Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
09-25-2011, 12:35 PM
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
09-25-2011, 12:36 PM
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
Brady LOSES!!! YAY!!!!
09-25-2011, 12:40 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 403
Many, many years? Really? I've moved up 500 numbers since the SLI was released.
I agree we are being disciplined with capacity, but we made money in what was one of the worst recessions in history while oil was between $90-$100 a barrel. It's post Labor Day, & my domestic flights are packed. I heard them offering $600 vouchers for volunteers on an oversold Barcelona flight last night.
Things seem a little more rosy in my world. Maybe my head is just in the sand.
I agree we are being disciplined with capacity, but we made money in what was one of the worst recessions in history while oil was between $90-$100 a barrel. It's post Labor Day, & my domestic flights are packed. I heard them offering $600 vouchers for volunteers on an oversold Barcelona flight last night.
Things seem a little more rosy in my world. Maybe my head is just in the sand.
We are probably in similar places on the list. My number has probably decreased by about 500 as well. But has your biddding power or QOL improved by 4% as a result of that decrease? Mine definitely has not. I can not even hold the same flying I held three years ago. Since my actual number is decreasing, I can only attribue this to the farming out of our flying that Delta has done and DALPA has accepted as good for the company and good for the pilots.
Like I mentioned in a previous post, Delta would only need to reduce our mainline flying by 2-3% per year to completely erase any seniority gains we might be expecting as a result of retirements. 2-3% is easy...they have been throwing around numbers like 4%, 7%, and 10% cuts since I got here. That's starting a few new codeshares, growing Alaska, filling A380s for AF/KLM, or (I'm afraid next) Aeromexico. Our seniority numbers WILL continue to get smaller, but they aren't adding anyone below us (essentially furloughing off the top).
I do my best to use rose colored glasses, but the future isn't too bright if the last few years are any indication of which way the company is headed. It may only feel this way, but it seems one of the company's primary staffing goals is to avoid hiring mainline pilots at almost any cost.
09-25-2011, 01:24 PM
Moderator
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: B757/767
Posts: 13,088
Johnso,
We are probably in similar places on the list. My number has probably decreased by about 500 as well. But has your biddding power or QOL improved by 4% as a result of that decrease? Mine definitely has not. I can not even hold the same flying I held three years ago. Since my actual number is decreasing, I can only attribue this to the farming out of our flying that Delta has done and DALPA has accepted as good for the company and good for the pilots.
Like I mentioned in a previous post, Delta would only need to reduce our mainline flying by 2-3% per year to completely erase any seniority gains we might be expecting as a result of retirements. 2-3% is easy...they have been throwing around numbers like 4%, 7%, and 10% cuts since I got here. That's starting a few new codeshares, growing Alaska, filling A380s for AF/KLM, or (I'm afraid next) Aeromexico. Our seniority numbers WILL continue to get smaller, but they aren't adding anyone below us (essentially furloughing off the top).
I do my best to use rose colored glasses, but the future isn't too bright if the last few years are any indication of which way the company is headed. It may only feel this way, but it seems one of the company's primary staffing goals is to avoid hiring mainline pilots at almost any cost.
We are probably in similar places on the list. My number has probably decreased by about 500 as well. But has your biddding power or QOL improved by 4% as a result of that decrease? Mine definitely has not. I can not even hold the same flying I held three years ago. Since my actual number is decreasing, I can only attribue this to the farming out of our flying that Delta has done and DALPA has accepted as good for the company and good for the pilots.
Like I mentioned in a previous post, Delta would only need to reduce our mainline flying by 2-3% per year to completely erase any seniority gains we might be expecting as a result of retirements. 2-3% is easy...they have been throwing around numbers like 4%, 7%, and 10% cuts since I got here. That's starting a few new codeshares, growing Alaska, filling A380s for AF/KLM, or (I'm afraid next) Aeromexico. Our seniority numbers WILL continue to get smaller, but they aren't adding anyone below us (essentially furloughing off the top).
I do my best to use rose colored glasses, but the future isn't too bright if the last few years are any indication of which way the company is headed. It may only feel this way, but it seems one of the company's primary staffing goals is to avoid hiring mainline pilots at almost any cost.
As to the numbers, AF flying 380's is good for us as it takes 2 767's to equal the available seat kilometers of a 380. Let them fly the huge airplanes, & we will keep the smaller WB's. That's more metal and more jobs for us.
WRT the % cuts you've mentioned, those are not Mainline % cuts. They are Delta capacity cuts which include DCI flying. The regionals have been getting reduced dramatically over the last 2 years. Comair once had close to 200 airplanes, & will be down to 44 airplanes by the end of 2012. Freedom flying is completely gone. The Saabs are being removed from the system.
Plus, we hired around 350 guys and had furloughees return. I just don't see bow that's furloughing off the top. Just my perspective.
09-25-2011, 01:39 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 5,016
My QOL & bidding power increased tremendously. I went from reserve to a line with 15+ days off and commutable 3-5 day trips.
