There was a hiring freeze after 9/11 that didn't resume until Spring 2003, so upgrade are dropping to a touch under 5 yrs for the 03 hires, and then rising again to over 6 yrs unless attrition or upgrades accelerate quite a bit above their current rates.
4:1 trip rig, 2:1 duty rig, 100% deadhead, 12 days off min (in 35 day bid). Mostly 4 day trips, I hear CRJ crews are even doing some 5 day trips now. Negotiations are more or less at a standstill because the company doesn't have much interest in correcting any of the crappier aspects of the contract and the union doesn't have any interest in giving up pay...and the pilot group isn't ****ed off enough to get things moving again.
Good place to work, I enjoyed my time there, but 3.5 yrs with no upgrade for another 3-4 was too long....