From everything I've read and especially the capacity numbers from 2008 forward, the seat at the dance didn't disappear. I think that was the original intent with furloughed pilots being stapled. In that I mean that the reason they are on the street is their company is failing and there is no recourse. After 9/11, I think that was very much true for everybody. All carriers had an immediate decrease in revenues on the order of 20%. Wow... that's huge and as a company you do what you have to do to survive. I think a dire condition is what the staple intent implied

UAL in 2008 is a different story and the proof of that is to look at the capacity mix before and after the 737 park. It looks like much of that ASM's lost was made up by the 70 seaters. While nearly all major airlines had capacity decreases on both mainline and express ,UAL, on the otherhand, increased their UAX ASM's by 10%. Flying never really left...only swapped equipment.

I would say the seat at the dance was pulled out from those who furloughed and given to (outsourced) express. I know they are trying to fix that hole made by the concessionary contract. I really hope that happens as its important not only for them but to have that prevented to others at other airlines. If you think those guys should be punished for being the first burned Guinea Pig, well , I guess to me that says the pull up the ladder philosophy is alive and well. Nice.