Good question, I was wondering the same thing.

Congrats, meet ya soon.

you usually bid on the first day but they give you some info and time to think it over and talk to your family about the decision.

You bid about 30 minutes after they show the class what they are given to bid. When I went though we were told what was available and then took a break. When we came back is when we decided.
You must understand that they need to get these slots assigned so that they can plan the training for the awarded persons. They normally will have your entire training schedule later in the first week.
The class is on last four with 0000 being the most senior.

BTW some guys wanted to switch in class and they would not allow it after the initial bid due to the fact that it would violate the CBA with ALPA with the returning pilots that are on furlough. The may change after all of them come back.

ACL65,
As a newhire are you locked in to that aircraft or can you change when the next bid comes out? (I think someone else asked this but I couldn't find it on this thread it's too dang long)

i was told by someone who knows first hand the last couple of classes were given till after lunch to think it over and discuss with their better halves. guess that may not always be the case. as a new hire you are not locked into the assignment you bid for on day one. if, however, after that if you bid anything that requires training of any kind you will be seat locked in the new position for a max of two years. (bidding SLC MD90 off of MD88 requires 9 months seat lock to account for differences training)

We were not given Lunch to think it over. This may have changed. Either way, it is done on the first day.

Did ATL go senior?

I'm also curious how senior ATL went. Also, if a guy was trying to get back to ATL as soon as possible would a 737 bid hurt his chances? Would the MD88 be the quickest way back to ATL?

I also heard a rumor about temporary duty assignment to NY as an ATL based pilot with a company provided hotel. Any word on whether that is true.

And it is the second day of the Paris Airshow, lets see some aircraft orders :)

First Day
 

Just finished my first day. I got the MD-88 to NYC. I am going to try to bid back to ATL. I plan on staying on the MD-88 for QOL for now. The possibility of holding a line by the fall excites me. We had a mix of 76/75ATL, 737NYC, MD-88ATL, and MD-88NYC for assignment drops (mostly MD-88's). I am pretty junior in my class. The ATL based assignments went fairly quick, but not as quick as you think. In fact, the first 76/75 went 3rd pick in our "draft". To confirm prior posts, first assignment is free, but there is a two year lock if you bid off. The first day was awesome. I am so pumped to be part of Delta! This place is awesome! The Dudes and Dudettes in our class are awesome folks! What a great day! :D

G.Dude

That you Racko :D

PM me when you get some more posts..

And it is the second day of the Paris Airshow, lets see some aircraft orders :)[/quote]

Just had this one sent to me. Orders and options for 125 787 by end of 07!

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/stor...108078F4FA8%7D

Would someone with some DAL experience mind explaining all the pros and cons with regards to reserves, QOL, location, becoming a lineholder, etc. for each of the aircraft? I don't really know what to expect. Would be nice to be able to think about this a little prior to the first day. Thanks.

Welcome to the fam.!:D

That would require quit a long post. Generally speaking seniority is the key to happiness. That being said you would want to (again generally speaking) bid the most junior peace of equipment to have the best quality of life. the bigger the airplane, which is to say the higher the pay grade, the more seniority required to hold it. when it comes to bases it will probably depend on where you live. If you live in Atlanta you wouldn't bid New York just because you can hold better trips up there. the commuting would normally negate the gain. There are exceptions to all of this but its a start. bases listed from most junior to most senior: NYC, ATL, LAX, SLC, CVG. i think. Reserve is the lowest form of airline existence although there are some exceptions to this too. the more junior the ac and base the quicker you can hold a line and have some semblance of control over your schedule.

I agree with one change. I would change the order to NYC, ATL, SLC, LAX, CVG. In all the briefings we have had yesterday and today, to include the assignmment selection, the crew resource dudes seem to think SLC will open up faster than LAX. The crew resource dudes said they will have a better picture in August.

G.Dude

What Unit are you from, Guard Dude?

Guard Dude,

Any rumors are future classes A/C bid, and how the pool is currently looking?

FO's in the July 2nd class?
 

Anyone know how many there are of us in the July 2nd class, I wasn't on the intial email that went out?

GBU 24, I can confirm the rumors in this thread. 25 per class, two classes per month, three to four weeks from interview to class date meaning 25 to 50 in line for class at any one time.

Aircraft bids are MD88NYC, MD88ATL, and a small handful of 737NG, and 767 slots open in New York and ATL. Plan for MD88 in New York and anything else you get will be a nice surprise.

We were told Delta would start hiring more military as hiring moved along. The civillians can generally get "released" with two week notice which gave them a little more flexibility on class dates when this first got spun up.

20, I believe. The 16th class is the first with 25, I think.

Thanks Bucking Bar,

Any idea on when the 767/757s have been going? I heard that they were under bud pretty good, so can more of them be expected?

Yes, more are expected out of NYC. I'm not sure the date, but I don't think until after the fall / early winter 2007.

I don't have a crystal ball, but..............
 

