forgot to bid

Delta Air Line Pilots: Escort quality for a Hooker price.

tomgoodman

Some here may remember when the IRS proposed charging us personal income taxes on our passes, using the full coach fare as the imputed value. This was about 30 years ago, and a vigorous lobbying effort with Congress fended it off. It probably helped when Congressmen realized that such a plan might make some of their perks taxable too.

forgot to bid

Baby, come on now, what are you complaining about? Look, the Jon demanded some extra help out there for you but don't be upset. Yeah, they're cheaper, and they do stuff you wont but they're going to send you more business so they're all good! Besides, who wants new and young?

And that Alaska girl, look, she ain't got nuttin on you baby! Just trust me the only thing she's got on you is that she's free... and she's got a niche market that loves what she does. I mean you're good in all, but she does it better. We thought, I mean they thought they might like to let her turn some tricks on your side of the street. Along with that French girl... Gosh, I wish I could tell you the kind of rates she gets!

Pay raise?? What kind of raise!? For what you're doing? I mean what you do is great! I'm just surprised you think it deserves a raise? Look, you expensive as it is, have you seen what the girl from Forth Worth is charging? And I said Fort Worth, not Dallas.

You see baby, If I ask the Jon's for more they're going to run off. You have to keep your expectations in line with reality. And the reality is, they dig those new young ones. They like having a lot of them. You're a little fat lately, did I mention that?

Keep everything in house? Please! Don't be telling them what to do. And why you asking me questions in the first place? Who's in charge here? By the way baby, let me ask you a question... you make a big tip the other day?

Jesse

No, no, no, no, no, no. For many of our fellow employees this is the main benefit for working for the company, i.e. the company is not going to make waves in this area or it risks serious employee disgruntlement. Now, you go and put it in the PWA and the next thing I'm going to see on the contract survey is what am I willing to give up to keep my non-rev benefits? Don't feed the animals, please.

Jesse

Dude, you must be a riot to fly with! Props!

sailingfun

This issue has come up quite a few times since then. The last time was just 4 years ago. It has taken a big lobbying effort and cash each time to beat it back. The current rule allows the exemption only for immediate family members. If you extend non rev passes to someone not meeting the IRS definition of immediate family then you have to pay the imputed value of the ticket in taxes. That is one reason for the charge on buddy passes. It avoids the imputed value tax. Some airlines don't charge for buddy type passes but in the end you pay about the same after taxes.

acl65pilot

So do what Rocky states. Two people can be added to travel on the same priority as your parents. That way if it is two friends, they travel on your priority when they are traveling with you.

Other airlines around the world offer ID90 rates to parents, siblings, their spouses, nieces, nephews, in laws etc.

acl65pilot

You got the 50 dollar fee unilaterally with no prior input from the pilots. They could also limit S2's or S3's etc currently with no prior input. If they keep pulling capacity and as a result there are too many non-revs clogging the system, you could currently see these benefits unilaterally changed.

freightguy

Thanks for your concern. I'm sure I will do alright!

Like I said before tsquare; you are already a widebody captain. You won't gain much by leaving Delta. Even with the current payrates, schedules and qol, you will do better staying here.

But for junior folks like me who are First Officers, it is going to take 15 to 20 yrs to make it to an 7ER left seat (without further shrinkage) and 10+ years to a narrowbody left seat on reserve. So career progression wise alone, I would gain by leaving Delta today. I can walk directly into a left seat of several narrowbody jobs and even some widebody gigs with my experience.

I don't even have to head to the Middle East to achieve this. Middle East is not my cup of tea. There are currently some great opportunities in the Far East. In fact, several pre-merger NWA pilots lived in the Far East while working for NWA. With the significant lower cost of living, they were able to live a life of luxury down in some sunny island. I personally visited some of them... don't even get me started on those stories!

As I stated before, as a widebody reserve FO, I have been making reserve guarantee for the last few years (even with greenslips put on for the entire month). I make $7700 before taxes and around $5500 after all deduction and taxes. It is a far cry from luxury much less a decent income.

Currently I'm working a side-business to supplement my Delta income. It is pretty sad that I have to do it, while flying for 'One Great Airline'!

So with the career stagnation, low pay and high cost of living; leaving Delta would be a good move on my part. Without a great 2012 contract, the decision becomes much much easier. I and many other will not stay here and 'hope' for a better tomorrow. I am ambitious. I will play elsewhere.

Again, if they want to furlough as part of the negotiating scare tactics, bring it on! I just hope they hurry and and do it!

Delta is currently a second tier airline. Currently well behind Fedex, UPS and Southwest in the US alone. We must be aggressive to gain an industry leading contract in 2012. I would much rather be furloughed and return to a first tier airline with a great contract, than hang on and accept mediocrity. I am not mouthing off as some senior guy who is safe from a furlough. I will be included in the first wave, if they furlough!

MDPilot

This is classic!!! And true too!