So as an AA customer, how exactly do I purchase a ticket on PSA? Or if I want to purchase a ticket on AA and do not want to ride PSA, how do I do that?

As a customer, these decisions are made for me by AA management, I don't have a choice and I am forced one way or another. As far as being forced to be an employee, doesn't seem to be a need for that as many are choosing to stay away on their own.

Wait there is a shortage of pilots 200k in debt willing to work for 20k per year.... Colour me shocked!

I don't think you understand the question. What I'm getting at is, American (for example) has a contracted pilot labor force to do its flying at certain pay rates. Then American decides it wants pilots flying their passengers at cheaper rates, so instead of negotiating it creates "separate companies" that it owns, manages, and directly collects profits from (meaning, not so separate). I'm questioning the legality of this, not to mention how the heck the mainline union allowed it in the first place..

Even with scope voted away I don't see how it's legal to sidestep their labor contract with their pilots by making wholly-owned companies that it owns, manages, and directly collects profits from, for the sole purpose of acquiring cheaper labor costs to fly the very same passengers. Outside contracts with separately owned and managed companies (regionals who keep their own profits) make more sense, legally anyway. It also keeps the negotiating table more balanced. Would be much harder to negotiate pay cuts, for example, without the threat of being shut down by your parent carrier. The regional carrier could simply find flying elsewhere, and the parent would lose their feed (requiring more mainline pilots or another contract).

Hopefully that makes more sense.

12 year pay cap.....SCABS

I try to stay on mainline flights as much as possible, But as a customer it is a lot harder to get to certain markets without taking one of the regionals.

I really feel like the regionals should have more distinguishing marks for every company. More than just that little sticker on everyone's nose saying what airline it is. Make it more obvious on the side that it is Mesa or GoJet or Envoy or RAH. That might wake up people to how many flights are not AA Delta or United operated.

CFI's pay doubled within last few years and what? Nothing, schools are desperate for CFIs... Non-jet 135's are desperate for CA, AMF and etc - doubled the pay - same result... Now its RJ turn...
See the trend? If u dont have new blood willing to get 100K debt, spend 2 years in traffic pattern and "less then decade" in RJ to get to decent level - you can do nothing but change whole system...

Mainline doesn't want the passenger to realize that they are not riding on a regional operated flight. They want a seamless product.

How many CRJs does Delta have on property?

If zero, the rates are a meaningless comparison.

Yes but the public should be aware of these things. Some "think" they are being served by mainline pilots and crew and are not. It might be a good way to force change.

The majority of the public is clueless. Just like believing there is a true pilot shortage

True but I'm guessing that will change with 50 seaters "going away". The 50 seater isn't going away from United, it's going away from the United brand. If that makes sense. Just a hunch.