Finding myself disagreeing with some of the ideas here:

1) Smizeck is not significantly different from Tilton in my eyes. Tilton was the "bankruptcy guy" and Smizeck is the "merger guy". I think his mold was cast a long time ago as a one trick pony. Once most of the loose ends of the merger are tied up, I think you'll see him hit the silk of the golden parachute. To congeal and completely define the corporate culture and actually run United airlines like we would all like to see it run, will take someone with far more talent than Smizeck has.

2) I am more concerned about the summer slipping through labor's fingers than I am any potential lawsuit the airline might launch against our union leaders and pilots. The political spin net that Smizeck would have to try to cast by suing his labor groups, would go over with travel writers and newspaper columnists like a ripe silent stinker in a nice formal church. If labor misses the chance to act this summer, we will more than likely be playing right into their hands for a bigger than usual downsize in the fall. Thinking back to the events that preceded both MECs coming together to request release was just incredibly poorly timed with the most leverage we have...summer time. Too late for a redo now, but a 30 day cooling off period starting August 1 or later is about as useless as (insert your favorite over used cliche here that means useless).