As to the numbers, AF flying 380's is good for us as it takes 2 767's to equal the available seat kilometers of a 380. Let them fly the huge airplanes, & we will keep the smaller WB's. That's more metal and more jobs for us.
WRT the % cuts you've mentioned, those are not Mainline % cuts. They are Delta capacity cuts which include DCI flying. The regionals have been getting reduced dramatically over the last 2 years. Comair once had close to 200 airplanes, & will be down to 44 airplanes by the end of 2012. Freedom flying is completely gone. The Saabs are being removed from the system.
Plus, we hired around 350 guys and had furloughees return. I just don't see bow that's furloughing off the top. Just my perspective.
As to the numbers, AF flying 380's is good for us as it takes 2 767's to equal the available seat kilometers of a 380. Let them fly the huge airplanes, & we will keep the smaller WB's. That's more metal and more jobs for us.
WRT the % cuts you've mentioned, those are not Mainline % cuts. They are Delta capacity cuts which include DCI flying. The regionals have been getting reduced dramatically over the last 2 years. Comair once had close to 200 airplanes, & will be down to 44 airplanes by the end of 2012. Freedom flying is completely gone. The Saabs are being removed from the system.
Plus, we hired around 350 guys and had furloughees return. I just don't see bow that's furloughing off the top. Just my perspective.
09-25-2011, 01:44 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,235
I wasn't talking about ALPA at all. I was saying that if DAL pilots get an industry leading contract (what am I saying, it already is???) Sorry.. Ahem. If we get an industry leading contract, the pilot shortage might not ever materialize because guys will wanna come here over going to the darling or to UAL or FedEx or...
I wasn't getting into a ALPA bashing mode, but rather agreeing with the fact that our contract needs a LOT of repair.
As to the SWA thingy.. if the RUMOR is true, it wouldn't matter who was representing the ATI guys.. if Icahn is calling the shots, they are gonna lose no matter what. And if that whole thing is true.. it is truly disgusting.
I wasn't getting into a ALPA bashing mode, but rather agreeing with the fact that our contract needs a LOT of repair.
As to the SWA thingy.. if the RUMOR is true, it wouldn't matter who was representing the ATI guys.. if Icahn is calling the shots, they are gonna lose no matter what. And if that whole thing is true.. it is truly disgusting.
What happens if SWA buys DAL (theoretical, at least for now). Are we subject to the same? If not, why not? Again, not bashing.
09-25-2011, 02:03 PM
Moderator
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: B757/767
Posts: 13,088
You're in a junior base. You are holding a line out of seniority right now. You'll be back on reserve after they're done expanding the ATL320 base. I don't count pilots ahead of me. I only count pilots behind me. I have about 400 pilots behind me. That number is not getting any bigger. At this rate, I can and probably will spend my first 10 years at Delta on reserve. If we get giant raises next contract and I manage to not get furloughed, it will not be that bad. I am not as optimistic as you though.
I'm also not holding a line out of seniority. My seniority in my category and base holds it. I hold a line on the M88 in NYC & the DC9 in DTW & MSP. Those guys junior to me aren't holding it out of seniority. It's what their seniority holds. You hold a line here at Delta. It's just not in the base or on the equipment you want it to be.
09-25-2011, 02:44 PM
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
I can't let this slide. So... we get to fly the SMALLER widebodies. Smaller.. as in pay less under the current pay structure that we now "enjoy". Smaller widebodies = less pay for DAL pilots relative to our JV counterparts. But now I hear your argument coming... but but but... that means that we have MORE guys in widebodies...right?? Sooooo tell me again just how many widebodies small, big, medium or otherwise that DAL has on order? That's what I thought.
09-25-2011, 02:48 PM
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
Understand. It's just seeing the way this may be going down reduces my confidence in ALPA. I would assume AirTran folks would have a very solid process agreement going in being they had access to all of ALPA's expertise. If this was truly blundered the way the SWA folks claim, I'm very concerned with the competency of ALPA going forward. Hopefully this is baseless fear mongering by the SWAPA folks, but I'm starting to believe the Trannies are too scared to even push for arbritration. A real disappointment. Not ALPA bashing, just looking at what is happening.
What happens if SWA buys DAL (theoretical, at least for now). Are we subject to the same? If not, why not? Again, not bashing.
What happens if SWA buys DAL (theoretical, at least for now). Are we subject to the same? If not, why not? Again, not bashing.
If SWA bought Delta... wait a minute. OK. I had to put down my margarita so I wouldn't spill it from the laughter. Uh.. I would go all out for a staple of the kanyon blue krowd..
They will have set the precedence.
09-25-2011, 02:48 PM
Moderator
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: B757/767
Posts: 13,088
I can't let this slide. So... we get to fly the SMALLER widebodies. Smaller.. as in pay less under the current pay structure that we now "enjoy". Smaller widebodies = less pay for DAL pilots relative to our JV counterparts. But now I hear your argument coming... but but but... that means that we have MORE guys in widebodies...right?? Sooooo tell me again just how many widebodies small, big, medium or otherwise that DAL has on order? That;s what I thought.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
