Comparing US Air with EK is like comparing BA with the British Charter companies. Yes both airlines fly airplanes but for vastly different pay rates and conditions. As has been described in previous posts about the conditions at US Air I can't believe that all of the pilot group at US Air is not here at EK. As you said they would get a huge pay rise and their quality of life would improve. But since you have probably over 2000 pilots on redundancy and only 15 or so US Air pilots here at EK I think that your thinking is a little bit flawed, at least the thinking of how great EK is. Your mileage may vary.