So Arpey seems really desperate now. His basic approach this enire time had not been how AA can provide a BETTER partnership, but how a partnership with DAL won't be allowed. Now he says if it is allowed it would be make a farce of the whole system.

Jeez Arpey. Please don't take your toys home. Stay and play. :rolleyes:

I doubt we'd see these showing up on such short notice. These JAL 747s would probably spend months getting reconfigured to match our current fleet.

Plenty of time to get spooled up. Look how long the 90s have been "on the way"

Just as the parking of all of the 747-200's shortly after SLI caused "a lot of angst." The fences are an integral part of the award, and like it or not, we will disagree and arbitrate over their application until they go away. Fortunately that is only 5 years. Those who suggest that we should just make the fences go away are not dealing in reality.

[QUOTE=forgot to bid;748330]There are a few more 777A positions than there were prior to the merger. Maybe 22 or so. There are less 747 position than prior to the merger.

There are less positions not because of parking the 744's but because a few of them are going through mods and to cycle though the airframes that are on property, it will take a year or so do complete. Because of this they have kept the staffing down. (Last FO down bid was due to the ULH implementation and the reduced need for three FO's on these flights)
Whether or not we get one more 744 or 777 based on the current airframes and the two more remaining 777 to be delivered, I bet we see staffing on the 744 rise as they get these mods done.

If we get 744's I bet there will be a strong urge to knock the fences down on the South and not so much on the North. If we get 777-300's the same will hold true.
End result is that these fences will probably work out well for the North side.

There are many innings left. I prefer to work together and not against each other.

My point in the statement of the fences, is it costs all of us a lot of money.
It protects many. I am not one of them, but fighting endlessly about these five year fences is counter productive. Now if they were 20 year fences, I would agree.

Fences can be useful - while to some they may keep you from getting in your neighbor's yard, especially when there is something over there you want. But, on the other hand, it keeps the neighbor from coming into your yard and taking something of yours.

The key is to get insider access to Delta's mainframe.
The Faber brothers have had exclusive rights to that for many years. Nobody seems to know how they got it but they have made a lot of money.
As tax time rolls around, get ready to pay them your annual $50 for something Delta could easily provide to us for free.

"If Jal does come to SkyTeam and they do decide (as has been reported) to park their 747 fleet, it seems many here think DAL would attempt to acquire some, or all, of those airframes.

However if 37, or even ten, 747's showed up we would not be able to operate them (with DAL pilots) until bids had been posted and pilots trained and converted. That would take some time and DAL management wouldn't be very happy to have those planes (and routes) dormant.

I would think DAL management would want to have some JAL 747 pilots along with the airframes so they could be operated from the get-go. Perhaps they could be only temporary employees, but if not, the domino effect on pilot training at DAL would be huge (or Hudge for Ferd!).

Curious as to others thoughts on this possibility...."


Everyone knows of the fences...but think of the possibilities. The fences are for the very senior guys in this company. Even if we get a few more 747's, the trickle up effect would be great. We South guys never had hopes to fly a 747. But as the 747 positions fill up, there will be vacancies in the 330, 755, 320 etc... The same is true if We get 777's. DALN guys will get some chances to bid the openings in the 765, ER, 767 etc.... I dont think the fences are terrible, but then again, I am a decade away from holding those fenced aircraft!!! Just my opinion!!!

On a side note...I read an article this morning on Delta Air Elite. Anyone know where you can get the info on how they are doing? How many/what type of aircraft? Hiring? Pay? I went to the website and saw their fleet but it looks generic. I have some good friends that got pinks from NetJets and would love a crack at this!!

Beer;
The same would hold true without em. Upward movement is upward movement.

Keep em or do not keep em, but quite fighting about such a small fence.