And I understand that, the 717s are huge in that regard, but if we do acquire 321s then we a re running multiple aircraft at the same size. But I get what you're saying. I guess I don't like the neighbor using my yard.

 

321s are closer to a 757 than a 717...

Mr A doesn't seem to care how many different types we have here. If he can turn a profit with them, he probably would buy everything on the planet.

My concern is well documented. We get smaller and smaller, we make less and less. Period.

 

I was pretty optimistic too:

• I was going to be back in LA driving to work
• 3% pay increase early next year.
• New aircraft arriving and the "last displacement bid" over.
• Looking forward to possibly holding a line in 1-2 years.

Then the last AE came, so here's where I stand:

• 4th displacement.
• 9th consecutive base assignment
• -6.3% pay cut
• 1500 mile/8-10 hour commute to work

I was looking forward to getting into 73N LAX and finally staying put.
I didn't think that with 4 years of continued profit and a more than doubling 73N fleet I would not be able to hold and stay in a base/aircraft that I held as a brand new new-hire on day one at Delta.

It's easy to have a sunny disposition if you stagnate in a category/seat you enjoy. I hope to share your optimism and content one day...

Cheers
George

 

George,

Sorry to hear that news. Condolences. Thanks for the report. Without those sort of details some just don't get it.

 

Lol, I had to come off lurk on that one. When I lived in Lagrange I had a neighbor who hooked up his hoses and had a power cord running from my house while I was on vacation. he was supposed to be checking my mail only. Imagine his surprise when I came home two days early to fly a trip I picked up. We lived in a pretty nice neighborhood too. Oops, that was supposed to be a reply to FTB's post.

 

Let's see 3 years furloughed, 32% paycut when I did come back to stay out of bankruptcy, then another 14% paycut in bankruptcy, loss of retirement, base closed, and a merger that has stagnated pretty much everyone. If you've been getting a steady paycheck every two weeks then you've been doing better than the over two thousand pilots on the list that haven't.

Not to make light of your life right now, but you aren't stressing on feeding your family either.

 

Ooooh. I'd be mad too. But the expression on their face would be priceless when you stroll up.

BTW, before we moved to our house the neighbors down the street (a lo of them) like to walk up our driveway to cut to the pool. We have a fence but they still end up walking on the property as they go to the pool. It's a private area for sure, not a public one.

I tried to be a good neighbor but when I left the garage door open (opens to the side of the house) and walked out to find an entire family walking up the drive way and without thinking twice they all squeeze around my truck and a tree and continue on to the pool. I was not happy. Then at 2am when a bunch of teenagers did it, I had a fit. The HOA was like "oh don't worry those are really good kids..."

I didn't even acknowledge that when it was said. They fixed the problem the next day. But for some reason kids in my neighborhood (great neighborhood with no problems) just walk through peoples yards without a second thought. Then I noticed, so do their parents.



I know I know. I'm that guy now. But yards are a lot of work.

 

Two wrongs don't make a right. Guys, the single best thing anyone can do here is take a long hard look at the elements you and I have control over (ie voting on contracts that allow more productivity and having a union that refuses to be a scope hawk). DALMD88FO, your group took the worst beating and continue to do so. Losing your job while others picked up time and hundreds of 50 seat RJ's operated by non Delta pilots ramped up had to hurt (all the while you scrambling to figure out how to feed your family).

The more recent hires...it sucks for them too (just not as bad is it did for you). Listen, the company will try another scope sale. They will target the more senior guys and koolaid drinkers. That is how they get these things to pass. If both of you guys and all of us want to prevent more stagnation (as the company fails to replace retiring pilots, gets more productivity and keeps throwing bones to large RJ pilots, JV partners, Code Share partners, Virgin Atlantic, GOL, Aeromexico...etc) then stop the madness. Hold your unions feet to the fire and for the love....quit voting for contracts that further suffocate your career as a Delta Air Lines pilot.

 

Well put Jack

 

The more I think about it that's one of the worst neighbor stories I've heard outside of spouse swaps.