Here are some things that Northwest and ALPA could have/ SHOULD HAVE done differently.

Why did they allow aircraft certified for up to 90 seats. Almost every airline has 70 seat certified jets (CRJ-700, EMB-170), like United, American, Delta..., but NO ONE (except for America West) had 90 seat aircraft. That precident that Northwest just set will HAUNT pilots throughout the industry. 90 seat jets at the regionals, here they come!

They were on the right track limiting the number of these LARGE regional jets (55 to separate regionals, 90 to Compass). That alone was PLENTY!!! Then they allowed more of these airplanes to be outsourced if Northwest on a 1:1 ratio if Northwest "entered into service" a 77-110 seat airplane.
GEE, I wonder how soon until Northwest enters about 100 of these type of aircraft into service to replace their DC-9's. That's another 100 of these 90 seat RJ's at a regional.
Hell, maybe Northwest won't even need to replace the DC-9. They got such a good concession from their pilots that these 90 seat certified RJ's that they could probably be used to OUTSOURCE ALL OF THE DC-9 FLYING!!!



Lets see, other places where ALPA and Northwest really f*cked up. This entire idea of flying 90 seat certified aircraft NOT on the Northwest pilot seniority list is exactly what Northwest wants. WHY?
You spend a few years of your career at Pinnancle/Mesaba/Compass/whoever is operating these 90 seat aircraft. Then you'd get hired at NW and start at first year pay, say flying the A320 (cause the DC-9's will be gone eventually).
Well, if these 90 seat RJ's were flown by pilots on the Northwest seniority list, when you'd upgrade to A320 FO, you would be on say 3 or 4 year pay, and that is a LOT MORE. Every year, you have a several year advantage on pay because you will have spent more time at Northwest.

Northwest is in such bad shape. They are by far in the worst position of all the legacies. After all, they are the lowest paid. They have the oldest fleet. They are in bankruptcy. And now they just outsourced all this flying. That is not only going to be brutal for ALL the pilots at Northwest, but the effects will ripple throughout the industry, and have effects on the entire pilot group. Northwest just opened a new door to outsourcing.