learhawkerbe400
Well-Known Member
A few things probably... American doesn't have the greatest reserve rules as compared to Delta (and United) so that tends to keep people out of bad category seniority if they can avoid it. Also, US Air (and now American) structured their pay so a senior FO seat with good QOL gives you similar pay as a junior captain with poor quality of life. Finally, I think a lot of regional guys were abused on reserve for so many years that they avoid it just by habit. Delta took way more military guys in the last few years than the other carriers so it's possible that the culture of avoiding reserve isn't as pervasive there.
I don't get what you're saying. Wouldn't bad reserve rules make being junior on anything worth avoiding? Yet LGA 737 captain is still in the low 70th percentile. Doesn't go that junior.
I think DL upgrades are going junior because
of their premium pay. Premium pay is almost non-existent at AA. From what I understand over there it's readily available.
At AA you basically have to bid the highest paying seat you can hold to maximize income. Between our IMAX and lack of premium pay you just can't work the system.