I agree. There is a "vocal minority" here who I think have lost/never had any perspective. Our contract has been one of THE best out there for almost a decade, even through several updates, extensions and even concessions. Hell, talk to some CAL and United guys, our contract is better than THEIRS in some areas! It's going to take some time to get the blinders off some of the ASA guys and to clean the company kool-aid out of the ATL water supply but it IS happening, slowly but surely. The former management at XJT has long understood that a good working relationship with the pilots and respect from both parties is the best way to run an airline. Yes, when Handley was here, those were dark days. I know many were wronged in many ways, and with pilots all slights and wounds carry with them long scars. But his stay was brief and he's gone now. Let it go guys. Compared to the former XJT management (pre-Handley of course), are our ASA handlers complete buffoons? More than I care to admit. But SkyWest has a history of cooperating with their work groups to keep everyone happy, so does the former XJT. We just need to start winning hearts and minds over at the former ASA.

I suppose in the end it's all relative. The guys that were here during the transition from a small regional with a hodgepodge turboprop fleet to major player with 274 jets will never be happy again because it won't be "what it was" when upgrades were less than 2 years, everyone was young and fun, pay basically tripled for most pilots here and we were growing like a weed. And they're right. I don't see us doubling in size again, sorry guys. Nor would I hold my breath for a massive pay increase. If that's what it will take to make you happy then prepare for a long career full of disappointment. And yes, Continental sort of pulled the "favored nation" rug out from under us, much to the collective dismay. Losing vacation passes, losing non-rev priority, etc., it sucked, don't get me wrong but Continental imposed THEIR terms, not our management.

I guess a word of caution to you noobs: If you're flying with a woe-is-me guy who can't shut his mouth about the "good 'ol days", ask him if he was here when we were still taking delivery of new jets. Ask him if he was here during the flow-through (flow-back and shut-off is more accurate, but that's a different story). If he answers yes, then that should give you a clue on where he's coming from.