Welcome to why guys spend decades in the same seat. Most of us can't just block 6 months off of our schedule waiting to find out when we go to training. Once kids are involved, it's even harder.

 

Does the number above you include those currently in a seat lock and unable to switch platforms (they just have a standing preference in)?


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Yes. It is bad numbers in both directions. It could show zero and deny you the bid, or show 100 and you can get it.

Bid what you want, want what you bid.

They would have to run a mock bid to provide any accurate info

 

If I switched to a different category now and then a few years later decided to switch back, do I go through an abbreviated qualification course? How long can you be out of a category and still go through the short course if you come back?

 

I believe they use a 2 year look-back. Less than 2 years, some form.of a short course. More than 2, you get the full-monty.

 

One of the top network guys at Delta (Joe...missed his last name) was in the JFK pilot lounge yesterday and gave a presentation.

Here are some of his points:

AIRCRAFT
- 747: there are 7 still flying; they retire Dec 2017. I'm not sure if that will be all 7 or if they'll be down to 1 or 2 by then.
- A359: service from DTW, beginning 3rd Qtr 2017.
- 767: oldest ones in the fleet will be retired, replaced by remaining 333 deliveries (we have 26 now, 5 more coming) and then the 33neo deliveries (25 from '19-'22).
- 757: Network says this jet fills a niche like no other airplane does. Boeing is looking at a 757 replacement aircraft because of this niche. If they build one, Delta wants it.
- A321: 5 now in service; 82 by 2019.
- 739: 60 of the 120 delivered
- MD88: retiring from 2017 - '21. When they come up for their H inspections, they will be "put down." His words...that got a chuckle. Replacing them with the deliveries of A321s, 739s, and CS-100s.
- 717: all 91 delivered
- CS-100: initial bases in LAX, SEA, and then JFK.

NETWORK:
- Delta plans to grow at DFW but, to answer a question from a Texas commuter, has no plans to put a pilot base there. Staying at Love Field and would actually like to get more gates there, pending court action between Dallas and Southwest.
- Growth at LHR enabled by Virgin Atlantic JV. Heathrow is the biggest European business hub.
- Growth in China enabled by China Eastern JV.
- Service to Cuba from JFK starts in December.

 

Thanks for the news...

Any word on a 737 Max/A320 NEO orders? It's concerning not to have a true 88 replacement...one that seats in the 140-160 seat range.
How many 767s will they retire? If they retire a lot, our widebody fleet will only get smaller. We have 74 767-300/300ERs...but we only have 25 A330-800s, 25 A350s, and 5 more of the 10 total of the A330 IGW. That's 60 new tails. We are also losing all of our 747s here in the next year and a half.

Don't vote on anything that limits widebody scope...our fleet is shrinking.

 

No mention of 737 Max orders; no mention of 737s beyond the 739s. As for 320neo, only 321 orders were mentioned.

The CS-100 order includes options for 50 more, which could be CS-300s; they are in the 130-160 range, depending on configuration.

I didn't hear a number for the 767s to be retired and didn't ask. Joe said "the oldest" 767s would be retired...so some, certainly not all. I don't know how our wide bodies on order overlap with the 767 retirements or what the net gain/loss for our wide body fleet will be.

As far as the MD88 replacement, there's no 1-for-1 160-seat replacement for now so the plan is for it to be a mix of the 737, 319/320/321, 717, and CS-100 taking that domestic load. Network is doing the math.

In the same way, the A359 is not seat-for-seat with the 747 but will nonetheless replace the 747 on its Pacific routes. The question then is: Will there be more flights to Asia on the 359 than we currently have on the 747 to make up the difference in seats? I suppose that's more math for Network.

 

But let's be sure to get the highest rates for the 18 airplanes we do have and the 500 guys that fly them

 

Wow

Two different items there James. To give up WB Scope would be a huge mistake. If you want to push for pay banding then by all means contact your reps. It's not the Delta pilots or DALPAs fault that we only have a handful of super premium jets.