I’m am an active Endeavor pilot and just for the record we never ask our management for travel priority over Delta’s retirees. When they announced it took us by surprise too. Can we blame management ? Probably not considering most of them are Delta employees including our new CEO Bill. From personal experience our pilot group doesn't ask for travel privileges, profit sharing, etc .. the only thing we would like is career progression (flow) to Delta.

From one former regional guy to another, you need to drop the “we aren’t getting our profit sharing check.” It sounds like a whining child routine. Here is an excerpt from an ALPA e-mail that outlines why profit sharing exists and gives a brief history on it. Being a tad bit educated on the history of profit sharing might make you change your tune a bit:


Voluntary Concessions & Profit Sharing Institution
Post 9/11, Delta pilots took the initiative to try to help Delta stave off bankruptcy by agreeing to contractual concessions (LOA #46), saving the Company nearly $1 billion per year. Part of this agreement included the negotiation of pre-tax profit sharing – pilots took concessions on pay, benefits and work rules, but also hedged for a future where they could be compensated when Delta was profitable.

Bankruptcy Concessions & Profit Sharing Enhancement
When Delta declared bankruptcy, the Company gained additional concessions from the pilot group (LOA #51). Enhanced profit sharing was negotiated to allow for an eventual recoup of some of the lost income resulting from those concessions. Again, Delta pilots agreed to relinquish tangible contractual benefits, but expected that any return to financial viability would allow for a share in resulting profits.

Profit Sharing Benefit Realized
Profit sharing was negotiated by the pilots in an attempt to reduce the potential for concession overreach. As profitability returned to the Company, this negotiated provision became a tangible benefit.

Financial conditions at the Company have continued to improve and while some negotiated changes in C2012 affected profit sharing, pilots rejected any reductions to the benefit in C2015. This likely benefitted the non-contract employees as well since their profit sharing was subsequently reinstated from earlier reductions.

As you see your checks arriving, remember why they exist – not because of charitable goodwill or a culture of care, but because the pilots of Delta had the forethought to protect themselves when they were facing onerous, life-altering concessions.


In closing all of my time at the regional airlines I was grateful for the opportunity I had. I was grateful for the benefits I had. I also worked hard and hoped to make it to a legacy carrier. I’m here now. Still grateful for opportunities of the past. Best of luck to you.

I don’t think anyone is bitter. The issue is the diluting of earned benefits. The rule change is driven by one thing: Delta’s balance sheet. Hence, the opportunity/appropriateness of this to be addressed by ALPA.

As far as earning full Delta benefits, I suggest applying to mainline. Delta is currently hiring the best qualified candidates in the industry through proven screening and interview process.

I remember where I came from (ASA and ANG), and that stoked my motivation to move on to a more lucrative career with a major. At this point, I’m not interested in diluting my near or long term benefits for the false argument of getting 9E pilots to work (ref: 9E commuter clause; BTW, I gladly give up the Jumpseat to anyone going to work).

For those who don’t think others want a bite of our profit sharing, read above. As is the case with non-con employees, management decides how PS is allocated.

I don't believe anyone is asking for profit sharing. Also, you're only making my point. Regional pilots getting to work and filling your planes on the cheap without booting revenue passengers HELPS your profit sharing. Sure you don't want your "earned" benefits diluted, but then you also want as much profit sharing as possible. Sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too. I guess you'll have to decide which is more important to you but management has chosen the $$$ as always.

As the ceo stated. If not for the concessions of the delta pilot group, there would be no delta airlines.

A little more history....a lot of us had no 'regional' to work 'up' through. Which left only one viable option. And then showed up to work....as commuters.....with no pass priviledges....and no js.

No js at delta..meant no js anyplace else either.

So you see...if not for the bullets taken by these non-humble, non unity delta pilots....you would have no flow to be asking to get back...if you ever had it in the first place.

Let alone the opportunities to commute to and from work without buying a ticket.

Yup. Why even have cake if you can’t eat it? But you gotta eat your Brussels Sprouts before you get dessert.

To put another way, why work for benefits if they’re eventually diluted to uselessness?

Best wishes in getting on with the major/legacy of your choice.

The thing you aren't seeing is that one benefit is being boosted by the other's decline. Like I said, you'll have to decide which is more important.

Thank you for the nice wishes.

Don’t be so coy. Almost every post you’ve made on this subject has a random, yet pointed, jab at the fact that you don’t get PS.

What in the world are you...? Listen, I'm not going to sit here and make fun of you if you are suffering from dementia. Good day sir.

I only mentioned it to make a point. Regional guys get so little, don't complain and keep applying while hoping for the best. Yet the first crumb we get handed there is an uproar from above. I just think it's strange, especially because this is not designed to help 9E pilots, it's designed to help Delta and its revenue passengers, and therefore directly benefits Delta pilots by way of profit sharing.