[xenadu02]

Are you sure about that number being ex-fuel?

FWIW I'm not interested in flying commercial with non-union pilots so that airlines can become cheap labor body shops.

I'm also not interested in saving money by having Boeing outsource to kick as many people out of their machinist union as they can (and screw those people out of retirement and healthcare benefits).

I got my pilot certificate last year (zero plans to go ATP/commercial). Its a lot of work. Then you've got years of getting paid pennies to earn your 1500 hour ATP. Then you've got more years of taking the crap routes and not making super dollars. Much like a doctor its after you've put in 10-15 years that it starts really paying off.

The union also protects pilots from blame culture and trying to game metrics. If it isn't based on seniority then what metrics do you use? And do you want pilots to start making flying decisions based on on-time percentage instead of safety?

If your business needs to screw over labor to survive you don't have a worthwhile business.