TAC - bingo. But, but, but bases close! Yes. But does anyone think a major hub base will close? Low odds. The major bases, in the major cities, have been there for decades.

And guys say the contract is worse than their old regional contract. I fly with new hires who hotly dispute that. They've lived under a regional contract, often for decades, and it ****es them off having people spout that being at AA is like being at a regional - "there is no comparison. None. It is night and day different." Certain items? Sure. It's bound to happen. Delta makes new hires pay for their hotels! What major airline abuses their employees like that? Especially the ones earning the least? What union accepts that, contract after contract after contract? My regional airline paid for ours so maybe guys shouldn't go to Delta? Line item veto, for applying, for lack of new hire hotel room? Mensa candidate.

There's no doubt the first couple of years will be tougher than the last 20 years. Unfortunately the junior guys at AA lived the first two years for about a decade. So new hires experience, due to the retirement bubble, will be different than their experience.