slowplay

I agree that maxing out retirement contributions is a big deal. As it was explained to me, what you want to do is prevented by IRS rules. There are more limitations than just the 415 limit you wrote about. There's one for maximum individual contributions (around $16K, I think?), and another one that limits the "qualified" amount of income from which you can make contributions. If you're over 50 you can make catch up contributions, which aren't included in any of the limits. Once you hit any of those limits I think you're done.

The R&I folks are doing seminars at all the pilot bases during the next 3 weeks. This would be a great question to ask them

I agree on getting the percentages up. We get a 1% bump each year up to 14% in 2012, but that's only 3% better than AMR's B plan pays in addition to their 1.25% per year A plan. It's not enough, in my view. Still, when you compare it to everybody elses numbers on the main page of this site, it's not bad. UAL gets 16%, but LUV's is only 7.3%. CAL gets 12.75% plus a frozen pension. Airtran is 10.5%, and JetBlue only has a match up to 5%. Everybody else's numbers will make it more difficult to raise ours, but we should at least equal UAL in my view.

buzzpat

Been to SYD a few times, and Nairobi, and New Dehli. The REAL mess is JFK and/or LGA. I give the international folks a small pass. Having the same F-ed up experiences stateside is unacceptable. I wonder what the Quantas, BA, Lufthansa guys think about us. Good Lord,we're bad. LAX, my home, does a pretty good job. When a DAL flight comes into LA these days, however, we block into terminals 5 or 6 and the crew, pax, et al, have to be bussed over to terminal 2 for customs. What a CF! The crew is ****ed and the pax are more ****ed. Can't the "world's largest airline" cut a better deal regarding customs? One would think so. Its embarrassing.

acl65pilot

I agree, and we need to do something about it. The hrs are limited, and to add to it is really expensive.

acl65pilot

Agree, but we can get as many people as close to the IRS limits as possible. Right now a FO will get less than half way there a year and a CA will get about 12K short of it. I think that we should find a way to a) up the percentage, or b) make it a fixed number like CA's get X and FO's get X a year. Of course it needs to be legal.

acl65pilot

I think that UAUA's Fifth Freedom stuff is in play it just has not hit the news yet.
DAL is doing quite well with this, and there are only a few things we want. JAL may or may not be the end game. Getting other airlines to pay way more than they planned or needed to is part of the game too. This little "leak" in effect has given JAL the ability to pit offers form airlines and investors a like and not have to offer what they initially would of in return. Good for them. Question is who needs JAL more?

As for AMR's T-8 in JFK, it is an easy option and the cleanest for DAL. A first choice for sure. There is another option that is ready to be penned and put forth as well. It is always good to have a plan B.

I see these added flights as a shot over DAL bow, and I am betting that we see DAL answer with a return volley. Maybe in DFW, maybe NYC, probably both. You saw today that DAL started a code share with Olympic. It is getting interesting, and the fact is that these two carrier are going to take over a lot of real estate if the others do not show up suited up and ready to play in short order.

I agree fun to watch, especially if you are on one of the winning teams.

slowplay

Is this for real? LAX used to have a nice enough customs facility under terminal 5. It handled our Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Mexico flights with two baggage carousels. It let out under the escalator on the lower level of 5. Last time I went through there was around 2000 (727 days), however.

The only time we had to go to Bradley terminal was when we got in real late from Mexico due to a mechanical. I think our customs shut down at 10pm.

rvr350

The problem with LAX is that custom at terminal 5 only opens at a certain period of time, i.e. 9am to 7pm, weekend times are different. If you arrive early, you can't pop the door open, if you arrive too late, you'll be bussed to Bradley. Aeromexico always has to be bussed because they arrive in late pm. Also, i hope the CBP isn't listening, but the officers at t5 aren't the friendliest around, even to crews. However, at Bradley they are much more polite and efficient.

I truly hope we'll fix this problem as we continue our "west coast expansion"...

Fly4hire

Now managed by some of the worlds biggest skinflints. A hallmark of NWA was all gates were the furthest from security as physically possible at non-bases because the rent's cheaper.

These are the same guys (not urban myth) who in the past took the doors off of (Co.) bathroom stalls so employees did not linger on the crapper and had all aircraft barf bags dark blue so pax did not take them to use as note paper.

DeadHead

Seriously??? You guys had to crap in like you were in prison???

Fly4hire

That was under Donald Nyrop (ret. 78') but it was true.