Wee bit o' a rant...

Hired end of '88. Told on day one we'd all be Capt's in less than 5yrs. Thought, we'll see...

Flew with guys who spent years on the panel or smashed bags (vice furlough)... got my window seat in less than a year... spent next 9yrs in right seat of 727... felt very lucky.

Finally could upgrade after 13yrs (waited 'til 16yrs... 777 FO was awesome)... again, felt very lucky.

Don't really understand the beyotching about bids/ae's/res, etc., (especially from guys hired w/in the last four years). Seems like some people haven't really payed attention to what's been going on the past 20yrs, in this seniority based biz.

P.s., As I told my 2010 hire friend when he asked for advice on bidding an ae..."if your a relatively new hire and you don't want to go to training a lot, bid to be the most senior pilot on the most junior equipment you can hold. If you want to go to training a lot, do the opposite."

Last thought... unless Delta/DALPA decide they want to recapture their Scope/flying/brand identity, we are all pretty much finished.

Happy St. Paddy's Day