Either you are flame bait or ignorant of the facts. Of course the airlines will push for scope and contract give backs. That is their job. Reality is our contract costs are on par with the lccs. SW, AT are at or above most legacies(I won't include alg as they are a very small niche carrier) now in both pay and retirement contributions for like equipment(in some cases their pay is higher than our widebodies) Don't believe the rhetoric about pilot pay. We are a very small percentage of the cost of an airline. While I admire the employee/employer relationship sw has, without the hedges sw looks kinda like the rest of us now. AT seems to be taking employee/er relationship tips from NWA. One thing they don't have is the anchor of 100s or high seat mile cost rjs. Legacy mgmts now realize the less than 70 seat or so platform has a limited use(probably less than half of what is out there nationwide). Problem is they or previous mgmts signed long term contracts with subcontractors. The subs don't want to let them out of these contracts(rightfully so) without some form of payback. Either in the form of fewer larger airframes as a tradeoff or cash. Unless the mainline groups allow more of the larger types, these contracts will not be removed as they expire and said contractors cut loose. Currently the wholly owned are the most ripe for dismantling/rightsizing of the domestic feed. The majority of cities don't require/support 10 flights per day to 3-4 legacy hubs. They will do just fine with 5-6 and a mix of 70 seat and mainline lift. Bottom line is I would not start studying your 100 seat dejour manuals yet unless you are thinking of getting hired a mainline. Time to go to work now, sayonara (sp)