I guess I missed that part

Yeah sorry. I started out my post by disagreeing with you. But then I realized you were correct, so I had to edit my post. :D

I realize this is a motley fools article, but I think he brings up some interesting points. I know Delta's old airplanes aren't always desirable, but this article points out one reason why buying a bunch of brand new airplanes isn't always a great idea.

Buyer Beware: Hidden Debt at Spirit Airlines (SAVE)

Just one opinion as a dc-9 guy (early 40s BTW)

My understanding is that indeed it is going to be the same type of flying as the DC-9. I came up in the regionals, flying up to 10 legs a day sometimes, and it is hard on me. It is much more work than I care to do on a daily grind. I bid it for the seniority. It has been nice to have weekends and holidays off. The pay is finally coming back up to what I was making as an -88 captain. Worse than the 5 leg days, however, are the short overnights. That is really the killer--at least for me. Other than a 20 hour ORD a few times here and there, mostly it is less than 12 hours on a layover, and usually less than 11.

I sit above the halfway mark on the airplane, and talk to the guys as we exchange airplanes. As a rule, the current senior guys bid it to get displaced--some for the move package, some for the 717, some for just a free spin without the lock.

I suspect that the 717 will go more senior, just due to the fact that it has FMS, and I suspect better a/c--as does any aircraft in the fleet. I still have yet to decide what to do. My hunch is that I will go for seniority, as our current reserve system does not bode well for the junior pilot. The jury is still out, however, and probably will be until late in the bid.

FWIW

I count 119 DC9 captains between the two bases that will be lost. That could pretty much make those new 717 positions a wash.

I thought about bidding the -9 (since it is really just a short term bid anyway) and then MD-ing back to the 777. Of course the only entitlements are going to be in DTW (this bid closes ATL -9). The way I see it with the -9 training capacity is bid, convert, wait to go to class, wait for OE, fly the line for a month and MD back with the short course. Its only a good plan if it works. I think the -9A goes 9500-ish. Should we place bets?

According to the Crew Planning news, there are 13 MD-90s that will enter service between now and the end of the year. If they are staffed with 7 crews per airplane (like they said the 717 will be) then that will be 91 captains more. Still a loss but a little less so........Plus, 15 717's delivered in 2013 at 7 crews an airplane is 105 captains.

Denny

Nevermind. I was wrong. What else is new? :D

This was answered on the question section of the update. The plane is overstaffed and no new openings expected.

Read under "Bidding Options When A Category Closes". It is about halfway through the update.