crgok9

Is there still any talk of Delta buying Jetblue?

Guard Dude

New Hires get their AC/base assignment the first day. We got our assignments before lunch the first morning. They flashed the assignments on the board around mid-morning. You get around 30 minutes to let it sink in on a break and then you pick. After you pick, the crew resource dudes come in and show you how you can bid for a different AC or base. Then you go to lunch. If you are coming to Delta this summer, there will be a lot of choices. The second to last guy in the bottom of my class got a MD-88 to NYC on the first day and bid to the 76/75 ATL in the advanced entitlement last Friday and got it. LAX and SLC are not being given out on first assignments right now but this could change. You can bid there in the next advanced entitlement in August. Options are there!!!

G.Dude

Gladioslave

So my question now is... how long did it take him to go from 88's to the 75/76? What exactly is advanced entitlement day? I'm trying to get to ATL but would like to fly big airplanes if possible from there. I realize beggars can't choosers but we can dream.

Blutarski

G. Dude......thanks for kicking this whole thread off! I've been following for a while and have finally been able to register and post a reply. I interviewed 2 weeks ago and am waiting to hear about a class date. Can't wait to get there! What are the odds of getting a 76ER to NYC if my last four are 87XX? Like Gladioslave said, "beggars can't be choosers"

RockyBoy

I've got friends who interviewed a couple of weeks ago and are being put in the July 16th class. Is the next class after that going to be July 30th because that would technically be three classes in July. I think they are going every two weeks, but I'm not sure. Looks like the time frame from interview to class date is going to be around 4-6 weeks. I think with the movement going on you will be able to get to any base you want except CVG within a year. You will probably even be able to get the AC you want other than 75/6 in SLC and of course the 777.

Guard Dude

Gladioslave,
To answer your questions:

It took the 2nd to last guy in class to get awarded the 76/75ATL in 5 days due to the advanced entitlement.

Advanced entitlement is a sort of "dream sheet" for the future.

Now, the dude that got the 76/75ATL may not go back to training until the end of the year. So he still has to go to NYC on the MD-88. He is from ATL so getting the biggest equipment he could and sitting on reserve makes sense to him. For me, I got the 88 to NYC also. However, I bid only to change bases to ATL on the MD-88 for a one hop commute vs. a 2 hop commute to NYC. Also, I should be able to hold a line by the end of the year (so I am told). So as a commuter, holding a line for QOL makes sense to me. With that being said, after a year of Delta flying I will take a look and see what I can bid on for bigger equipment in ATL. Remember, the pay is all the same the first year. So you need to decide do want QOL or sit reserve for a long time on bigger equipment. There is no right or wrong answer here. It is up to the individual person. Also, changing equipment after your first assignment is a 2 year lock, but changing bases on the same equipment does not have the seat lock. To give you a bit of info, the #1 dude in our class, a military dude, took a MD-88 to ATL, passing the 76/75ATL for a faster QOL. A dudette in the class, who got a 76/75ATL, bid for the 76ER in NYC, which she received. Now that is a 9 month lock for the ER in the 76 category.

Have I confused you? Yeah I am a military dude and I was confused the first couple days and then the light came on. Don't worry, the Delta folks will help you with strategy on getting what you want and explain everything. If you do want NYC, you could probably get anything you want on the next advanced entitilement if you don't get what you want in the first place. The next advanced entitlement is in August.

Hope this helps.

G.Dude

Guard Dude

Blutarski,
The odds of you getting the 76ER to NYC as a first assignment might be slim (not to disappoint you). My last 4 are 75XX and I got the MD-88 to NYC. However, for the first time, some of the next classes should see some 76ERs as first assignments, which has never happened at Delta vs. the 76/75 (different category). Now you can bid it on the next advanced entitlement and probably get it if you are here by the end of the summer. Seniority is everything so you could be a "chooser" if you a get a class by the end of the summer. I think I did hear, today, that the classes were full through the July 16th class (not to be a downer). Now, I have heard there will be 25 per class (50 a month) for the rest of the summer. Delta is expanding internationally so fast that new hires are getting the opportunity to fly big iron. Once those vacancies are full, the later classes (toward the end of the year, IMO) will see only MD-88s. BTW, the 76ER NYC vacancies did not get filled in the last advanced entitlement so there is always a chance!!! I think there were 53 vacancies before the bid. So you may get a MD-88 but you could bid the 76ER and still get it if you get here soon. Please realize you will be on reserve for a couple years, but if that is what you want then go for it, Dude!

Good luck in getting what you want!

G.Dude

ITSALLGOOD

Any idea how much flying the reserve guys are getting on the 88, 738, and 75/76 ATL?? Are they filling up their 70 hr gaurantee?

Blutarski

G.Dude.....good stuff! I didn't realize the 76ER would be so long on reserve. Definitely something to consider. I live in NJ now and am from Long Island, so NYC makes the most sense to me. Do you know how it works with the "long calls" and "short calls" sitting reserve? JFK or LGA can take me anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hrs, depending on traffic, but I have a lot of friends and family only 20 min from either so I could always crash there if needed.

Here's another question I posted on a military thread, but haven't heard anything:

Any thoughts on joining the Reserves vs. taking the VSP money and getting out all together? I have an offer from DAL and a reserve unit. I've been on the fence about whether or not to go with the reserve job or just take the VSP and concentrate on the airlines. Any inputs would be appreciated.

Sorry, for the huge post. I've just had so many questions I've been waiting to ask once I was able to register as a member.

ERJcaptain

For those in the know, any idea how long it would take a new hire to get CVG as a base? Could one get it within a year? What equipment would you want to bid so as to switch bases the easiest? Would it probably be on the 737? I know that this base has shrunk. Is there any more talk of it shrinking more?

Thanks