Wouldn't it be the opposite? If UA really wanted to buy us, wouldn't they try to get all the pilots from F9 on first year pay? If they just integrated, those same pilots would be at least 2 or 3, if not 5+ years of seniority, and would have to pay them as such in an integrated pilots.

For the record, it's NEVER going to happen. These rumors (except for Aero1900s classic AA write up!) are almost assuredly coming from management types. These kinda rumors are enough to keep a small percentage at F9. They are looking to stop the bleeding as much as possible, nothing is off the table.