DeltaboundRedux

Nah, we're family.

Don't you read your company memos?

One big happy family.

Speed Select

Every family has a few bitter old aunts and uncles.

Big E 757

I have two stories related to above…both occurred a few years ago when I was NYC 320 A. First probationary pilot followed me around in the terminal and I’d invite him to get something to eat on layovers and paid for everything but the following me around in the terminal in search for food kind of got to me. I could tell he’d go wherever I did, in the hopes of getting a free meal. But the last night, over food and a beer, he told me I was the first Captain that ever paid for anything for him and he’d been on the line at least 4 months so I felt bad for him at that point and was glad I’d taken care of him. As a NYC Captain, we flew with a lot of new hires and I can understand that it does indeed get expensive when the new hires expect everything to be covered (which is extremely rare, but I’ve seen it) and the Captains did pay for some meals for me so I don’t mind occasionally.

Second guy, the last night of the trip we are at Duffys in FLL and as I’m paying, after having paid for two previous meals, I discover that this guy had 35-40 years with the government. U.S. Navy but he also taught at Yale I think, through the pentagon or something, and his military pension was somewhere in excess of $7K a month I think, added to the 4-5K he was taking home at Delta, he was making as much as I was. that guy should have refused the gesture and told me to save it for the next guy, which some FO’s have. I’ve flown with guys who had loaded parents or in-laws that flat out told me “thanks but no thanks, save it for the next guy, I’m set”.

interceptorpilo

I get what you are saying but I didn’t think this was a communist kind of deal where it was from each according to his abilities and to each according to his needs. So in other words a Captain with three ex wives and two mortgages still picks up the tab in my book even if his FO is earning a government retirement. But as an FO I never expect and am always grateful.

tennisguru

On the flip side, right in the middle of the UNA debacle, I was on my last trip before the first furlough deadline, so my future was very uncertain. Went out with the CA on a layover to grab a bite to eat. He was married to an AA captain, so they’re easily bringing in 6, probably 700k per year. He was talking during the trip about how they were going to pay cash for their kid to go to an Ivy League school. I went out with zero expectation for him to cover dinner, and he ended up not offering, which was completely fine; I have no ill feelings toward him. However, I know that if the roles were reversed I would have paid for my FO’s meal in that situation 100% of the time.

NoDeskJob

I think I know who that is. How was the trip??
message me if you don’t want to blast it out.

Big E 757

It’s a tradition of course, but in my opinion is based on the low first year pay. Almost everyone takes a pay cut to come here, I came from Mesa 22 years ago, and still took a 50% pay cut first year. So it’s a way for us to help out where we can, to make things easier for the new hires. That’s always been my take. I may be wrong.

I still buy beers for my FO’s, ( on trips with enough time to grab one), sometimes with 10+ years here just because, but picking up the entire check, 2 to 3 nights on a 4 day trip gets pricey, and again, I’m happy to do it for new hires, but if you’re pulling down the same money I am after retirement benefits + Delta pay, let me know and I’ll just pay for the beers.

That’s the way I feel about it anyway. I’m happy to carry on the tradition and help our new hires in any way I can.

LeineLodge

Good grief. I buy coffee/beers/meals for FO’s because Captains did so for me.

It was never expected back then and I’m not expecting a huge thanks now. If you don’t want to then don’t do it, but it’s a nice tradition and I’m grateful to be able to pay it forward.

TheDuster

As a recent new hire, I can honestly say that most of us appreciate the gesture, but don’t expect it. After a CA buys dinner or beers on night one, I’ve tried to make a coffee run or something reciprocal over the course of a trip. As a non-retiree coming from the military, I have no plans to follow the captain around looking for handouts. At best, it’s awkward… Luckily most of our trips land late enough following a lengthy duty day to warrant going straight to bed leading into the 12-hour overnight.

Whoopsmybad

You get 12 hours??? Nice! Congrats!!

But seriously, I’ve bought and been bought for. It’s always appreciated and never expected.