Thanks for the link... lots of interesting info.

Yo Ferd,
I only worry about what I can control. I'm just glad that we didn't "merge" with American :eek:. We all know the process they use.

BTW, I'm sure it will be a pleasure working with "all ya all." Unless you don't like beer. Then we have some serious issues.
BD

Hi!

I was just in MMGL the other night, and saw a Delta MD-90. I didn't realize U had any (thought only the -88). How many do U have? R U getting any more from China?

Thanx!

cliff
YIP
PS-MMGL is my favorite airport in Mexico. It is the best and easiest to get in and out of. Really good ATC, radar, ILS, etc., etc.

PPS-They used an AA towbar to push us back with. I pretended like I was a REAL airline pilot...getting pushed back, using mainline equipment and all!

Hey Cliffy - Yes, we have I think 16 of them. The crews who fly them are based in SLC, although CVG have been getting qualified on them this past year. (it's just minor differences training between the two models) The aircraft can end up anywhere obivously, but Delta likes them for their hot/high performance.

The word is (and has been for a while) that the company is getting more from China and elsewhere. But, nothing has come for fruition. There is a rumor that unless we can get more, they are going to park the MD-90s and acquire more 737s).

Alex

Beer? Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Yeah, we were worried about American rumors too............could already see those guys walking around Office Depot:eek:

Ferd

What is the difference between a MD-90 and a 717 (DC-9 on staroids). Could they be a common fleet? I think there are 717s floating around too.

MD-90 150 pax seats, MD-88 142 pax seats, B717 approximately 115 seats depending on configuration. It is still typed as a DC-9. Ferd, Doesn't the 9-40 have 115 seats? If so then there are 25 airframes that Boeing owns looking for a new lessor.......

:)

Big difference in size, Completely different cockpit and engines. Essentially nothing common between the two. Delta over the years has been offered some great deals on 717's. They have always turned them down. I don't believe they have any real interest in a 100 seat airframe for the mainline. They spent the last 7 years dumping every small airframe they had.

It would be in our best interest to make sure they do get an interest in a mainline 100 seater. At 12500 guys now this isn't a whole lot bigger than the 10200 or so pilots DL had a few years ago. We got to see how fast those jobs disappeared when the 72s, 73s, MD-11s, L10s, and 76-2s were retired in short order. We need to use everything in our power to make sure any airplane on property is replaced with a mainline aircraft.

Amen Brother!

So..........any new news on this mysterious AE??????
I'm looking for good news guys.......

This is what was posted about the AE on the DALPA forum a couple of days ago. He says the AE will be in mid-November

"Talked with Randy in Crew Resources just now. AE delayed more due to Boeing strike. Bid will be primarily for filling 777 vacancies for new aircraft deliveries and nothing concrete beyond that.

I'm still hoping for the 767 conversion from domestic to ER in CVG. All but a done deal according to VP of flight ops if it costs out after the AE is released.

What's that saying?

"A watched pot never boils?"

When I go to this site all I get is a NWA/DAL Merger logo at the top of the screen. Has the info been removed?

Same for me. No lists.

Link worked fine for me. But, the lists are inside our MEC area then the merger section. Since we don't have access to each other's MEC site or web boards yet is probably why you don't have access.

I can't find it on the MEC page. Once logged into crewroom where do you go? If I choose my MEC (Delta), I get a page with links to LOA 18, LOA19, MEC Update, Chairman's Letter, etc. I don't see anything referencing any lists. Any chance somebody could embed these lists on APC?

The only list that counts is the one the arbitrators come up with.

Very true. That said, if the DAL list shows me at the 99.234 percentile, and the NWA list shows me at the 99.237 percentile, I'll proceed to the fridge, grab a few beers and sleep well.

The lists have never been posted by the DAL MEC.

Well, now that the machinists voted to end the Boeing strike, maybe they can get the aircraft flowing again and this AE will be published.

Dcc?
 

Do we have a DCC yet? I can't seem to find the actual date refferenced anywhere, and no one I've flown with seems to know.

DAL is now charging for first checked bag.
 

It has been announced that DAL will now start charging for the first checked bag. :(

Personally, I think this is a big mistake.

-Fatty

29 Oct. According to a "Right from Richard Message". Most of the terms of the new KCBA became effective at 0001 on the 30th. Verified by memo from Steve and in the latest issue of Trim Tabs.

