I think some definitions must be in order.

"Upgauging" = moving from 50-seaters to 76-seaters. Mainline upgauging is clearly not happening, as we replace 757s with 737s, 737s with A320s, those airplanes with 88/90s, and 88/90s with 717s. It's not the kind of upgauging that brings pilot pay raises...check your pay category compared with two years ago for reference. (And I know there are exceptions...some have moved up, but not the average Delta pilot).

Sailingfun, I've seen projections that the mainline fleet will grow in the next few years. In those same calls, I've heard the word "flat" and "flattish" (very precise) used to describe our capacity in 2013 and 2014. So depending when you start the three year period you're asking about, I think they are already backing away from the increase in mainline aircraft or it was never true (or miscalculated) to begin with. Or, as they commonly do, maybe they were lumping the 76-seaters in with mainline. That's a way I could see reaching the projected number and keeping capacity "flattish" as promised.

Listening closely to the last few calls, you can hear them disassociating themselves with the 50 seaters. Listen to the December call posted a few pages back. Starting at 14:00: "No one likes them. Customers because they aren't comfortable, management because they aren't efficient, and pilots because they see those jobs as taking away their flying." Well, management, then how do you think pilots like the 76-seaters to which you are moving the 50 seat flying?

Actually starting to listen at 10:00 in is very enlightening as well. You'll hear them talk about just starting to take advantage of the efficiencies gained in the last contract to avoid hiring.

http://deltapilotsassociation.org/dp...llPosition=339. Scroll down and click on black box with green square. So what if its at the DPA site - it's straight from the mouth of management.