The Delta pilots have already seen massive base realignments and basing closings.
Closed bases:
Orlando
Dallas
New Orleans
Houston
Seattle
Boston
Chicago
Miami
Realigned bases
LAX
CVG
Thanks Sailing- you beat me to it. Base closings, category closings, base realignments, we've seen enough to make the merger look like a small event.
But it does bring up an interesting point.
In my experience, the majority of Delta commuters I've flown with are closed-base refugees. Whether because of kids in school, family, or spouse-job ties, they chose to stay and commute after their base closed.
By comparison, it seems that "voluntary" commuting (yes I realize all commuting is voluntary) is more part of the NWA culture. Perhaps due to the "latitude" of their domiciles?
I might speculate then that the difference in the long run is that the former NWA pilots might be less averse in general to commuting as equipment shifts around the system?
Anyhow, glad somebody will do it! After our pay cuts and pension loss, if I had to do much more than find a clean shirt and drive ten minutes to work, not sure it would be worth the trouble!
By comparison, it seems that "voluntary" commuting (yes I realize all commuting is voluntary) is more part of the NWA culture. Perhaps due to the "latitude" of their domiciles?
Actually, not all commuting is voluntary - and this will probably increase. With many homes being worth less than their mortgages, pilots displaced to another base would have to be financially stout enough to dump the house (in a market where only dumps are bought), then kick in many thousands extra to pay off the mortgage.
Since most pilots can't afford that...Involuntary Commuting!!
Carl
__________________
I'm an airline pilot - so I got that goin for me....which is nice.
The Delta pilots have already seen massive base realignments and basing closings.
Closed bases.
Orlando
Dallas
New Orleans
Houston
Seattle
Boston
Chicago
Miami
Realigned bases
LAX
CVG
Most Delta pilots would like to have the NWA policy. They also understand as you will in a few years how the airline functions and what would be required to get that policy. It would be very expensive. What are you willing to give up. We also have many flights with 50 plus commuters onboard. How does the policy work in that situation. The last and perhaps biggest point is that the NWA policy was just that a management policy that could be changed or revoked on a whim at any time. The Delta policy is contractual. Had the NWA policy been contractual it would have been a huge assistance in getting it written into the joint contract.
Yes it is a policy. Its a policy that has been in effect since 1999. It's still in effect because it works and its CHEAPER than cancelling a revenue flight.
Unlike DL, our largest domicile has 80% or more commuters.
FYI many of the combined management players are the same, Greg Baden is a supporter (Managing Director, Flight Operations), Andy Papaleo (HMFWIC of Crew Scheduling) and Richard Anderson supported this policy in his tenure at NW (1998–2001, executive vice president and COO of facilities, airport affairs, and regulatory compliance; 2001–2004, CEO.)
Bottom line at NW was almost always beans and bean counters, that is why this policy is still in effect and why it's not in danger of going away.
Bottom line at NW was almost always beans and bean counters, that is why this policy is still in effect and why it's not in danger of going away.
Heyas NK,
Great points. I'd like to add that there is NO way there's going to be anything close 50 commuters on the same flight. You have to prove you had a ride to work, and if they pull up the flight, and it was full for 3 weeks and had a JSer (and you weren't it), then "no soup for you". You have to show that you had a JS booked (which limits that to 1 or 2), or had a REALISTIC chance of nonreving in the back.
Realistically, only a fairly limited number of people can claim to have a particular flight as "first choice". This isn't some program where the no-plan, last minute d-bags stroll up and demand a positive space pass. You have to show that you planned your commute, and that something outside your control prevented it from happening (WX, MX, CX and other unforeseen events).
You can't just say "sorry, no jumpseats were available" in some commuter saturated city. They won't buy off on that, and you are expected to manage your commute, even if that means coming up early.
Besides, they can always just say they don't need you and have a reserve cover a trip, and home you stay, with no penalty, but also no pay.
We don't expect to give up anything to get this. We got this out of NWA management, who pinches nickels so hard they get 7 pennies, for nothing more than a handshake.
Besides, they can always just say they don't need you and have a reserve cover a trip, and home you stay, with no penalty, but also no pay.
We don't expect to give up anything to get this. We got this out of NWA management, who pinches nickels so hard they get 7 pennies, for nothing more than a handshake.
Nu[/quote]
Ok, Now I am a bit confused. The Delta policy is exactly the same. If you have planned and have a backup flight they can't say a thing to you. This is contractual. If it looks like you will not make it you call crew scheds. They can give you positive space if they really need you. They did it often last summer. If they have a reserve you go home and pick something up later.
Bottom line at NW was almost always beans and bean counters, that is why this policy is still in effect and why it's not in danger of going away.
So if it's in no danger of going away, what about the contractual one in the JPWA? (Which, contraryto popular opinion, is almost identical to the NW policy.) Which one will we use? We can't just say, "Don't adhere to that one part of the contract." It will take a LOA to change it, and any time management sits down to do an LOA, they have $ signs in their eyes.
Bottom line at NW was almost always beans and bean counters, that is why this policy is still in effect and why it's not in danger of going away.
Uhhhhhh... say what? You think this policy is still gonna be around a year from now? I highly doubt it. Which does bring up an interesting question. There are several items on the NWA contract that would have been nice to have. Why didn't we agree to any of them?
Which does bring up an interesting question. There are several items on the NWA contract that would have been nice to have. Why didn't we agree to any of them? 
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