White Knight, hypothetically if this was a world without airline seniority in so much as you could join CX / SQ / QF / EK / VS / BA etc in your current position would you? Plus there's the possibility of going back to your original airline in the future if they are hiring.
(Airlines I'd imagine would have a DOJ system by default to sort out staff travel rosters etc so you may take a hit there etc).
My point being movement costs money, A/C ratings are a huge investment and your current airline might like to keep you so even if you left for a paycut for lifestyle they will have to train someone to replace you.
Jo Bloggs might say his kids are all grown up he's done with this airline, time to chase some $$$, his current airline for the same reasons don't want him to leave as it will cost money to train the new guy/girl.
Plus a lot of legacy carries aren't going to be happy having an unknown come in and fail to meet the standard.
Airlines love stability and they have it by default with a seniority system without it the only way to get it is to $$$.
And pilots who say it makes them feel warm and fuzzy is an airline accountants wet dream.
People leave pay goes up. Seniority prevents people leaving.
I only disagree with the fact that seniority restricts movement and therefore $$$.
One final thought if airlines thought seniority cost too much would they not try and remove it, every airline aims to have a system of seniority.
As a joke let's get all the major unions together to suggest dropping seniority and allowing direct entry it would be mayhem applications would fly out everywhere the airlines and training depts would 5hit themselves.
Crews may not leave but might not the fear that they could drive $$$ up?
Last edited by SMOC; 22nd April 2011 at 03:28.