Question 1. Why would a major partner go TO a regional carrier and request a flow agreement?
You're getting at Compass I believe. Compass's flow was started as a negotiation with the NWA pilot group who refused to let another regional come in and replace their lift on a 76 seat (while they were still flying 78 seat DC-9-10's) without being able to fly that equipment if they got furloughed as a result of this new lift (flowdown provision). If any furlough occurred at NWA mainline, NWA pilots could fill every seat at Compass. Compass flow was unique compared to an Eagle or a Mesaba.
2. Are flow agreements commonly bundled with less pay or some other negative?
Sort of. Compass was industry average, but they had to hire +1500 hour guys/gals except for the Golden 7 who were accidentally/purposefully hired to subvert that contract requirement to see if Compass would grieve it. They did and won. Mesaba's contract was above average and lead in the NWA airlink group, we were seconded only by ASA once Delta bought us.
3. Are there any recent cases of a mega regional flying for multiple partners signing a flow to only one of the majors? Any inherent problems there?
Lol. NO. Endeavor will have some legacy Mesaba guys flow, that's the closest thing I can think of
4. Do they still interview you if you do flow? Depends?
No, when I clicked on the box next to my SLI it asked if I wanted to flow to Northwest, I checked yes. If the flow had worked like it was suppose to I would have entered into a class with no extra work done except turning in my Mesaba manuals. 14 of our pilots did, and another 66 will this winter.
5. Have wholly-owned terms of flow historically looked different than none wholly-owned? Depends?
I'm not aware of any non-wholly-owned who had a flow
6. Historically, does the benefit of flow vary on the size of company?
Don't know what you mean.
Any jokes or serious comments welcome!
As far as the flowdown provision, I don't believe that applies to Compass anymore, ask a Compass pilot. The Compass had to keep their flow as a part of the Delta merger and their own selloff because that was a requirement of the NWA pilots to amend the scope.
Compass "sold" their flow with an average contract (some may call it crappy but it was/is industry average and that's probably where it will stay). Mesaba's flow was different, and was given as a promise from years ago when we stood with NWA pilots during the BK and strike. Mesaba union and NWA union were close, and it paid off with a flow that will work out for some of our pilots. For what it's worth Rear Admiral Moak, back when he was still Delta, did save some of our flow with Delta having absolutely no reason to do it other than to maybe get a few of the Mesaba MEC guys to vote him is as Vice Admiral Moak of ALPA national. Mesaba's contract at the time was worth slightly less than the ASA and Eagle contracts. We were industry leading in many areas and our pilots were paid a much better than average pay for the same work as a pinnacle/mesa/whoever.
Flows can be very good for a regional pilot, but somehow they always end in an untimely fashion. Mainline pilots hate it because regional pilots, as a whole, aren't good enough to fly the particular brand passengers around, even though they do it already. Mainline pilots also know their HR has never hired a bad pilot and when you flow a bunch of useless regional pilots up to mainline without a special interview, you'll certainly hire at least a few bad apples that would have never made it without the flow. You may be asking yourself if I realize that doesn't follow any logical pattern. I know, but much like Alice in Wonderland I learn to just accept the absurd and realize life is absurd and there's nothing I can do about it.
