Lavdump is right, Delta made such a pigs ear of merging the two airlines that they nullified any synergy they may have got from the merger, and allowed American and Southwest in particular to move into their turf. Its hard to see how anybody at AWA can think that they will improve their seniority position given the recent American / TWA deal that still has the legal eagles trying to sort out the mess. They may improve their financial situation unless AWA becomes a "Delta Lite" operation. Again given the mess Delta got into with their Express operation in Cincinatti that seems unlikely. They're more likley to use the situation to bring their mainline operation back to full strength, and then pick and choose anything of value that AWA has and build on that. AWA has also developed a hub in Columbus Ohio which has Delta at CVG and Continental at Cleveland, so it would be hard to see three hubs in Ohio being sustainable. Likewise with Vegas and Phoenix, especially as the Salt Lake Delta hub is the Vegas overflow outlet. As AWA is the only US airlines to accept Government largesse( so far ) in the wake of 9/11,their financial position makes them vulnerable. That vulnerability will still not make it easier for AWA employees to accept amalgamation into Delta - see TWA. PLus DL is non-union in the mechanic and flight attendant area so the seniority battles there should be a beauty.