There's nothing binding about those "projections".

You are correct that they have to convert you before the end of the conversion window and they also have to convert you in the proper seniority order or else pay protect you. (22.E.9)

There's one exception we haven't seen used in a long time but might happen this time around if they start to get really short: Section 22.D.6 allows you to make a deal with the company to stay in your current category beyond the conversion window.

 

Oh goodie, an alliance with a Japanese carrier! I can see it now, dump our NRT operation in favor of HND slots via codeshare!!

 

Air France to slash thousands of jobs - BUSINESS - FRANCE 24

 

I've got a payback day from a few months back, couple of questions--

• can one be used in the middle of 5 on-call reserve days to create two 2 day blocks?

• can one be used to drop a trip longer than one day?

I'll check the contract now--just wondering if anyone had any input in the meantime.
Thanks!

 

Yes, absolutely to #1. I've done it several times. You just have to have adequate coverage on the day that you want to drop.

For #2, I think you can, but I've never tried it. My understanding is it works like a PD or APD. I think you only get paid for the day you drop though, and no soft credit, so the obvious thought would be to drop the highest hard-time day.

 

Keep your eye on Skymark...





They currently serve the domestic Japanes market using 31 737s.
Early 2014 they get their first of seven A330 for international operations.
They also have six A380s on order and earlier this year (2013) filed for DOT approval of their first A380 route NRT-JFK.

Oh and they aren't in any alliance, nor do they have a frequent flier program, but they let Japanese Delta customers redeem Skymiles for flights on Skymark...

If we peek over the fence, UAL is poised to grow UA ticked passengers placed on ANA by 300%, while ANA is planning on placing 200% more NH ticketed passengers on United operated flights. So the StarAlliance codeshare growth will be asymmetric in favor of United's Japanese partner ANA...

Cheers
George

 

Sounds like plan B if we don't get more HND slots and get squeezed out of NRT.

 

Open Skies and Skymark

This is an unsettling trend. I'm a regional pilot trying to get to the majors. I have literally been stuck at my carrier as an FO for 6 years without any forward movement whatsoever. I know you guys spend a lot of time working on shrinking the DCI lift and shifting it to mainline flying. In theory that creates mainline jobs and I like the direction you're going. However, I don't see quite the urgency to go after these JVs and codeshare agreements with huge international carriers. They are just as big of a threat, if not bigger, to mainline jobs. That's my personal opinion. Do you, as Delta pilots, see this trend to be unsettling and also a threat? I feel as though these agreements are impeding WB growth at Delta. It's flat-out outsourcing. Do you see any collaborative movement within DALPA to get this under control? With that said, I know the pilots don't run the company and can't tell the company how to run the business. But just as DALPA has been successful, relatively, in bring back domestic flying to mainline, they can also focus on slowing down these agreements.

 

I can think of a small technicality. Suppose the number 1 guys went out, and a bottom feeder came in. Then, you got a AE into that category but you had a minimum number on your preferences. IF the number 1 guy were to be allowed to come back in, your preference would NOT have been honored, therefore I would think you would have a case to be able to go back to your other category. Probably not that big a deal, but it would technically violate your preference.

 

Can anyone tell me when the 1 for 2 duty pay kicks in? Had a trip that ended up with 22+ hours of duty over two days with only 9:28 break in duty in the middle. Does that qualify? From what I read in the contract, it seems it would, but it does not look like my trip credit reflects the extra pay.