ref80,
Yes, it very well could be UA. But nothing is certain at this point. US and UA could very well be survivors. But given the current set of circumstances (US in Ch.11 and UA on the doorstep), it is easy for most to assume that those two carriers will die because they're in the most financial peril at this time. But I don't think that's a foregone conclusion. Yet. The fact of the matter is that the employees of both carriers, and ultimately, all carriers, have the ability to do what's necessary to avoid becoming another airline carcus and a footnote in the history books. Granted, doing that is extremely painful for all involved, especially those that will ultimately lose their jobs. But it's a lot better than an entire airline going under putting many thousands of people on the street above and beyond just the employees of that airline, due to the ripple affect such a scenario would have on the communities that airline serves (hotels, airport facilities, restaurants, etc.).
It's truly going to be interesting to see which airlines are the ultimate survivors in this struggle to survive and return to profitability. It is not only going to take strong leadership and good senior mgmt/labor leadership relations, but it's also going to take the willingness of each airline's employees to accept and shoulder the pain to make it happen. Things are bad enough as it is. Let us go to war with Iraq again and you'll see things REALLY hit the fan!