Seniority is everything at an airline as long as you are actually working. I remember a bunch of guys back in the late 90's crunching the numbers in the squadron and the math then, like now, clearly said GET OUT NOW!!! Many did, most were promptly hired, almost all were quickly furloughed, and were then begging for a job. At any time, anything can happen to dramatically change the landscape. In 1998, you COULD NOT LOSE by going to an airline! The math ALWAYS came out ahead by getting out ASAP...until there wasn't a job.