Unfortunately, I suspect that the unhappiest FAs are those who feel trapped. They feel cheated because they are not getting the pay and benefits that they used to get in the glory years, but they cannot leave for another job because their current pay and benefits (even under this new contract) are still much better than they could get in any other job. I doubt that even a $40,000 buyout would be sufficient to tempt them, as the pay difference between AA and the best other job would consume $40,000 in only a few years. The ones I see taking the buyout are those considering retirement anyway, this could be enough incentive to move up retirement plans a few years. Those who plan to work for another 10 years and to make passengers as miserable as they (these FAs) are will not be tempted.