UAL was the same/similar IIRC. There was even rumblings of a furlough with the downturn the economy was starting to take in the fall of 2001. I know a guy that was in that last DAL class. Been at FedEx pressing 10 years now if I'm not mistaken.

I can't remember if it was Brace or Dudda (SP?) that was asked in an interview BEFORE 9/11 about how UAL is going to be able to move forward with their labor costs going up so much from contrac 2000. His response was along the lines of "we'll be getting some of that money back". IOW, upper managemet KNEW that things were going back down. And a repeat of what happened in the early-mid 90's could happen AGAIN.

So, to key off Albie's point, it could be great NOW. But of the fecal matter impacts the antiquated oscillating environmental control system, some of those things could go away. Even if it's little by little.