GBU-24,
The dudes in crew resources(CR) are saying they are working to put a mix of AC in the assignments for new hire classes. What is going to drop in each class I don't know. However, the CR dudes said if they wanted to make their job easy they could put all new hires at NYC on the MD-88. However, assignments are available on just about everything in ATL and NYC. The 4 76/75ATL in my class were scooped up by local ATL folks (prior ATL based regionals and a LCC) Sitting on reserve suits them since all four live locally. Also, the assignments are a snapshot in time of what they need right now. Right after we got our assignments, the CR dudes went through and showed all the vacancies. On Monday there were a lot of 76/75 NYC and a lot of 76/75 ATL vacancies. So if you want big iron and don't mind being on reserve for a while then go for it. It will be a 2 year lock to bid off your initial assignment. Once you get a number you can bid it. With that being said, you will still go through training for your initial assignment, whatever it is. Your initial assignment training is tailored to a new hire. For me, I got a MD-88 to NYC because I was junior. However, I am pleased because the thought of holding a line excites me since I will be a commuter. Plus, I started Delta with the thought I would get the MD-88 to NYC. So, no worries. Just remember the pay in your first year is the same on any AC. So I figure I will fly for a year on the 88 and see what is available in ATL in about 9 months. I am going to bid ATL for easier commuting, but I can't complain. Plus, it could be worse. My old man sat the "panel" for 7 years at a different Legacy when he started. He didn't see the right seat for 7 years and didn't see a Maddog for 9 years. So I figure I am ahead of the power curve considering how cyclic the industry can be. It still has not hit me I have made it to a Legacy carrier. If you can tell I am the "glass is half full" dude! This place is awesome.

Cheers,

G.Dude

GDude,
I was thinking pretty much along the same lines as you as far as my first assignment. I will be a commuter and want to make it as painless as possible for the first few years. Where will you be commuting from? What makes ATL easier to commute to than NYC?

Thanks,
Hornet1

Yes, my question is the same as Hornets'.

NYC seems like a better place to commute to. After all, in and out of Atlanta you can get bumped out by all the 25,000 employees who are senior to you (plus wives, partners, ASA folks, their wives, etc...probably adds up to 50,000+ pass riders out of ATL ) when you try to use your passes. Also, many of the ATL based International pilots commute using the jumpseat.

Commuting is much easier when you are trying to get somewhere that is not senior. The other advantage of New York is that a pilot based there could hold a "commutable" schedule much easier than they could in ATL. Also, smaller is better when commuting, from my decade's worth of experience especially if smaller has good frequency of service.

Additional information useful to commuting noob's:
(1) Jumpseaters get bumped for weight and balance before pass riders
(2) Aircraft has to have sufficient crew O2 for the jumpseater, (which is an issue on DCI aircraft which don't get maintenance done as regularly now that they leave base and don't return for several days, don't know about mainline)
(3) A seat in back is a whole lot more comfortable than most jumpseats.

It largely depends on where you live and the flight options specific to that city. Sometimes geography is not the only factor. Flight frequency, number of other commuters out of that city, seniority in base, ect...... Where would you be commuting from?

Hornet1,
Why ATL? I will be commuting from OKC. There are five Delta or Delta Connection flights a day out of OKC to ATL. There are no direct flights to JFK or LGA from OKC from any carrier. So for me NYC will be a 2 hop commute, regardless. So ATL just makes sense for me.

For everyone:
The crew resource dude came and talk to our new hire class an hour before the close of the advanced bid, because it was our first bid. He said all the MD-88NYC folks who want ATL WILL get it! So I will be in ATL this fall. He said everyone who wanted the 76ER to NYC WILL get it. He also said the next classes should see some 76ERs in the drop. So if you want a 76ER to NYC and you last 4 are low (0000 to 3000, my guess), you're in!

Good Luck to All

G.Dude

Dude - that makes complete sense. Thanks. You are correct, a two leg commute stinks.

I'll be in Monterey, CA. I think the only flight out of there is to SLC and I'm sure the chances of getting on one of those flights is slim so I expect to be traveling to San Jose. I assume there are flights to both NYC and ATL from there.

dude! trans-con commute is pretty rough. don't get me wrong, it can be done. I know people who did it for thirty years but the two i commuted from FL to NYC almost killed me. What about LA? you might could hold it after a while.

Eastbound on the NAT Trax, "El Al, where ya'll headed".

Hey Speed Boat, where ya'll headed... Ah Sir, it's Speed Bird

I know it is not going to be easy but I have to do it for a couple of years. Just trying to make the least painfull as possible.

Godspeed! Just my two cents SLC or LAX might be a better option. See ya out there.:D

P.S. Go on TravelNet and look at your options. Also check out other carriers schedules. Offline commuting isn't the greatest either but again a lot of people do it. Whatever keeps the family happy. Best of Luck!

Hornet1
FWIW, crew resources seem to think SLC will start opening up in the August bid (heard this today). You will be able to try SLC or LAX for that advance bid since you'll be here in July. Not to get your hopes up but you could be on the West Coast before you know it (not years). Once again, I am not trying to get your hopes up but there is a lot of movement for the big iron on the east coast which could open the west coast. You'll get the scoop when you get here. The new hire manager will assist you on strategy to get to the west coast.

G.Dude

Four new hires have been awarded SLC so far, two on the MD90 and two on the 737. The two going to 73 must go back to school as they were assigned the MD out of new hire class. None have actually started flying out of SLC yet but will in the next couple months. Hope that helps.

Jack Bauer...Were you a Meridian, MS guy back in 98-99?

Any news on how many more are going to get hired? Is the number still 200 for the year?

Seems like they're sticking pretty close to the 40/month as advertised...maybe a few more.