They and the DAL pilots were the last pilot groups who were able to take advantage of the "momentum" that still existed in the industry 22 years after deregulation went into effect in 1978. Good for them, seriously. It was truly the "ballistic apogee." Being relatively large companies certainly helped as did dealing with management groups that thought life, business and the "internet bubble" were going to continue the same for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the "boost" phase (ie, price supports) of regulation had ended 22 years earlier.

911, foreign military campaigns, oil uncertainty, fierce competition, the very late management recognition that they were truly on their own and a recent recession brought it all crashing to earth for everybody over the last 10 years.

I'm not saying it's good or bad...it just is...and one brushes the dust off and deals with it.