Kilder, let me guess. sub 30 years old, hired straight into an RJ out of some aviation school. Hired by UAL 3 years later.

Here is the deal.

There are always wars. There are always economic ups and downs.
The price of oil always changes. It spiked in 73, 82, 90, 2002, and 2008. Sound like a trend? The airlines had huge furloughs in 78 (85 recalls) 90 (96 recalls) 2001 (05 recalls), 08 (2011 recalls). My guess is you have seen less than one full cycle.

You actually just sound like the aforementioned sub-30 year old entitled, angry, turd. You probably complain for an entire 4 day trip about how you got screwed.

You, and the rest of us, are simply living through another cycle of the world. With a merger between 2 airlines thrown in just for the fun of it.

At the end of the day, the senior guys at both airlines are senior and have nothing to worry about. The middle guys have a little bit to worry about, but will still maintain their jobs no matter what (I am here). The lower third have to worry a bit. Both sides in the lower two thirds can belly ache all they want about being screwed. It won't matter, and nobody cares.

For the most part, this forum has gone past the us vs them mentality. There are still a few. You are one of the few.

If you don't like your place in life, just leave. I have, voluntarily, twice. I came back, twice. I know that a few of the black team that I fly with are not happy, but they treat me with dignity and respect at work. Most of them are just regular coworkers who treat me as another coworker.

Vacancy bids happen. Displacement bids happen. The first are good, the second, bad. Especially when a lot of pilots have lived and worked there for a decade or three. For some, displacements are good.

But, that is the life of an airline pilot.