Originally Posted by
Kingbird87
I am immensely proud of what Delta Air Lines has accomplished in the 4 years since we merged two rudderless once great entities. I think focusing on our High Value Customers is logical and vital to our collective and individual financial health. I'm not a tweeter or heavy multimedia guy, but it appears that many of our customers are. I'm not the guy you want flash mobbing or dancing on youtube, but if they find someone that is, good for us. I have relished customer interaction all my career, they pay my family's bills and I want desperately for them to come back. I think the pilot announcement initiative is a valuable tool, and WE are the authority figure that may just smooth over concerns before they end up becoming a complaint. If I'm not involved in my duties, or addressing physiological needs, I'll be glad to make a 30 second PA in the gate area.
This career has not gone the way I thought it would, I never thought I'd be a 26 year FO commuting to work. I'm adjusting to this with as much flexibility as I can, but every day I am grateful to be able to do what I chose to do as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF 33 years ago. It is fun.
I agree completely Kingbird. I'm extremely proud to have a career at Delta. I love what I do. Is this career what I thought it would be in terms of pay and benefits? Absolutely not. Plus, I was furloughed immediately after retiring from the military. That certainly moved my cheese. Yet, I'm very blessed and happy to be a Delta pilot. I love flying. I like the people I work with. I like chatting up the customers, showing the flight deck to children, thanking the rampers, fuelers, gate agents and turd hearse guys. I've done the white collar gig too. We have a pretty great profession and I'm happy. I'm not a DALPA guy or a Virginia Ave koolaide drinker....I'm a Delta pilot. I carefully weigh all of my union votes and decide what I believe to be in the best interests of myself and my peers. If our company wants me to wear my hat, make PAs, fly a great aircraft, I'm in. I'm not going to dance in a Christmas video but I get the idea. I don't care. Let the marketing guys market.