On the United side, I personally thank every crew I come in contact with for the furlough fund. I was out of work for 14 months and the only way I was able to keep it going was having the COBRA reimbursed. A 6 month emergency fund is all fine and dandy if you have it...but how many people would work a $1400 a month COBRA payment into the equation? The union saved my a$$ on this one and I go out of my way to thank the crews for it.

Just as an aside for the CAL side. I got into a conversation with a guy I used to fly with at another airline. He is a junior lineholder on the 737 and he said his 4 day was bought back from him for training. I was just asking about whether he was available to the schedulers and he said they couldn't use him unless he double dipped...flying on those days where his trip was bought. Is this common occurence on the CAL side? I know you don't have guys furloughed now...but it just struck me as dumb. (He picked up another 3 or 4 day and got paid for both).