I think you are correct....and I also think Brucia gave a dissenting opinion regarding the LOS of those recalled.
It is all addressed by Nic in the award.
Are you aware that the West hired east pilots that were never furloughed from US, but quit to come to work at AWA because after 17 years at US they knew they were about to be furloughed?
The recalls happened because of the merger. The furloughed east pilots had next to zero expectation of being recalled absent the merger, and if they ever did, it would have been way past 2005. A "newhire" at AWA in 2005 unquestionably had more seniority that a furloughed east pilot.
Again, LOS and DOH do not equal SENIORITY. Colello is one number junior to Odell because....well actually, Odell is one number junior to Monda, because that is where his SENIORITY placed him.
I don't know about the 17 year guys about to be furloughed from US. Maybe, but the 2 I know of in that seniority range were not about to be furloughed, we were very short on pilots, but theythought we were going out of business and jumped ship. A very bad career move as their peers are now captains and they are 7 year west F/Os, if not furloughed.
You guys mix and match terms. "Certainly WOULD have....." but we didn't. "Had no career expectations....." but we are still working for the airline. You never mention that Nicolau put many, many west guys in line to get positions they NEVER had an expectation of. Why did the west qualify for non-existent expectations, but not the east? Human nature I guess. I think Brucia nailed it, but he had no power, just words. Kinda like us! :blush: