Originally Posted by DogWhisperer

Found an insider look at 80kts getting ready for a trip…those Airbus guys are so fancy...

Originally Posted by flyallnite

I saw that number too. Yes, it's a lot of money. But how was the calculus done? I know if you take our total compensation (insurance, retirement etc...) it pumps the number up quite a lot. LM gets a housing allowance, vehicle allowance, and other things. It is a good gig, that's for sure. But is it enough to give DPA a shot in the arm? For me, it's not. Maybe others feel differently.

A 2 percent raise isn't going to cut it for me this next go around. A giveback of any kind isn't going to work for me either. I don't want to hear that negotiations are 'give and take'. The company has taken and we have given plenty. Our executives don't ask what they have to give up to get a raise. When the FA's get the same raise as us, they don't get more days on reserve. Are you listening DALPA??

Originally Posted by Scoop

It will definitely give the DPA a shot in the arm, because at first glance it is excessive to the point of being insulting to line Pilots - many who make less than 5-10% of that compensation.

Maybe it is justifiable after a well thought out analysis, but my initial emotional response was anger.

Personally, I am truly torn on this issue. I want my union leaders to be very well compensated because I want the best guys in there. I also realize they operate in the "cesspool" that is Washington DC, and that money and status help.

But on the other hand it appears that many of our previous ALPA leaders got caught up in the DC culture and lifestyle. Some seem to have used the ALPA job as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

I know this will never happen with Lee Moak, because Lee Moak isn't even interested in running for ALPA National. I know this because smart men told me so on this forum and the DALPA forum many years ago.


Scoop

Originally Posted by Elvis90

Just for fun I tried to book a flight on Norweigen to London. The earliest I could book was in July, $1070 round trip. (To Gatwick). On Delta, I could book 2 days from now for $1050 round trip. (To Heathrow). I don't see the benefit of the current Norweigen as it is now.

Originally Posted by RockyBoy

I agree. I'm cautiously optimistic that this hiring spree turns into the one that never ends. The 99-01 hiring spree was suppose to never end as well and we know how that turned out. I sure hope we see 50 a month forever, but Russia/Iran/N Korea etc. and age 70 could easily derail some of that plan.

Originally Posted by Roadkill

Scoop, I think you're wrong if you're claiming anything official beyond a hiring limit of 300-- there is nowhere the company has said officially we are hiring anything but 300 that I've been able to find. But I'm happy for you to cut/paste or post a link to an OFFICIAL posting showing otherwise.

Don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic about the fact we're hiring even 300. But I'm tired of this ">300 I heard!" getting parroted around so often folks are starting to think it's true, without proof.

All of you jumping in here climbing all over the rumors and innuendo and assuming we are hiring anything more than 300... well, it seems the exact same to me as this un-ending argument on "2012 pitch said we'd be hiring by end of 2012!" No on ever officially said any such thing, but there was plenty of innuendo... and NOW you're all jumping on each other to point out how nothing OFFICIAL ever said we'd hire then.

Why then do so many of you keep claiming we're hiring more than 300??? This is the EXACT SAME sort of bogus claim of hiring that is not supported by official company statements we're all complaining about happening on the 2012 pitch!

I read everything from the company, voraciously. I'm like a hope-addict, they get me almost every month with something, though I seem to bid lower every single month. I know of two official statements by flight ops that say we're hiring 300. I know of three official statements by flight ops that say the furlough recalls ARE PART OF that 300. In fact, they specifically went through all the classes and showed how many would be filled by recalls and how many would be off the street to make up the balance of the 300.

Now, I've read 30 places folks claiming they've talked to a guy who knows a guy who says 600... But as all the ALPA guys have pointed out again and again on the C2012 "hiring now" interpretation--no one ever said anything official, and until they do it's unadulterated wishful thinking at best, and intentional misleading of the pilot group into seeing a rosy future that hasn't been committed to.

Now, prove me wrong please anyone--post a link to the EXACT spot of the exact OFFICIAL statement on DeltaNet showing more hires than 300. Not some "forward looking" statement by anyone not in charge saying they EXPECT hiring will continue. Fool me once, (C2012 we'll be hiring by year's end!") shame on me, fool me twice, shame on all of you cheer-leading this 300 hiring commitment into something bigger without proof. I'll be the first to cheer when I see something beyond 300.

Originally Posted by DALMD88FO

First off the hiring here started in late 96 and went until July 01. Those that got hired in 96-98 have had pretty good careers riding the front of the wave. So what happened in July 01 to make them stop hiring? 911 had'nt happened yet. Plato R was saying that they were going to hire 50 a month indefinitely. Then C2K was signed. yep the contract with the big pay rates had productivity increases in it that then allowed the company to stop hiring.

That was a learning point for me to make sure that you look at everything in the contract don't just get target fixation on the payrates.