I wouldn't mind being on the AA Connection side since I live in STL, but CHQ wouldn't even look at me 3yrs ago because I didn't have 1500/500. So I went to XJT and held CA in less than 2yrs and it has worked good. I won't leave the left seat for the small chance of being based at home. And in my 3yrs at XJT I have been junior manned ZERO times, so I'm not really sure how much that is worth in your contract. I guess it all depends on how well your company honors the contract. I mean, how is the whole upgrading out of seniority thing going? It sounds like the old union is hard at work on that one. We haven't had that problem at XJET. Guess thats a fair trade for the chance of being junior manned. Look, I'm really not trying to start a fight, I just want to make the point that every airline has its problems. Many people vent their frustrations at your pilot group because you guys are a big target. Is it justified? Maybe....maybe not. I will say this. I don't look down at CHQ pilots because I am an XJT pilot. Hell I don't look down at CHQ pilots period! But, I think we as XJT pilots are frustrated at other regional pilot groups as a whole because they have willingly accepted these larger airplanes for not so great pay, and that sets the bar low, and eliminates job mainline job opportunities. Some of you say the majors wouldn't buy E170s because it doesn't make sense, they are focusing on busy routes. Well I guess it is cheaper when they can pay a regional crap pay to do it instead. Some guys that now fly a 737 or A320 might say "No way I would fly a E170!", but if they staffed them with new hires that built their seniority than I bet they would be all for it. You guys have E170s and that isn't going to change. But what can change is the pay. If B.B wants to fly E170s for everyone, then make him pay the price. Raise the bar and lets get rid of this blue collar feeling. Please, help bring it back.

 

I agree the pay needs to be higher... and maybe with some good work it will get that way. I sorta disagree with your assertation that mainline guys even new hires really want the 70 seaters at the carrier.... AMR had the opportunity and offered the F70 to AA mainline and they could never come to an agreement on wage rates. It was many years before AE got scoped for the 700's.

I really think wishing or hoping that mainlines will start flying E170/175 is wishful thinking .... E190/195's very different animal.

I am all for raising the bar...I think we ALL are.

 

You may be right, but if you were at a Legacy and had the opportunity to pad your seniority with 70 seaters...would you? I think the airlines were a much different animal when the F70 was in the sky, and a lot has changed since then.

 

Having people below you is only beneficial in the event of a furlough, in which case you would then be flying the 70 seaters. To improve your QOL and schedule, you're gonna need people ABOVE you to leave or for your company to grow their fleet of your specific aircraft. I don't know about you guys, but when I check my seniority, I'm much more interested in how many numbers I've moved up. The number below me is just interesting to see (hiring), aside from that I have no interest in the number below... unless there is an impending furlough.

 

I am sorry to say but I have heard that at EVERY airline I have worked and from other pilots at other airlines.

What about the one where MX was looking over manuals for the aircraft with the same story line of you weren't supposed to see that.

 

Anyone that has been junior manned will tell you it's probably worth it's weight in gold. I'm glad that you haven't had to go through it, the majority of your coworkers are not so lucky...including getting junior manned into vacation.

You're either misinformed or underinformed. The company is not upgrading out of seniority order. The problem is training dates, not the awards.

I'm glad that your problems are different then ours. You're happy where you at, I'm happy where I'm at. The difference is I don't give you sh!t for being there despite the many similarities that you would refuse to acknowledge even if I listed them (do a search, I've done it before if you're interested).

I'd love to go back and forth at the circumstances surrounding our 70 seat pay rates, but I'm sure it won't do much good. Unfortunately, other things were just more important. Here's a fun fact though: We were offered Horizon + 10% on pay and turned it down to get our scope clause. That's the same scope clause that was copied almost word for word into your contract. The same one that prevented a TSA/GoJet situation over here. You're welcome.

Hopefully we will bring it back. I think we are in a great position to raise the bar pretty damn high and then I won't have to read all this "bottom feeder" crap on here. The fact of the matter is that you guys losing that CAL flying had little to do with us being a bottom feeder and a lot to do with CAL diversifying. But whatever helps you guys sleep at night is cool with me.

 

Preach it brotha!!! Could not have said it better myself.

I think the "animosity" or "holier than thow" attitude a lot of you guys attribute to XJT pilots is more accurately described as frustration. We are frustrated at how low some others (not talking about RAH specifically here) have set the bar and the unwillingness to change that because you all see the "regionals" as a stepping stone. Please, open your eyes. As long as there are pilot groups are out there willing to fly 70-90 seaters for regional pay, those are mainline jobs that have been outsourced to the "regional" level.

 

WELL SAID!

If only pilots at Delta and Northwest (and at somepoint American, United, and US Air) realized this, the industry would be in a lot better shape.

 

I have NEVER given any CHQ pilot sh!t for being at CHQ. Truth is I have several friends there, and CHQ was my first pick when I was job hunting but I didn't have 1500/500 and so they wouldn't even consider me.

I have never spouted that "You stole our flying!" crap. I know CAL was
diversifying. What Legacy wouldn't after what COMAIR did to Delta pre 9/11?

I don't have a problem with your contract overall. I think its good, but your 70 seat rates gotta go....up that is.

I'm sorry for the crap that you have taken from people representing my company. I just don't want to see mainline jobs outsourced to regionals. More 70 seaters at regionals means less 90 seaters at mainline, and if you can raise the bar for 70 seaters, perhaps we can stop more from coming on line.

 

Hey, I've got a question. I always hear CHQ talk about the "no junior man" clause. Are we talking reassignment after pairing termination or getting cold-called on your day off? Just wondering.