^^ this, though my feelings are a little less emphatic. Parker is a shrewed businessman. He clearly has a corporate philosophy of maximizing his profit margins at the cost of all concerned parties including his customers and most especially his employees. But his business model makes that irrelevant. I don't think he wants to "Spirit" the airline post merger but he clearly is making moves to make the new American a carrier that fiscally survives/succeeds on the "fare loyalty" market share vs. the "brand loyalty" customer base. This, from a business point of view, is actually quite smart because it virtually nullifies the any competition factors regarding other legacies. Passengers that want a higher quality product will just fly Delta and or United and pay a bit more. When they want an assigned seat with at least "legacy styled" service albeit inferior, they'll fly American. It's a mutually beneficial plan between American and DAL/UAL. They stay out of each other's way and all three carriers win.

That being said if I was still working I wouldn't work for Uncle Dougie's house of pain for a quarter mil a year and positive space non-rev. I'd rather make 20k a year flying a Skyhawk over pipes.