Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1417388)

Put it this way, the 717s were supposed to be all growth, as in 1,000 new pilot jobs. Sometimes I think it was 1,100 new pilots! Hiring could start this fall! [as in 2012]

But here we are. We've staffed 265 pilots on it via the 88. We're going to run another AE soon to staff it further without hiring. I just think that pops the all growth 717s balloon.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1417401)

I'm with Timbo.



They might not profitably fill all of the WBs but they flood the market. It'd be like us putting 757s on wherever JB flies out of BOS. If the goal is to make money then that's probably not a good way to do it; but if the goal is to drive someone out of the market it's not a bad idea.

As to the 7ERs, I wonder if repeated domestic has their cycle life higher than it should be? That can time out an airframe since a lot of maintenance is predicated on whatever comes first - hours and/or cycles.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1417404)

Actually we added a large number of pilots to the airline. They just did not come in at the bottom. The next bids will be for conversions mostly after the first of the year. Want to make a bet on if new hires are arriving?

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 1417260)

I'm all for seniority but trip parking and "friend swapping" end run the process. Dump it next contract!!

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1417410)

They are pouring a ton of money into the ER's. the business case for adding winglets and gutting the interiors was based on the airframes remaining in service for a long time.

Originally Posted by Sink r8 (Post 1417440)

I couldn't agree more. Swap with Friends sounds like some sort of weird gay porn title, and it should, because you're doing something gay to your friends, and something even gayer to the rest of the pilot group.

Access to open time should be transparent, seniority-based, and limited to the same total time as a regular line + WS (a.k.a. max Pickup).

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1417442)

Keep in my mind the 9s have new paint and interiors.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1417401)

They might not profitably fill all of the WBs but they flood the market. It'd be like us putting 757s on wherever JB flies out of BOS. If the goal is to make money then that's probably not a good way to do it; but if the goal is to drive someone out of the market it's not a bad idea.