Post Sept 11
CWL [It was great to read your post RichT but I feel it typifies pre 9/11!]
You are right of course 9/11 made a huge difference. In fact I was made redundant then. But I did have a type rating by then. Albeit on the old 200 steam ship. Took me the best part of a year to get re hired but at least I could fall back on my old skills to keep the wolf from the door. I'm now flying the 737-800 and would be very happy to finish my years on it.
As I eluded to in my first post it is a savage business and if the airline hits hard times they cut jobs. Also bare in mind that it is probably the only profession where you get 5 oportunities a year to loose your job (2 medicals, 2 sims and a line check) over 40 that is the youngsters only get 4.