Clint,
The larger widebodies, 744, 777, 764, A330, already pay more per hour than your 737s. By 2015, the 757/767 will also. You will still be negotiating then most likely.
The 50 seaters were still on lease well past 2015. That is what you fail to understand. They would have had to keep them and fix them up, because the regionals would not have just given them up. Instead, the get 1 larger RJ and turn in 3 old ones, which actually is a great deal for us. Over 140 fewer RJs total will be gone after this 3 year contract is over. Also, had the RJs stayed, there would have been too much capacity out there to add your 88 717s. It was a great deal, just like the 4 moldy quesadillas you ordered last night at the hotel bar in LBB. Your belch signals I'm correct, again.
So, the leverage was used, and mainline growth created. Someday you and your empty chair will figure that out.
Bye Bye---General Lee