Not saying you are wrong, but I recall our contract vote closing and a few days later the announcement of the profit sharing cut for all employees (along with announcing a raise for them). I know a few non-pilot employees and I recall telling them to watch out, we cut profit sharing and the company will try to come get theirs. Of course they spun it as "monitization."

They cut the other groups PS before we voted. Pretty arrogant if you ask me. I guess they knew it would pass...

Not disagreeing with this but does anybody see any irony here:

Airlines, pilots oppose higher federal fees on tickets

But airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association, a union representing 50,000 pilots, are already lobbying against including the anticipated fee. Airlines argued that their passengers shouldn't be charged the immigration fee that doesn't apply to train and bus passengers.

"Congress cannot continue to solve its spending problems on the backs of airline passengers," said Nicholas Calio, CEO of Airlines for America. "The government must stop using airlines and their passengers as its own personal ATM whenever it needs more money."

ALPA also issued a statement Thursday saying the group "strongly opposes this fee hike and urges Congress to stop using U.S. airlines and passengers as a bottomless piggy bank."

You mean because management uses the pilot group as an endless piggyback of concessions?

None. It's good when the company can make more. It's bad when the government increases the (already insane) tax burden on the industry, and steers passenger money towards general funds, rather than airline-related spending OR away from airline revenue.

The share of that revenue that ends up in your pocket: that might be construed as ironic.

I acknowledged a trip more than 3 hrs prior. I feel like I've betrayed my fellow unionists. Conflicted.

Anyone have any recent experience with how Delta handles a pilot having a baby? I've read through the Leaves of Absence section of the contract, but I'm not sure what my best option is.

I'm trying to bid a week of vacation a little after the due date. Also, ideally, I would get a lot of credit here in the first couple months of the year and then PD some stuff around and after the due date (I budget our finances at an average of 75 hours a month). This might not come to fruition though because I am very junior and there isn't much extra flying to be had in my category anyways. It would be nice to be able to get 3 weeks or so off after the birth but you never know exactly when that is going to be...

How do they handle you flying a trip when your wife is approaching the due date? Do you let the CPO know that you are "waiting for the call" while on a trip or what? Kinda don't want to miss the birth (obviously). BTW, I commute.

Any recent advice? Thanks.

Try to bid around it and then PD or call the CP in your base. Not going to be much good to the crew if you are stressing about mom and the baby. Been there/ done that. It will also stress Momma out if you are worrying about being off and/or cutting it close waiting for the call. CP's deal will this stuff all the time.

You will be taken off the trip if the baby is coming. Happened to me 18 years ago. Luckily my daughter waited until I got to the hospital to be born. You are also allowed to take family leave, use vacation time, etc. It should be no problem. Congratulations in advance!

Congrats!!! My wife is due in May so I'm in the same boat as you. I'm trying to bid vacation around the due date as well. Rather than PD's, I wonder what the company would think about using our sick time to stay home for a week or two, especially the unverified sick time. I know of one case where the chief pilot told a guy to stay home and use it, so that's what I have to find out. Anyone had this experience???