DAL 88 Driver

Hey PG,

I really hope you're right! Not holding my breath with an association that hasn't even remotely shown any kind of resolve or indicated an objective like that... but stranger things have happened. I'm completely on board with you hoping for it to work out that way!

Pineapple Guy

Yeah, yeah, I know.

But that association "that hasn't even remotely shown any kind of resolve or indicated an objective..." has somehow put us back among the top of the pile among our peers, and I have complete confidence we will end up above SWA rates for the vast majority of my career.

DAL 88 Driver

Well, we all know what that pile is made of...

What they have done is get us essentially a cost of living adjustment to our 42% pay cut bankruptcy/emergency rates and a few "bones" thrown our way that are a very small drop in the bucket compared to what we have lost. Like I've said many times, I'll take it. But not at the expense of setting a tone of satisfaction with it and causing expectations to be lowered within our pilot group. IMO, they have set us up for failure big time. In fact, I seriously doubt they are thinking in terms of increasing our average annual compensation to over $230K for a narrowbody domestic Captain and over $140K for a narrowbody domestic F/O. Just ask our Chair of Strategic Planning about that one. I think you'd be very disappointed in his answer.

In any case, I hope I'm wrong and you're right... and we actually do end up with something close to restoration of the standard of living we all expected when we got into this career.

Pineapple Guy

Let me ask a very simple question. Do you think the DAL pilots can be paid 40% above the next highest carrier's pilots? Not saying we're not "worth" that; not saying that it wouldn't only take a $5 (or whatever the amount is) rise in ticket prices to cover it.

I'm asking specifically: is there a way in the current environment to achieve that?

1234

Just to clarify, are you saying that you have complete confidence we will end up above SWA rates for our 737 rates with the standard increase in wages for bigger aircraft? Or are you saying that our 747 and 777 rates will be the only ones above SWA rates?

DAL 88 Driver

Yes* and yes*. And I take it back. Sounds like you would not be disappointed in the Chair of Strategic Planning's answer.

* Depending on whether or not you are saying SWA, our soon to be biggest competitor in ATL, is a "peer." 40% above SWA's current pay would put a narrowbody domestic Captain at over $322K/year and a narrowbody domestic F/O at over $196K/year. That would be substantially greater than a C2K+COLA restoration... and even I will admit is probably unrealistic.

tsquare

Wow.. really? I wouldn't even give it a second thought. I want you to frame your post, and we will talk about it in a couple of years and see if you still feel that way. I'm betting you won't.

tsquare

You know... you are not tied to this company. You seem to be a fairly intelligent guy and I am sure you can make 10 times your current wage and work half as much. So why do you stay here if you are so miserable?

acl65pilot

Some pilots left, as I understand it, they went to FedEx and we waiting to go there in 2007.

PG, I agree that this is probably the best legacy to be at, even if you have to commute from a hub of another legacy. There has been a ton of work going on over the last year and a half, and the masses will start to see the results in the coming year or two. With everything static, it is frustrating, but we have a team in place that truly is looking five and six moves down the chess board.

DAL 88 Driver

Only time will tell.