If you ask Sailingfun it does.

 

IDK that Sailings opinion carries any weight in how any individual pilot bids.

Personally, I am not bidding 73NA or 717A, but some of my peers probably are. To them, it is progression. IMO, for me, either would be a paycut or a QOL cut or both.

The extra stripe carries meaning for some / many / most pilots. As it should. Adding the positions is not a bad thing. My perspective of whether any of the slots are growth has yet to be proven or disproven.

If we end up with Capt 80 knots after this bid, I think that would be a good sign, but not proof of growth.

 

Can I borrow your crystal ball?

 

The potential exists. Increasing the mainline fleet with 70+ NBs over 3 years likely will result in displacements. I wouldn't be suprised to see the B717 be filled by mainly AE awards and very few displacements.

Absolutely. And it likely won't be a displacement. That's the typical path for a lot of people. NB FO to WB FO to NB CA to WB CA. Displacements are typically from a NB CA seat to a WB FO seat. Unless we are talking about the DC9. Then all bets are off.

Mainline fleet being increased by 70+ airplanes over 3 years. 88 B717s being added. 50 seaters being parked at a rapid rate. Without attrition, Pinnacle will need to furlough 1500 pilots over the next several years as they have a net loss of over 100 RJs. I'd personally call that upguaging to mainline.

How would efficiencies create a displacement? If anything, it's delivery of lower paying 737-900ERs that will replace B757s. But they'll also replace some A320s that pay less. So for many pilots it will be a raise, not a pay cut. It will vary greatly throughout the pilot group.

I bid a higher paying airplane last year. I actually did a voluntary displacement to a higher paying airplane. I'm an 2008 hire, and likely will remain on that category until I want to leave. Many people are up in arms because we aren't hiring. My question to them...."Who is?" I can think of two....JetBlue and UsAir. Both pay less. Anyone is free to leave Delta.

 

The typical guy I fly with (767ER FO in the top 20% of the category, usually commuting from Florida) is planning on bidding the 717 in ATL when the category opens. They seem to equate it with progression.

 

DCI question...

I understand Delta has contracts in place with several DCI carriers such as Skywest, ASA/Expressjet, Pinnacle, Go Jets, etc. These contracts specify a certain number of aircraft in service with laddered expiration dates.

But I think there are provisions to adjust what Delta pays based on some factors. I've been looking at the Regional forum and the angst surrounding the Pinnacle debacle. It seems pilots from other DCI carriers are urging the Pinnacle pilots to vote no as reduced wages at Pinnacle will lower their costs and contribute to the "race to the bottom".

Could someone (Bucking Bar, GeorgeTG, ACL65, etc.) please explain how these contracts "reset". For example if one carrier bids a lower amount for a certain route how that affects what Delta pays another DCI carrier?

IIRC Skywest negotiated a sweetheart deal for themselves when Delta was in the throes of bankruptcy. If a start up regional carrier underbids Skywest on say SLC-BZN what (if anything) happens?

 

Wow, someone forget to tell Seattle its game time!

 

What happens if the A321 rumor is true?

 

Woah! Pete Carroll lost on that call!

 

Looks like someone forgot to tell the Falcons they were going to get blown out. Still have another half to play.