I have a friend that has almost the same story - plumbing on the 727 around 2000 and tired of the lousy night flying and seeing AA crews looking chipper in the hotel at 6am as they were just checking in. Quit FDX and got hired at AA. 4 years ago he still seemed happy at AA (although I was working less days with a better schedule and making far more as a 3 yr FDX FO than he was as a 7 yr AA FO). Haven't asked him about it since but he's been displaced a few times and I think he still has a job.

Funny - had a similar conversation with a buddy the other day about how AA was my first choice initially - wow how lucky I was to get FDX instead. I've had a totally different experience then what your "friend" had at FDX and wouldn't trade it for any other carrier. Of course it could all change.