Delta and American currently have very different management strategies for their regionals. Dick craves control over their product and is willing to pay premiuims to ensure it has enough FOs coming in, but then forces those FOs to spend numerous uncertain years at their regional working their way towards an upgrade just for an opportunity to prove themselves worthy through a 50-50 shot at passing a mainline interview.

American is all about cost control, and will do whatever it takes to keep prices low. Doug's LCC days shine through in his willingness to put one WO survival against another and his lack of concern for breaking promises if they cannot be met at minimum cost. He attempts to attract FOs with bottom of the industry wages with the promise of one day having a "gaurenteed" job at American through a flow. The expensive contract carrier will not prosper under current AAG mentality, and those at the lowest cost will churn their way through cycles of rapid growth, increasing costs, stagnation, and finally contraction only to be replaced by the next lowest on the cost spectrum.

AAG's model is flawed to investors in a bull market as it does not capitalize on maximum market share while times are good. However, it is superior to Delta during times of economic contraction when minimum cost will provided the greatest ROI.

We regional peons are pawns in this game of investment returns. That is why we are not paid what we are worth, only what we can negotiate.