I really don’t care if they are disappointed. They were given the early retirement plan but I wasn’t given that choice. If they didn’t take it, that’s on them.

They had a winning lottery ticket.

They also got age 65 to catch up.

 

Excellent post as far as perspective(on numerous fronts...ie, actual reality of those that lived it, tone deaf comments from those that didn't). But ,alas, both you and Ted hit the nail on the head in recognizing that the majority don't GAS, have little empathy and basically subscribe to the current mantra of ,"Sorry, that's past history, what's in it for me (logical)"

Your point in red is now much more devastating and significant. The PBGC and NWA DC plans were frozen in 2004ish dollars with no escalator for inflation. If deferred, the amount goes up (akin to SS delayed benefit) but unlike SS benefits (which the COLA increase was almost 15% for 22-23) there is no COLA to the retirement plans. The payout sounded pretty good 15 years ago but is rapidly diminishing in an todays inflationary environment.

My post is not intended to make "claim" to anything.... just adding perspective. (and I couldn't resist because I agreed with something you wrote which is unusual)

 

VEOP = a winning lottery ticket??? I guess it was.....if you consider a scratch off $5 a win after spending $8 on tickets. But hey, that's your perspective and you are entitled to it.

 

I was in the exact same situation. I got to upgrade twice at Delta! Merger and age 65 got me kicked out of the 737A seat back to 757/767B for another 5 years.

 

I appreciate that. The pension was terminated in 2006. That means a guy retiring tomorrow would have been 48. That’s 17 years to recapture loses because they got 65 a year later.

I appreciate the plight you guys went through but you weren’t the only ones. Many were like myself and stuck at a crappy regional making $19 an hour but I’m not crying about it.

I live exactly as I did during that same time period. I drive my crappy 20 year old car and I live in a modest 1900 SF, 50 year old home. It’s now all paid for, even though I’ve been at Delta 8 years as a FO. You were here during the same 8 years but likely making captain wages.

You have had time to catch up since the bandaid was ripped off and plenty of time to downsize your life as I have. This along with a windfall option of a VEOP, I was never given.

If it wasn’t for the VEOP, I would have entertained the minimum balance but now a hard no. The guys who deserve that money retired 10 years ago. Are any of the current deadzoners advocating for them?

 

Lol, agree. That isn’t the right metaphor. 50 hours and 8 hours for retirement for 3 years or less, bridge medical and some positive space travel isn’t a lottery ticket any more than the pilots waiting on TOEs collecting a check! Really we all won with VEOPs. Thanks for all who took them.

 

took the # shares X yesterday’s close.

This thread illustrates how difficult things taken on faith get when you actually start doing math, or ask people to show you theirs.

The only number easily verified is that the majority of Delta pilots got $0 from any claims despite many being greatly effected by the same events. The five extra years should have be worth about $2,000,000.00 (pay + DC + not drawing on retirement savings) … plus hopefully a good retro for our work after the expiration of our contract in 19.

 

I’ve been following the plus up and MBCBP pretty closely. I’ve never seen a $$ figure put out. Is that a NWism?

 

It was certainly a huge win for the junior pilots!

 

Yes, almost like getting released from the 5 year hold 3 years early.

Other questions are whether we maintain individual control. The age 64 pilot who gets a pile of $$ adds that to their individual savings almost instantly. The new hire who has their DPSP cash diverted to a group pool basically contributes the fruits of their labor to a community food bank.

Again, the MEC needs to be damn sure they know where the majority of Delta pilots are on these issues.