Originally Posted by Bill Lumberg

It sure would be nice to get the seat, but if we only get 16 (?) next year, it would be a couple more after that. I really would like more widebody orders, so large chunks of people would move upward. Could there be a widebody order soon? I would think so, but don't know yet.

As far as the 180 goes, yeah, it was a quick 180. Initially I wasn't happy at all, and then I had to think about what this would do, what truly we could ask for and how long it COULD take, what kind of improvements were made in many of the sections (not just a select few), and where the others are around us. It took a few days and a few talks with some Captains. We can always go back and ask for more, but I don't know what will come out of that, and in the meantime this TA isn't as bad as most people say it is. The key is that it is short in duration, and a 20% raise in less than 3 years isn't bad. When we come back after that, our manning situation is bound to be worse, getting closer to more pronounced retirement numbers. That may be a better time to ask for even more, and maybe at that time our pals at the other airlines will be closer to our contract. If there is a future merger coming up for us, that is another time to ask for more money, since a JCBA would be required. You just have to sit down and look at the odds, and determine if it is worth the gamble. Some people think YES. Some don't.