That might happen, but…. the flip side is we might also get stuck with our rates until the JCBA if we turn down “crap” AK rates. Normally, yes it would be worth it to hold out, but we have maybe 1-2 years and that’s it. At some point it’s more lucrative to accept B6 rates now than to hold out for AK rates when you have a limited time to take advantage of those rates before a JCBA (this is the real opportunity) is agreed upon. I don’t know what the right answer is, it’s not exactly straight forward and simple, a lot of different opinions on here.

The longer Spirit holds out the higher the industry comes up with WN, UAL, AA, DL all close to agreements. I think we should be able to hold out for better than current B6, Spirit is in a pinch. To expect better than the industry leader any day now is not realistic though. From a management standpoint it would probably be better to wait and see and stay unprofitable for at least a few more months than to freak out and give industry leading rates with so much uncertainty with the future of our economy. I hope I eat my words, we shall see.

An added advantage to being unprofitable, especially when everyone else is profitable, gives us the upper hand when DOJ is looking at approving the merger.