And just put things into perspective.

UAL pre 9-11 was the number one airline to work for in America.

Lesson? Yes there is, the airline you go to work for today because it's the best, work rules, pay, whatever WILL not be that same best airline in 10 years. Almost guaranteed.

Does history repeat itself?

Pan AM
TWA
Braniff
Eastern

That's not including the multiple carriers that were merged into the above entities before they turned turtle.

lets take a quick look at what happened to CAL under Lorenzo and of course UAL post 9-11. If stability is your quest I'd highly recommend another career path.