Joel, wow alot said. I agree with most of your points. My hats off the SW pilots as they are the highest paid narrow body pilots in the airlines. A fact that may hurt them if/when fuel prices become a problem to them. I keep hearing 2009 is when their hedges run out but who knows. Their guys are smart there and they are probably making trades at these prices tohedge a further increase. I would imagine that the other carriers have caught on by now and should be doing the same thing. A SW buddy of mine told me that all SW does is trade heating oil contracts. Not sure if that was an example the company used to explain the hedge or what. Finally Randal, I am not a greedy young SOB who is all about chasing the pay as you would describe me. I realize that this rule now effects you and you have to leave the US to find a flying job. But you do not have to leave. There are flying jobs for guys of all ages here. I do though know the law of supply and demand and realize that if the age 60 rule is lifted, then that will be a dumping of labor into a market that is already saturated. I say that it is saturated because in a tight labor mkt, mgmt has no power to force salaries downward. I'm sure that companies are also backing this change as it will keep more experienced pilots in the work force longer but they will be able to grab them at cheaper pay. My opinion.