I agree fully. None of the triggers failed. Sailing can say what he wants about mil leave and early-outs, nothing in the macro environment prevented hiring, and the company is smart enough to input mil leave and early outs into the equation. If not, they should be smart enough that they don't know enough about mil leave and early outs, and therefore can't predict hiring. SD knew what he was doing. It's not an egregious act, or evil, just... business.

As for the explanation that the Board doesn't want hiring... that makes perfect sense. It also makes perfect sense for SD not to take the Board for granted when he made the statement.

We all know what happened; let's put on our big-boys pants and recognize an non-binding sales argument when we see one.

So far the only thing that's happened is the company has done everything with the fleet plan they said they would. It now appears they plan to do even more then their sales job. This forum is focused on hiring when the fleet plan is more important. Lots of reasons they did not hire a small number of pilots this winter. Mil leaves, ER participation, moving up the nines retirement and the fact we are running a really good airline which reduces reserve needs and credit pay.
They will still need the same number of pilots in 3 years. They will just have to compress the hiring. Flight ops did not want to do that but lost that battle.

03-15-2013 | 02:54 PM

#126072

Purple Drank

Straight QOL, homie

Joined: Feb 2012

Posts: 4,202

Likes: 1

From: Record-Shattering Profit Facilitator

Southwest Airlines Isn't Cheapest Most of the Time, Study Confirms - The Middle Seat Terminal - WSJ

03-15-2013 | 02:55 PM

#126073

APCLurker

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 489

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

APA (Advance Position Award) system.

APA.....there it is. That's why I put ae in quotes. Couldn't remember the name of it.

03-15-2013 | 03:09 PM

#126074

Jack Bauer

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 1,357

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

That tinfoil is going to get a bit itchy. I know johnso personally, and he's a good guy. He's a regular line pilot like most of us on here.

OK if you know him and vouch for him then I stand corrected. I suspect one large reason he is rarahrah more than most with his seniority is he knows he's got time to forge ahead even if we end up shrinking or stagnating more years. I get that. What I don't like is him trying to upsell his optimism based upon his own upward mobility and "balloon payment" seniority twenty years from now to those of us with less time to undo the damage of work rule/contract changes that hamper our careers in the near term.

03-15-2013 | 03:15 PM

#126075

Jack Bauer

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 1,357

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiznit

Good deal.

The items were interesting, but all rumor IMHO. I won't believe it until I see it executed and happening.

Regardless, its better than speculation and rumors about fleet closures, base closures, displacements, and projected corporate losses..........

True that. My hopefull side says "YES!" but my mind says more of the same is on the way based upon other perfectly timed rumors. Code shares, capacity discipline, productivity... that's what the company wants and chances are that's what the company gets unless we figure out a way to strengthen our voice and resolve. There can be a win/win that also expands Delta pilot jobs.

03-15-2013 | 03:19 PM

#126076

Sink r8

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 5,113

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfun

OK, that's all fine and resonable. If hiring is not the most important thing (I agree with you there), and they hadn't won the battle for it anyway, then they simply could have said... nothing about hiring.

Nobody forced SD to make that statement at TA time, right?

03-15-2013 | 03:22 PM

#126077

Jack Bauer

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 1,357

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sink r8

All true. Btw, have you noticed how much they are using the "good cop/ bad cop" routine lately? "If I had my way we would buy this and do that but The Board or Network Resources or (enter whoever you want) says no".

03-15-2013 | 03:30 PM

#126078

GunshipGuy

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 1,707

Likes: 0

From: Permanently scarred

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnso29

I LOL everytime I read something like this. I find it funny that people are still so hung up on the phrase "may begin the hiring process as early as 2012". I guess it was a bluff, just like the B717s.

Not quoting you, but this is ironic from one who more than likely spewed the line, "If we don't vote YES they'll go with plan B and leave us behind."

03-15-2013 | 03:35 PM

#126079

LeineLodge

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 2,206

Likes: 0

From: DAL FO

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunshipGuy

Not quoting you, but this is ironic from one who more than likely spewed the line, "If we don't vote YES they'll go with plan B and leave us behind."

You must be confused. My understanding is Johnso voted NO.

Btw- I also know him personally and have always appreciated his matter-of-fact demeanor.

You guys slinging mud at him have the wrong target. Fwiw I'm within 50ish number of him on the list and we don't always see eye to eye.

03-15-2013 | 03:40 PM

#126080

GunshipGuy

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 1,707

Likes: 0

From: Permanently scarred

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeineLodge

I'm not confused. He's mocking pilots who believe that when management says something they should actually be speaking from a position of truth, not with an intention to deceive to drive them toward a desired end point. You would think someone so "matter of fact" would hold integrity and honesty at a higher level than deceitfulness to achieve the desired ends of those he answers to. His defense of SD's statement is pathetic.