Originally Posted by Scoop

Delta Express was a unique 737-200 operation based out of MCO. The flying was great - mainly north south on the east coast with good layovers. Very efficient trips. It was a very low paying "B" scale pay wise. IIRC we had 2 and three year Captains that were paid less than 757/767 FOs. Pay was so low we had plenty of guys upgrading in just over/around 1 year. Many guys were killing it via GSWC and the FO category had the distinction of being the "Waiting room" for furlough in 2002 and 2003. Our post 9-11 "MOAD" dumped most of the junior FOs in MCO and after the original 400 were furloughed from mainly FE spots in fall 2001 most furloughs were from the MCO FO category. When I was first bumped there I was a fairly senior FO holding a line. About 80 FOs furloughed each month so you were losing seniority every month. Express started around 1996/7 and stopped around 2004.

Never flew Shuttle flying and it was some time ago so I will give it a shot. Shuttle flying was mostly hourly flights between BOS, LGA, and DCA. 727s then 88s and then RJs for a while. No differences in pay or work rules with the possible exception of airport standby. High value pax could walk up last minute and be guaranteed a seat. If the flight was full they would launch the spare to guarantee seats. Then some time after 9-11 DAL changed the way they operated the shuttle and it slowly withered.

Song was essentially seamless for 757 Pilots. Song flights were built into the bid package. FAs had to interview for Song and did a bunch of things different for Song. No pay, bidding differences for Pilots. I heard Pilots liked the Song flying but it probably had more to do with crews, layovers etc. Song was short lived maybe 2003-2006 give or take.

Scoop