Within your own sector non-seniority based systems (like the corporate market) have seen a jump in wages that far outstrip the airlines. Go figure.
It's not that I disagree, Devilish. You have made some valid points. However, the only way to remove the seniority system is as a whole,
globally. At the same time, you would need to remove the obstacles preventing EU pilots from working outside the EU and vice versa, otherwise there is absolutely no benefit to pilots in the majors ditching seniority based systems. If you look at the likely rationalisation of the industry over the next few years, there will be no more than a dozen major players left (within Europe, probably three) and I for one would not wish to give up a command with a major for anything other than a command with another major.