And those issues at UAL affect the industry just as much if not more than any LCC ever did. Their contract degradation has lowered the bar that was once the top of the industry to less than those at some LCCs. QOL is worse at UAL than many of the start-ups. They're setting a precedent of allowing their once strong contract to be decimated, and that is sure to hinder future contract negotiations of all the airlines. So to say that they aren't part of the cause of the erosion of the industry is not a valid statement.

By your rationale, people who work for an LCC are akin to scabs. Crossing a picket line is a completely different issue. Are you on strike right now? No.

I'm not saying you should feel sympathy for anyone. I'm saying that the fact that someone chooses to fly for a company that doesn't have as high a pay scale as your company doesn't make them a bad person and they don't deserve to be berated either directly or indirectly.

What about SWA? They were/are an LCC. They most definitely began as an LCC. Look at them now. They're where "everyone" wants to go. They're at or near the top of the industry. Who's to say that VA doesn't turn out to be another SWA in 10-15 years? Unlikely maybe, but who are you to judge?

Instead of pointing a finger at companies that don't meet with your approval, maybe you should just sit quietly there in your 57 and just be happy that you've got yours.