Originally Posted by
Bwipilot
I guess the morons are out again so I'll have to make another post. SWA pilots expectations pre merger: make a good chunk of change. AAI pilots expectations pre merger: make a smaller chunk of change.
Too many pilots get hung up on seat and size. Without going to a size analogy, it's ridiculous to state that flying a big airplane is worth more if you're getting paid less.
If you equated the pay scales of each seniority list to the average pay for an airplane, the SWA pilots would fall into the 767/777 category. The AAI pilots would've fallen into the small narrow body category. Hence, SWA pilots are bring 5700 wide body seats to the merger in terms of pay--that's the bottom line.
You have to think like the arbitors will during the SLI talks (assuming it gets to them) They will look at aircraft size, fleets and career expectations. Again, you can't take CURRENT payrates and extrapolate them out over a 30+ yr career. Ask the Delta, NW, UAL, USAir pilots et al who gave/lost 40% of their pay essentially overnight. Your SLI argument based on pay is totally baseless. Like it or not, historically our industry integrations, mergers etc are based on a/c size, fleet size and career progression based on seniority, not pay. Pay comes and goes. Seniority lasts forever.