JetBlue looking to merge
04-05-2026 | 11:59 PM
#91
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 977
Likes: 106
Interesting read! Sounds like they got the worst of both worlds: the hassles of working under the RLA, but without the benefits of being unionized. No wonder FordHarrison sounded almost gleeful in their article.
04-06-2026 | 12:47 PM
#93
Gets Weekend Reserve
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,275
Likes: 270
From: B737CA
What is your point? That regional pilots have to make poverty wages in order for them to exist? No pilot should subsidize paying passengers and if the model requires a pilot to qualify for public assistance in order for the airline to exist, then that airline has a flawed business model that no financial institution should touch with a ten foot pole.
I am 200% convinced that the regionals could have been paying livable wages for decades. They chose not to because they weren't forced to. Besides, the population mindset has changed. People want premium product - they don't want the cheapest hence the push for premium products; and the youth would rather be YouTube influencers than pilots these days.
I am 200% convinced that the regionals could have been paying livable wages for decades. They chose not to because they weren't forced to. Besides, the population mindset has changed. People want premium product - they don't want the cheapest hence the push for premium products; and the youth would rather be YouTube influencers than pilots these days.
04-06-2026 | 01:11 PM
#94
Furloughed Again?!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,950
Likes: 110
From: Boeing 737
You know what they used to call 50-100 seat jet airliners before the "regional jet" was introduced?
Mainline.
DC9, Bac1-11, Fokker 28, Fokker 100, BAe 146, 737-200.
All good paying MAINLINE jobs with MAINLINE benefits, and MAINLINE retirement.
Choosing to call an airplane "regional" in order to pay employees less was genius by management and the biggest failure in the history of ALPA.
Mainline.
DC9, Bac1-11, Fokker 28, Fokker 100, BAe 146, 737-200.
All good paying MAINLINE jobs with MAINLINE benefits, and MAINLINE retirement.
Choosing to call an airplane "regional" in order to pay employees less was genius by management and the biggest failure in the history of ALPA.
04-06-2026 | 01:45 PM
#95
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 82
Likes: 26
What is your point? That regional pilots have to make poverty wages in order for them to exist? No pilot should subsidize paying passengers and if the model requires a pilot to qualify for public assistance in order for the airline to exist, then that airline has a flawed business model that no financial institution should touch with a ten foot pole.
I am 200% convinced that the regionals could have been paying livable wages for decades. They chose not to because they weren't forced to. Besides, the population mindset has changed. People want premium product - they don't want the cheapest hence the push for premium products; and the youth would rather be YouTube influencers than pilots these days.
I am 200% convinced that the regionals could have been paying livable wages for decades. They chose not to because they weren't forced to. Besides, the population mindset has changed. People want premium product - they don't want the cheapest hence the push for premium products; and the youth would rather be YouTube influencers than pilots these days.
04-06-2026 | 02:24 PM
#96
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,174
Likes: 156
I am confused, last I checked regional pilots are not making poverty wages and most have pretty decent benefit packages with competitive CBA's. Are they mainline pay rates, no but they are not poverty wages. You could even make a hell of a good career at one now.
My issue with this idea that everyone must be paid the same and "regional" aircraft should pay the same as "mainline" is that these same people have no problem with WB pay being higher or pay banding of other airlines. There is no difference as the argument is always the same in that the more people your aircraft can fly the more they are able to pay you to fly it.
My issue with this idea that everyone must be paid the same and "regional" aircraft should pay the same as "mainline" is that these same people have no problem with WB pay being higher or pay banding of other airlines. There is no difference as the argument is always the same in that the more people your aircraft can fly the more they are able to pay you to fly it.
04-06-2026 | 02:26 PM
#97
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,174
Likes: 156
You know what they used to call 50-100 seat jet airliners before the "regional jet" was introduced?
Mainline.
DC9, Bac1-11, Fokker 28, Fokker 100, BAe 146, 737-200.
All good paying MAINLINE jobs with MAINLINE benefits, and MAINLINE retirement.
Choosing to call an airplane "regional" in order to pay employees less was genius by management and the biggest failure in the history of ALPA.
Mainline.
DC9, Bac1-11, Fokker 28, Fokker 100, BAe 146, 737-200.
All good paying MAINLINE jobs with MAINLINE benefits, and MAINLINE retirement.
Choosing to call an airplane "regional" in order to pay employees less was genius by management and the biggest failure in the history of ALPA.
04-06-2026 | 03:16 PM
#98
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 82
Likes: 26
I am confused, last I checked regional pilots are not making poverty wages and most have pretty decent benefit packages with competitive CBA's. Are they mainline pay rates, no but they are not poverty wages. You could even make a hell of a good career at one now.
My issue with this idea that everyone must be paid the same and "regional" aircraft should pay the same as "mainline" is that these same people have no problem with WB pay being higher or pay banding of other airlines. There is no difference as the argument is always the same in that the more people your aircraft can fly the more they are able to pay you to fly it.
My issue with this idea that everyone must be paid the same and "regional" aircraft should pay the same as "mainline" is that these same people have no problem with WB pay being higher or pay banding of other airlines. There is no difference as the argument is always the same in that the more people your aircraft can fly the more they are able to pay you to fly it.
04-06-2026 | 03:29 PM
#99
— No Relief On Scope —
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,575
Likes: 336
From: B737 Left Seat
The biggest threat that I experienced was a wholly owned carrier being whipasawed against the mothership (or even other regional feed to the same mainline).
Good example is Comair vs ASA and Delta. Or Eagle vs Chataqua. Delta vs Comair and both carriers were ALPA.
If there were any feed opportunities for us, I’d want the planes, the pilots, and a scale appropriate for it—in house only. One pilot group, one union, one contract. Thats leverage and better job security.
Good example is Comair vs ASA and Delta. Or Eagle vs Chataqua. Delta vs Comair and both carriers were ALPA.
If there were any feed opportunities for us, I’d want the planes, the pilots, and a scale appropriate for it—in house only. One pilot group, one union, one contract. Thats leverage and better job security.
04-06-2026 | 03:52 PM
#100
Gets Weekend Reserve
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,275
Likes: 270
From: B737CA
Lastly, I'd pay attention to what guys like Zap have to say... Eeyore (Zap) has been around the block and probably has more airline uniforms than most normal people have underwear.
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