If RAH's 2003 CBA was negotiated after Mesa's 2003 CBA, wasn't XJT's 2004 CBA also negotiated after Mesa? And speaking of negotiating under a looming threat of an alter ego airline, Mesa actually negotiated that "abortion" 2003 CBA while fighting an alter ego airline rather than just the threat of one. Also, the exclusivity of being CAL's jet operator was still under the old CPA that allowed CAL to do what they did XJT, in other words, there wasn't much leverage of being CAL's exlucisive jet operator because all the traps of the old CPA were known at the time. Lastly, the XJT contract extension pay rates never materialized since the concessions took place before the pay raises kicked in, which were negotiated under great uncertainty for the company, by the way.

I actually think that this is opposite of having forethought. You never want to give away leverage like this. Forethought would have been getting language in the contract that says if the company acquires a new type, there is a time limit to negotiate pay rates for said aircraft or otherwise it goes to binding arbitration. I know others like SKW has pay rates for larger aircraft (that was another part of the deal they wanted with XJT, a negotiated pay rate for larger aircraft even though there were no current plans for them) because there is not as much pressure on the company as opposed to the aircraft being delivered and sitting somewhere while the union and company negotiate for a proper pay rate.

Its very shortsighted to negotiate these types of things ahead of time.