Originally Posted by Bigflya

I'm not sure what the difference is between the cos medical plans are. I do not use DAL's. I was just pointing out that overall the NWA side did not have the flush from the top that DAL had during the BK. The co is now trying to even out the two pilot sides before the SOC. It is good (and rightfully so) that this occurs prior to SOC and the NWA side can take advantage of their retirements. DAL already had their opportunity and that is why we have guys in their forties holding wide-body captain. I do not see many DAL guys taking this opportunity as they have no defined pension to fall back on we are now a younger pilot group.

The way it was explained to me from supposed "guys in the know" is that normally airline staffing looks like a triangle with more jr guys in the co AND more guys on narrowbodies at the bottom of the triangle. Our merged co staffing looks like an inverted triangle with the majority of guys both at the top of the payscale and flying WB's. Call it a product of DAL's intl push. Now in a economic downturn we are pulling back WB flying and replacing them with NB's. So we are overstaffed on the WB side and understaffed on the NB side. The last DAL (and probably NWA's if they had one) displacement bid in JAN tried to address the crew manning needs but we are still overmanned at the top. The training costs and time to train associated with turning our triangle around would not only be prohibitive, but by the time it was over the economy would most likely be turning around and now another entitlement would come out and guys would be put right back into training as the mando displacement guys bid back to their prior seats.

Also, MAYBE we could give our union some credit for the furlough protection. Mgmt may be holding to it........................for now. We will know it is coming when they start to negotiate for reduced lines and vol leave.