Yak Yak.
I find it interesting that you find seniority lists "ancient" and "pointless".
What other meathod would you use to determine what you can bid,who gets laidoff,pay,vacation and everything ellse. Seniority is what makes this job so great. There is no asskissing, I don't even know who my boss is and I don't care, I know that one day I will be a 777 captain regardless of who i **** off, and I have at least an illusion of job security by virtue of my seniority number.
Would you rather have some company nazi run around and try to decide what poeple would fly, where they would be based, and how much money they would make? Can you imagine the miserable environment that would create as everyone is clamoring all over everybody ellse to get the choice positions in the airline. This is what business people have to put up with, not us.
Seniority within an airline is the best of things. The only problem is when you have a merger.