How do you eat an elephant?

I would look down the road, and apply the same gun that SWA put to the heads of the AirTran guys. At some point there will be a downturn in the economy... poor mouth will be cried... flying shifted to ensure survival.... done. It's a process.

Look at it another way. Do you think the airline industry is in it's final form forever and ever? What do you think is the next step? If it is global consolidation, which do you think will happen: Virgin (for example) gets our pay rates and we get their health bennies? Or will the company (whaever it is called) starts shifting costs to the most cost effective points?

It's mostly a thought exercise at this point, but I would wager that the industry is not in it's final form. Your opinion may differ.