Relative seniority would hurt every pilot at SWA who went to SWA after leaving AAI as well as pilots who took the extra time to get hired at SWA instead of getting on at AAI earlier. Also, SWA senior pilots had a much larger percentage of retirements to look forward to in the near future. Relative seniority would shift that benefit to AAI pilots.

Very odd statement coming from a poster who's avatar notes that they're flying the same position making $16 less per hour than they were 10 years ago. Guys get hung up on seat/position. However, I'd fly as a FO on a E-170 making $150/hour anyday before flying as a CA on a 767 making $134.

I'd guess that the comeback would be "Like that would ever happen!" My response would be "It has." SWA has FOs making more than CAs at numerous airlines--including AAI. I'd ask you, whose job would you rather have and which has higher expectations? I hold that valuing pilot positions via the label of 777 CA, 737 FO, E-170 CA does not accurately portray the value of each job. Heaven help us that relative seniority becomes the new model for seniority integtration. Unions would have to fight tooth and nail for merger protections in addition to scope clauses. That would take away significant bargaining power for economic gains. At the same time, pilots at poorly paid airlines would not focus on improving their contracts and instead work to make their airline "pretty" for merger with a larger airline.