Why is this ridiculous Alaska merge theme being resurrected now?

In any case, "career expectations" encompasses a LOT of things. What vacation weeks you get is deeply far down on that list. Almost weightless. There are so many variables beyond just an out of context snapshot of a specific variable that favors one pilot's argument. A (former) USAir friend of mine is furious at the AM and now AA merger because his entire argument is he was hired "expecting to be number one on the list" eventually and therefore that is his particular "expectation" and any other result is bogus *insert the laughing til he cries emoji face*

The DL pilot group is well positioned to fiercely argue all of the benefits of career expectations against any smaller airline. That will in most cases not mean a pure staple, but it dam sure won't mean full relative I assure you.