aircraft types with basically the same pay makes a relative position SLI more probable. The career expectations are the same. Right? Anything else, you are arguing that the arbitrator should take into account fairness based on when you get to take vacation, bid schedules, ect. Typically, I don't think these are things they care about.
Are you going to be in the same position, seat-and aircraft wise, you were in before? If so, that's fine with them. Career expectation-wise, where are you going to go that's different? A 737 is a 737.