I'd be perfectly happy with DAL's or UAL's pre-911 contract forever. adjusted for inflation as time passes of course. That would be enough for me but the world doesn't work that way. The real answer to you're question (how much would be enough?) is what the market will bear. if the market won't bear what i require over a long period of time i'd vote to shut it down and move on. Your pilot envy is underwhelming.