To reiterate what someone said above:

All pilots at all airlines have some form of "grass is greener" syndrome. It is no different at AA. Every airline has its set of issues. That said, I can tell you that when I was hired here in early '00, everyone in my class really believed they had won the lottery. Some lottery! Pay cuts, increased hours, etc. Same with DL, UA, CO, fill in the blank. Today it is the UPS, SWA and FDX pilots who are the "lottery winners." Will it last? Who knows? History has proven otherwise.

You pick the airline you really want to work for, and hope to get a call. If you get it, more power to ya. After a few years, the novelty wears off and you start getting more involved in fixing what needs to be fixed. You start to realize that the most (if not the only) fun you have is when the cockpit door closes and you fly a great trip with a great CA and have a great layover. All the other stuff (TSA, contract negotiations, company harassment, etc.) really starts wearing you down. In the end, all you want to do is fly the trip and get home. Maximize your days off for the most pay, that becomes the mission, rather than what airplane you fly or what layovers you bid.

Mergers, strikes, layoffs... welcome to the airlines. Every airline that ever merged still has pilots angry at each other, no matter how long ago or how they were integrated (Flifast, this is for you. ) AA is no exception... neither is NWA (Republic), USAir (Piedmont), TWA (OZ), etc. They are all still *****ing and moaning about getting screwed.. in some cases, over 20 years later! Standard protocol.

In the end... you tend to get married to your airline, and make the best of it. While I am firmly committed to getting an industry leading contract at AA, I never forgot how I felt the day I got hired here, and I try and keep that feeling going day in and out. Otherwise I lose perspective.

73