Originally Posted by
pa28dakota
The SSP is metered to Delta by contract to a certain number over a time period and goes in somewhat a seniority order. Personally, for myself I have about 250 pilots with CJOs ahead of me and at an average release to delta of say 12 a month I am looking at realistically 18-24 months before seeing a Delta class date. That's my holdback. Also, if an FO chooses to upgrade, he/she will be subject to an additional 6 months withholding to Delta to serve as a captain at 9E for those 6 months. I just upgraded myself, but with 18 months already to wait the 6 month holdback for upgrade won't really matter. With the DGI you have already served time as a Captain for 9E so you interview, you will get the earliest available class date as I understand it.
The 24 month captain requirement under the DGI hasn't even begun for one single pilot on the seniority list yet. We are down to around 200 CJO holders at 9E and Delta is taking 17 a month now and for the foreseeable future. So yes, the quick upgrade here has about 6 months left considering they upgrade in to the future to cover these folks that are leaving.