Originally Posted by
Waves
So I guess we line pilots should pay extra so that the new pilot Plebe's don't have to go through what every single other Delta Pilot in history has gone through? I’m not a ladder puller, but com’on. Wow, no B scale, no FE position lasting for several years, a much higher FO rate, many going right to the 757. Hmmmm, where was that ladder again? Boo Hoo, the new hires have to pay for their initial stay in training. It would be nice if DAL paid for it, but I’m certainly not willing to negotiate for it. Call me a ladder puller if you like, but what a crock. You guys on the bottom will someday be on the top asking your righteous selves, “What was I thinking?” What a bunch of whiners.
We are the only legacy carrier that requires new hires to pay their own way during training as far as I know. In fact, most of the Regionals provide lodging to their new hires. Maybe back in your day it was the norm to expect guys to pay their own way, but we are way behind the rest of the industry in this. Yes, I as a line pilot would be more than willing to give a little so that our new hires (not Plebes... This is a business, not a service academy) don't have to suffer an additional financial hardship before coming to work on first year wages.
To me, this just makes Delta look cheap and corporate. To you, apparently, it's a rite of passage to become a Delta Plebe..err.. I mean new hire. Long gone are the days where pilots would do anything..everything...just to be a Delta pilot. There's plenty of other attractive offers out there, and this nickel and dime BS just makes us look less attractive to good, solid applicants.