Yes, there was a shift to a less lean manning model after contract 2006. Not all of the over hiring was due to age 65. Permanent? Don't know.

I think the company was counting on a fight over the HKG LOA and wanted every advantage to help fill it. I think they were amazed we ran with the opener AND ratified it. Equally amazing was DWs assumption he would be rewarded with an easy 777 pay resolution because he delivered on the FDA LOA. But I digress.

Simplistic view of manning? The resulting line average comparison, the effect, is the only simple part. The model to decrease the number of reserves is not simple. Management knows that with lower averages open time pickup would increase. They also knew some draft would be required and how much would be too much. What's happening to us now is far more sophisticated than being "Mooked".