Originally Posted by hockeypilot44 (Post 2895200)

We agree on most things. The one exception is retirement. It's just a really big and important exception.

Originally Posted by tunes (Post 2895272)

From what I’ve seen, the 350-900 cant do the job the 777-200LR does but the 350-1000 can.

Originally Posted by tunes (Post 2895272)

From what I’ve seen, the 350-900 cant do the job the 777-200LR does but the 350-1000 can.

Originally Posted by Scooter432 (Post 2895048)

Hey fellow Widgeteers

Originally Posted by Scooter432 (Post 2895048)

Hey fellow Widgeteers,

I just wanted to start this thread for positive vibes. I've been eating my popcorn watching all the haters on CC, FB (usual suspects). This new deal with LATAM is going to show some WB growth. Another order later this year will show even more net growth. I'm convinced that if a million dollars hit some of these folks on the head, they would still find a way to complain. I'm realistic, we have some things we can improve on, but all in all we are in great spot currently.

Let's be fortunate we work for the best run major airline in the world. This isn't by accident. We have a great MEC, a great executive Management team and pilot group.

That is all..carry on!

Originally Posted by NavyFlyer (Post 2895180)

I think we can all agree that life could be worse. We are all pretty blessed, and Delta is a great company to work for.

But timing and luck play a big part in ones QOL and career in this business. That colors one’s perception of how good/bad things are.

Likewise, the longer one works in this industry, the more they’ve seen (I.e. scope violations, the farming out of WB flying to our JV partners, furloughs, bankruptcy, pay cuts, QOL gives, etc).

Life happens, and most pilots on the line get it. But while times are good (and make no mistake, they are VERY good), experienced guys would like some contract gains while the company is making money hand over fist. They’d like some of that WB flying moved back in house. They’d like some money invested back INTO them, because they gave a LOT so that this company could survive. They’d like to feel respected, and that management understands what they gave up so that we could be successful today.

I haven’t flown with anyone that expects a pension again, or is loudly proclaiming that Delta owes them anything. But their goal is to educate and inform us younger guys what can happen, and how decisions that management and the pilot group (DALPA) make, have huge impacts on our lives. They’d like a lot of gains that would bring us closer to where we were in the past. They’d like to make this job better for all of us, because they’ve sacrificed a lot along the way to get us ALL here.

Keep being happy with our company, but listen and learn. There is value to listening to both sides, avoiding negativity, but also negating overly positive unicorn notions (basically every Trip7 post). The truth is always somewhere in the middle and life is colored by ones past experiences.

And Trip7, being a 34 yo Captain hired in 2014 does mean your life is pretty good. You ARE blessed and should be happy. But if you flew in the right seat of a WB, you’d hear (if you listened) about lives drastically altered by this company’s past decisions. That’s why they take your puppy’s and rainbows approach pretty incredulously. They’ve seen and experienced more than you have in your short (and blessed) career.

Originally Posted by Scoop (Post 2895327)

I agree that many Delta guys on SM would describe a wet dream as a nightmare. With that said let's be "skeptically optimistic" about this deal.

It might be great for us or it may be inconsequential for us - time will tell.

Nothing wrong with being optimistic, that side of the ledger is under represented.

Scoop :)

Originally Posted by badflaps (Post 2895206)

As I approach the red end of the runway, an observation. If, during my interview with DAL had they mentioned that I would have minimal Co. support in my old age, I believe I would have excused myself and disappeared.