What contract? We are not contracted by Delta, we are owned by Delta. Those other carriers (Mesa, Skywest, etc.) are contracted. As a wholly owned, Delta can do whatever they want with Comair, be it relocation, downsizing, or dissolving the entire company if they choose.

With regard to people not liking the idea of being based at JFK; if you are a senior captain, you would still be a senior captain at JFK, thus being able to hold a pretty nice line. So, if you bid commutable trips and had to catch the morning flight to JFK to start your trip, and catch a flight home after your trip, would that be so bad? You would still be home on your days off.

I, for one, would never want to work in CVG. The crew lounge, with it's separate FA and pilot sections (what happened to CRM, maybe meet your crew before you fly) and the miserable attitudes of many in the crew lounge is depressing. Having learned to fly in the NE, the whole CVG airport bores me. I'd also rather see something other than a Delta tail once in a while. The crews that were in JFK were always nice, and a pleasure to fly with. There are so many choices of food at JFK (if you have time) than there are at Terminal A & B in CVG. If you should get stuck up there for a day, there is NYC, one of the greatest walking tour cities in the world and only a $2 train ride away. Better than being stuck in CVG and nothing worth seeing within 200 miles.

This job is one of a very few that lets you live anywhere in the world you choose and commute to work. I tried living in CVG last year and it lasted eight months. It was not the place for me. During that time, I never had a problem commuting to JFK (I always heard the horror stories of commuting between the two bases). I moved to FL and my commute to JFK on Jetblue was terrific every time. Nice crews, TV, XM radio, great snacks. It made the 2.5 hour commute pleasurable.

Now that I am furloughed, I can only use Delta flights. It is sad to say, but the service on Delta, from gate agents to flight crews, on down to the baggage guys at the end of the flight do not compare to other airlines I have jumpseated/nonrev'ed on. I have used AA, SWA, JB, USAir, UA, and CAL in the past few years and have been treated way better on those airlines than I ever was on a Delta flight. On Delta, I have been ignored or treated badly by gate agents, had miserable crews on some flights, had bags lost, and been stuck in ATL three times last month trying to nonrev home because all flights were full or canceled. I am not complaining, because I appreciate the fact that we got to keep our flying benefits, and I just roll with it and don't complain to the DAL people. That said, everyone knows that even when flying DH, the DAL employees sometime treat you like crap. I was just talking to a crewmember the other day that was DH on a mainline flight. When they went to the DAL gate agent to check in and get their seat, they were told "I don't have time for that, sit down." Wow, how long does it take to print a boarding pass?

OK, I got way off the original subject there! My point is, JFK is not as bad as some think. In fact, a lot of people there would not trade to be in CVG. If you're going to sit and constantly complain about where you are based, then you will never be happy. If you get out of the CL and spend some time in the rest of the 9 terminals, you may find yourself enjoying it.

Another point on JFK: It is very rare to have a long taxi any more. During the last 8-9 months, there were many times you landed and taxied right to the gate, or taxied out and were off in 20 minutes or less. Sure, bad weather happens, but mostly there is no problem.