Originally Posted by
FAULTPUSH
That's a windfall for the top Southwest pilots at the expense of the senior Air Tran pilots. The senior Southwest pilots would gain another domicile, greater variety of flying, etc, while the top Air Tran pilot goes from bidding #1 to bidding 15% (?) for lines, vacation, etc.
JMHO... One could argue that standpoint, and you would have a point. But it would be hard to argue that since ATI has only been in existance since 1992?? So it would be difficult to rationalize placing them in front of pre 1992 SWA pilots. All that being said, with the fleet commonality that you will have, fences are stupidity. I have made the point that at DAL/NWA, the fences on the 777/747 really didn't protect anybody because the ones being "protected" are the guys at the top of the food chain anyway. There are some fairly junior FOs that have been able to bid the equipment, but when the fences fall, they will be junior for the rest of their natural lives on the airplane. I guess if you have a woody for the category, it is a good thing, but being junior sucks, and number 9000 in the right seat of the whale won't hold a line for 15 years... Point is, that the fences IMO.. did little good other than to stagnate some areas.. Take it FWIW...
Not going out on a limb here, but sailingfun hit it outta the park.