Any "Latest & Greatest about Delta?" Part 2
01-21-2023, 09:49 PM
#1661
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2019
Posts: 35
Do you have a wife and kids? When Delta closed our Boston base in 1996 I wanted to move from my native NH, 45 miles north of BOS, down to ATL because I didn’t want to commute. I had (and still have!) a wife and 4 young kids, aged 1-8. My wife didn’t want to live in ATL, she wanted to live where her mother and grandmother could help her with the 4 kids when I was gone on trips. If Momma’s not happy, nobody’s happy, so we moved to the middle of nowhere; Sebring, FL, where her family was, and I’ve been commuting from MCO-ATL ever since.
Yes commuting sucks! I’m always watching The Weather Channel and checking flight loads and playing Jumpseat Roulette, but as I got more senior over the last 25 years and started flying more productive International 3 day, 27+hr trips, I was commuting less days per month. So it sucks a little less but it’s still the worst part of the job!
Yes commuting sucks! I’m always watching The Weather Channel and checking flight loads and playing Jumpseat Roulette, but as I got more senior over the last 25 years and started flying more productive International 3 day, 27+hr trips, I was commuting less days per month. So it sucks a little less but it’s still the worst part of the job!
01-21-2023, 10:10 PM
#1662
On Reserve
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Posts: 19
The good news is there are 200+ unbid positions in LAX on the narrow body fleets. You could expect to get a base transfer to one of these (assuming you’re on that fleet type) on your first AE you’re eligible to bid on.
The bad news is WB B opportunities for LAX Pilots are far and few. Currently it takes about 8 years of seniority to be the plug on the WB B list at LAX. LAX350B is the last wall of old school WB B seniority to remain standing across all bases at Delta.
The bad news is WB B opportunities for LAX Pilots are far and few. Currently it takes about 8 years of seniority to be the plug on the WB B list at LAX. LAX350B is the last wall of old school WB B seniority to remain standing across all bases at Delta.
After several years of stagnation, there seems to be a lot of good things happening for Delta at LAX at the moment. 1) We have a brand new terminal. 2) We are now the number 1 carrier here. 3) We *finally* seem to be competing for international traffic.
Even though there are certainly some warranted complaints about the number of red-eyes and lack of commutable trips, it’s a great base with a lot of varied flying.
01-22-2023, 12:00 AM
#1663
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Position: Currently freeloading
Posts: 557
Hello all. I’m an AA new hire (6 months on property) and just had Delta pull my app. I’m 45, own a home/live in an AA base but would be open to moving for Delta. The wife is onboard either way. I’m on the A321 and would be trying to bid for that at DL as well, but not critical. I’m seeking helpful advice as to whether it’s worthwhile to make the switch if hired at DL and give up 1k seniority at AA. Upgrades at AA are currently approx 3.5 years but supposedly going to drop. Schedule flexibility is lacking currently. Difficult to drop 4 or 5 day trips. Difficult to trade trips. 2 or 3 days off between trips is the norm for me so far. How are upgraded times and schedule flexibility at DL? Apologies if this was recently answered. Thanks in advance
Basically, at every airline, a pilot hired today with 30 years at the company will retire at about the same seniority. But between 2027 and 2048, a pilot hired at Delta will be 10-15% more junior systemwide than at AA. That's a long time. And you live in base? I'd say it's not recommended.
01-22-2023, 11:20 AM
#1667
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2015
Position: A350 Both
Posts: 7,292
So here is kinda an add-on to the question about leaving AA get a temp from the masses. I work for SWA and been with them since May of 22 live in base. Got an invite to DAL and am seriously considering it, would need to commute to LAX (if awarded) which is less than an hour flight. I've got 33 years ahead of me with the current age of retirement at 65. Not sure if I'm chasing waterfalls (thanks TLC) I dont want to fly a 737 for the rest of my life, but yes living in base is a HUGE plus.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Big picture man. If you already know you don't want to fly a 737 your whole life, you've already answered the question.
01-22-2023, 03:20 PM
#1668
New Hire
Joined APC: Oct 2020
Posts: 9
Yeah, LAX 350 has stubbornly remained the most senior category at Delta, mainly because it has only been flying to SYD the past 3 years, so it’s pretty small. By the end of 2023, however, the fleet in LAX will be doing SYD, HND, AKL, CDG, and *probably* LHR. LHR is currently slated for the A339, but management has said that will shift to the 350 once we get more frames on property. Considering the proposed scope agreement, I wouldn’t be surprised if PVG, AMS, and ICN come back as well. If all of that happens, expect a fairly large amount of growth on the 350 in LAX over the next 18 months, which should finally drive it more junior.
After several years of stagnation, there seems to be a lot of good things happening for Delta at LAX at the moment. 1) We have a brand new terminal. 2) We are now the number 1 carrier here. 3) We *finally* seem to be competing for international traffic.
Even though there are certainly some warranted complaints about the number of red-eyes and lack of commutable trips, it’s a great base with a lot of varied flying.
After several years of stagnation, there seems to be a lot of good things happening for Delta at LAX at the moment. 1) We have a brand new terminal. 2) We are now the number 1 carrier here. 3) We *finally* seem to be competing for international traffic.
Even though there are certainly some warranted complaints about the number of red-eyes and lack of commutable trips, it’s a great base with a lot of varied flying.
01-22-2023, 05:03 PM
#1669
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2019
Posts: 35
For sure, it definitely opened my eyes to deltas seniority with all of the responses. I am excited to have this as a “problem”. Thanks again as well everyone!
01-22-2023, 05:22 PM
#1670
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2015
Position: MD-88 FO
Posts: 1,572
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