You're right to an extent. The 717 will always be shorts staffed as junior people will bid off as soon as they can to get higher pay and a better qol on bigger jets. Caveat, as long as we don't perpetuate the DCI system by allowing more 76ers there or other stupid productivity gains to the company.

Apples and oranges.

The ER (so I'm told) is a great flying plane with an intuitive box that has great trips across the bid package to just about every (desirable) location DAL serves. The pay rate ain't too bad either.

The 717 has uncomfortable seats, a quirky box, and garbage trips to locations you'd never consider taking your family on vacation. The pay rate is the worst at DAL.

I agree the current chaos probably won't last but my guess we'll see 717 equilibrium right when the 1st furloughs begin.

I am on the 737 but I do enjoy seeing 717 guys get their first trip off of IOE as a GSWC. :D

My Point is we are short - plenty of GS in 737 land too and the summer season is just starting. With our multiple a/c fleet, another one coming, and retirements accelerating I don't really see another sim helping much.
Throw the C series in and the new hire churn will be substantial.

The DCI problem as you mention will also probably get worse.

Scoop

I'm curious of your pre-delta aviation background.

Do you know how easy it is for management(s) to manipulate the RJ's that don't matter to you?

Scope (small and big) is very important.

The RJ model might die on its own if we hold the line. If not, it will continue to whip saw the industry. Give it 5-7 more years, those C Series will be at RJ airlines.

Nine pages and nobody has made the Game of Thrones "winter is coming" (concessions are coming) meme?

Cmon ftb, step your game up��

If you have very few of the highest paying positions though, how do you get a bigger percentage of the list up to the highest payscale?

Pre AE bypass pay for positions equal to length of the seat lock.

spitballin' here

I am actually kind of pro for 3 bands. Or 4 if we ever get another super premium widebody after the 744 retires in 7 years. But this doesnt completely decouple pay from productivity. It makes similar sized pay similar rates.

I think pure longevity pay is a pipe dream where CS100 pays the same as 744.

If we were hiring 100 guys/year I would agree with you. We're not. We are hiring 1000 (and maybe more). A few additional 76 seaters to the regionals won't even be noticed here. At all. They ARE a throwaway item because that is a failed model. Truth be told, I'll betcha management doesn't really want them to begin with, but it starts such a panic among our group that they use it as their wedge. jmho. I know you disagree and I am OK with that.

It is shear panic mode to believe those C series will be at regionals. There is no way that we will allow THAT kind of scope concession. I agree that they should (and will) stay here on mainline so they are a non-issue.

It is NOT about one airplane paying the same as another airplane. It is about a pilot with X years making the same as another pilot with the same amount of time. Management buys airplanes. We only fly what they choose to buy. The current model punishes pilots who get hired at an older age. Punishes them.