What is a natural furlough rate anyway? The natural furlough rate at SWA is zero, by the way. And their pay is higher. And they make money. And their employees and management are happy.

And ConnFlyer is correct--unless you are non-union, furloughs occur by seniority. So, for example, when the FA's turned down the union, their reward, in addition to lower wages at Song, were furloughs out of seniority based (amongst other things).