Originally Posted by AKCattleCarrier

This is exactly right. Alaska Airlines is a black hole of career progression. I'm not saying that because I heard from a guy who knows a guy that flies at United. I got out of the military at the same time with a large block of friends. Most got hired right around the same time as I. I can directly compare their % on the seniority list, base position, and seat position/aircraft to mine. With the exception of the ones at SWA, they are all way way way ahead of me. The argument for staying here was that their is downside protection to a niche airline with a historical precedent of performing well in economic downturns and a base where I wanted to be. That argument has been thrown out the window with this merger. The folks at Alaska who don't process the opportunity cost of working here are from the 9/11 and/or financial recession era and got to benefit from the downside protection this airline used to offer, or they have their head buried in the sand.