A generally well written post, Ignition Override, however you left out a few rather important details about Continental/Lorenzo.
Continental, at the time of the untimely death of Robert Six, was absolutely the weakest of the US trunk carriers.
UAL was just waiting for a chance to clean their clock on routes to DEN and ORD...and they eventually did.
No Lorenzo, no Continental today...his deceptive practices or not.
They quite simply would have disappeared otherwise.
Now, the tables have turned, UAL struggles bravely on, while Continental has recalled all their guys...and is actually hiring a few more.
The last twenty years in the US airline industry has seen several other situations where companies have come...and gone, but Continental continues from strength to strength.
Oddly enough, as good 'ole Ironbutt57 has pointed out, all while ALPO invited the 'outs' back in, at Continental.
IMO, Lorenzo kept Continental alive for the short term, otherwise it would be dead as a doornail today.
Now, considering the FR issue, it is quite clear that MOL has yet to discover that you can attract more flies with honey, than you can with vinegar.
Will he ever learn?
Most likely not.
