FL370

No offence intended - but if you want to take it that way, feel free. The total compensation pot is only so big - so your desire for a longer scale would necessitate that the money be taken from somewhere else. My question remains: where do you take that money from?

mnspeak

Any interview invites lately?

nwaf16dude

Mostly I just don't trust Doug Parker's plan. I'm pessimistic about its ability to survive the stress of a downturn. Lots of debt, and a whole lot more inbound from aircraft orders. Much of Parker's success has only come because of the ridiculous wage advantage gifted to him by USAPA.

They really haven't even started the merger as far as pilots and airplanes are concerned. You can bet that there are some as yet unforeseen cuts to the combined operation coming up. That's what mergers are all about. Hopefully any cuts will be more than offset by the retirement wave. And, as previously mentioned, there is much SLI pain upcoming, and anybody getting hired right now is stuck under that mess.

As I said, I wish them well and hope for the best, but I don't trust plans made by guys that make their living from "the deal" vs actually running an successful company.

gloopy

True enough. To a point.

Its important to note the actual legal arrangement of these flows. They are not and never were "owned" by the regional pilot groups in question. They are 100% owned and controlled by DAL, inc and DALPA. DAL, inc could unilaterally end the flow today, on their own, with no input from DALPA and certainlly no input from CPZ. However that would trigger a significant reduction in already flying large RJ's. Unless DALPA gave that up, which is doubtful, then there would be a price to cancel the flows.

So while its true that they honored them and no one had to sue/arbitrate to force it, the reason is existing contractual language in the DL pilot contract. Its no secret DL hates hates hates being forced to take pilots outside their particular selection process. And no regional "mainline style" interview is ever going to be the same thing to them. Ever.

While they freely chose to honor the flows at the grandfathering level, they also were adamant on ending the flows in the future. They along with DALPA still own the flow completely, not the regionals. And there are mainline contractual penalties for cancellation (related primarily to the flow down provision) that make it expensive to cancel. They could, but they aren't going to.

gloopy

You got that right. Lots of folks think we can't make progress until we are "leapfrogged" but in all honesty, just getting the USAir pilots up to anywhere near industry average will have a far more positive effect than trying to +1% piggy back off of any one other group. Airways has been an incredibly heavy anchor dead weight on the industry and thankfully that's going to change, whatever happens with the SLI over there.

Herman

You are correct Sir...thought it was in our vol 2. From Guard Dude to FTB. Every single post! Cheers H...

ghilis101

I respect your disagreement I'm hoping if this really is a big issue that you are actively involved in getting the compensation you seek through volunteering and dedicating time with ALPA to foster positive changes and a continue a good productive mutual relationship with your mgmt, which DAL prides itself in having. It really is the envy of the industry how well The pilots and mgmt get along there.

tsquare

I am guessing that everything after the smiley was dripping with sarcasm. Just like bigger has to pay more, I know this isn't gonna change either. So we go on doing the same thing contract after contract hoping for some difference...

Besides, it's just one man's opinion.

Splash

Good summary. The flows were ALPA's idea, and the goal was to give a flying job option to pilots at the mainline who were facing furlough.

Skubajet

There are quite a few in that position. For years all I wanted was to fly for DAL. I had all the "astronaut equals" (ex mil, IP/ep, masters, high GPA, leadership experience, etc etc.). BUT dal wasn't hiring last year. I got hired by another major last year and am already holding a line and am very happy where I am now. While I'm sure I'd eventually get an interview at dal, it wouldn't make sense to go there now. My 2nd year pay where i am now would be greater than dal first yr pay and I wouldn't want to relive another probationary year. Its all timing... regardless I don't think u can go wrong with any of the big three.