Everyone can bitch about Skywest "lowering the bar" because they fly 700's & 900's for 50 seat rates, but then act like we are asking too much when Delta, Jet Blue, US Air or any other "major" accepts a pay rate for some airplane they don't have that is less than what we ask for. I suppose if Southwest took 90 bucks an hour to fly a 737 it would be o.k. for ASA to fly a 700 for 50.. I say bullcrap. When did the majors decide to join the race to the bottom! This whole industry is screwed up.
The majors aren't into a race for the bottom, they're into stopping it- which brings up my next point. The majors took the payrates for the 90's to keep them off regional property. It's their way of keeping mainline flying, and a stronger hand to bargain with later. Besides- the payrates from USAirways and Delta are on par with what is already being paid by JetBlue.
USAirways IS getting the EMB190 90 seater- so it's a valid point for a comparison- at least in MY view.