Agree!!

However, we lowered our price for the second ticket so now instead of $50 to check a second bag it will cost you $40 for two bags (15 for first and 25 for second).:cool:

We should have produced a commercial similar to SWAs, Fee's Don't Fly With Us, to educate the public on who was charging for bags. I think it is stupid to have a fee simply because the public didn't know we weren't charging (take directly from the announcement).

:(

-Fatty

Well, the smart traveler's have already figured out that:

1. It's easy to get 2 large bags through a TSA checkpoint.

2. If one (or both) of the bags don't fit in the overhead of the plane, they can just gate check it for free and pick it up in baggage claim.

I'm not peachy-keen on this charge either, but it really is a tax on stupidity, more or less. I think the amount of people who plan to check bags has dropped considerably over the past decade, anyway.

Yep, we had about 150 smart travelers coming out of MCO yesterday. What a nightmare...and what a dumb marketing idea.

The timing couldn't be worse. They didn't have these fees when gas was through the roof. So now that RA's compensation (millions) for the merger was just made public and the price of fuel has just gone down recently, they think its a good time to start nickel and diming? And in the press release, they say its "to align their policies with NW. Way to really pi$$ off pax.

Plus now you will have more pax trying to bring more and more large carry-on bags with them which is going to delay boarding and take up every inch of space in the overheads.

why is this an issue?

Dragon,

Recheck those. Oct 29 was the Merger agreement effective date, which means Oct 30 was DCC. Here's a cut right from Steve Dickson's code-a-phone: "As such, our official Date of Corporate Closure (or DCC) will be tomorrow, Thursday, October 30th."

PG

Thought that's what I was saying. Obviously did not have enough coffee. Thanks for fixing it.

:) You're right about that. This is the sort of thing smart travelers figure out real quick, so I question the long term viability (or sense) of the baggage check fee program.

That said, here's some thoughts on the subject:


1. Many women will check bags, if for no other reason because their cosmetic kits are not easily or cheaply replaced. (Thank you, TSA for this profit making opportunity)

2. There are plenty of passengers (business travelers in particular) who don't really care about a $15 or $50 dollar charge. It's chump change. (Hard for a cheap pilot such as me to comprehend)

3. RyanAir is famous for this kind of thing, and lets face it: all the carriers are copying their "charge for everything" model these days. Let's not forget this either: RyanAir has repeatedly stated that they will go trans-Atlantic in the near future. At least big-D will have everyone used to being charged like crazy if/when this day ever arrives.

I should clarify...a lesser amount of people will wind up taking all the space before everyone has had a chance to board. Ive seen this happen already on NW flights.

And here's a novel idea...let's just add an additonal baggage charge (say $50 bucks) to the price of the ticket and not make the baggage thing an issue!

We've got to be the only industry that charges more to produce a service than we charge the users of that service.

Because it all comes down to one thing. Well two. One, if we take the price out of the ticket our fares show up first on all of the travel websites. Two, it makes people carry less, which leaves more room for the cargo we are carrying.

There is a bit more. Actually the reason why fuel surcharges and bag fees are applied (and are working to a large extent) isn't because of just the general flying public its because of all bulk purchases and corporate contract accounts. Fuel surcharges/bag fees makes sure almost EVERYONE pays the piper.

Now, enough of this crap, I mean who cares?!?!

Where the hell is the AE?????????????????????????????

Who knows, the AE keeps getting pushed back for a few reasons. Changes in fleet, and changes in how we are going to man the summer schedule. I am sure that sometime before Jan we will see it.
The longer they wait the better. More backfill etc.

FWIW Non-revs and our Precious medals do not pay these fees.
It is more for the jo blow that normally does not fly. AMR is the same way.

I'm no marketing expert, but I suspect most leisure travelers buy tickets based 99.9% on quoted ticket price comparisons. The "extra fees" aren't considered until they actually get to the airport.

It's a psychology thing. Kind of like when people buy a big screen TV on sale. They think of the sale price, not the extra money that they'll have to spend on a TV cabinet, cables, a blu-ray player, upgraded cable/dish service, etc. This is where electronic stores make a killing.

True, but then they get to the airport, are confronted with the extra charges, get ****ed, take the bags to the gate and gate check them. Push back is delayed while the extra bags are added below. Bags go on the jet, no fees collected and the customer is mad at DAL. Lose, lose all the way around.