Shrink to merge, then merge to shrink. We are "blessed" with management that actively wants to shrink our airline and operate it as a ticket broker. Sad, but true.

Carl

 

We need that type of scheduling for recurrent. My upcoming training is an A period day 1 followed by a D period on day 2.

 

Another merger would be disaster for the bottom 2/3rds of the Delta list. Most feel the NWA / DAL merger set them back a few years and given our shrinkage as our network was rationalized, their perception is mostly spot on.

 

Really?

Merged Delta was the only legacy airline not to furlough during the last downturn. In fact, Delta hired 305 since the merger. Two early out programs took a fair number of guys off the top, but even with the retirement of two uneconomic fleets there were no furloughs.

That reality conflicts with the perception posted above. Merger setting them back? Ask the bottom 1450 at UAL, the bottom 10% of Alaska, the bottom 1700 at AMR, the 147 at CAL. Heck, even a bunch of the regionals furloughed. That's being set back.

 

Heyas Bar,

I don't want to rehash the SLI, but I will anyway....

The bottom 1/3 of the fNWA list will be behind until everyone retires, minus the pocket of 95-96 hires that did better than DOH (~200). Being a "young guy" didn't matter. I won't see the top half of the list until well into my 50's.

Add in the golden shower that was age 65, and it's ugly. That little gem snatched a upgrade from me with only 4 guys above me on the list (crew resources had told me to pack my bags for school) and the merger made that permanent.

That, my friend, is a boat load of cash when you work out the time value of money.

To be perfectly fair, however, the early retirements have closed the gap somewhat. I was projected to have a double digit reduction in percentile beyond compared to the fNWA list, but the punch-outs have reduced to worst year to only a %9 deficit or so. It still sucks planing on going out in the double digits at 60 and having to go to 65 just to get below 500.
Nu

 

You "don't want to rehash, but..." you "...will anyway"?

Are you being coerced?

The bottom 1/3 of both pre-merger lists are... the bottom 1/3 of the new list. Everything you wrote is just as correct for the bottom 1/3 of either pre-merger group. Sucks enough without trying to paint it as sucking more for some than some others.

 

Don't have to paint it that way, or even assemble it Ikea style...it came pre-assembled and pre-painted.

Just calling it like I see it. Pass the Sweedish Meatballs.

Nu

 

Is this new or old? Actually it has happened yet, it's a September 19th, 2011 article from 12pm... but it is in Australia so it has happened. But sometimes articles are rehashes of things we already knew...

Virgin Australia and Delta launch codeshare deal | Herald Sun

 

 

That's what I was thinking.......