Bill Lumberg

I would think the DC9 guys in MSP and maybe some in DTW would go to the MD88/90, since 21 are coming this year, and 8 next year, and the -9s are on the way out. A pay increase is included going from the -9 to the MD88 too. There may be some movement from some higher up positions, but that may give some senior guys the push to think about taking an early out if offered. Eventually those widebodies will all come back from the cabin and crew rest mods, and that will induce more upward movement.

CAAC ATP

If they start to offer leave of two years or greater those Chinese contracts will look really good! Perhaps that's when they'll call it a furlough

reddog25

I agree. Same type rating, esentially differences training.

forgot to bid

That's nice and all and I used to be into the turbine mix but since the 88 I've come to appreciate the past. So for $310M...



I don't think I have to identify the thing now do I?

btw that peninsula will come with it. And so shall that mountain.

DAL 88 Driver

Now T, I know you know this... but consider the following. Which one would you rather have?

1) $234,000 W2 with the company putting a 9% match into your 401k.

or

2) $156,000 W2 with the company putting a 14% contribution (no match required) into your 401k.

Let's think about this for a minute.

In #1 - You have $234,000 in gross income. Let's assume taxes are 30%. In in order to get the 9% match, you have to contribute 9% of your $234,000 to your 401k. So $234K - 21,060 (9%) = $212,940. Take home pay (after taxes) on that is $149,058. You get a total of $42,120 in your 401k (the $21,060 you contributed plus the company match in the same amount).

In #2 - You have $156,000 in gross income. (That's what I made last year as a narrowbody domestic Captain.) Again, assume taxes are 30%. No match required, but you probably want to contribute to your 401k... so let's say you contribute 9% just like your SWA buddy did. So $156K - 14,040 (9%) = $141,960. Take home pay (after taxes) on that is $99,372. You get a total of $35,880 in your 401k (the $14,040 you contributed plus the company's 14% contribution).

So, let's summarize what we are netting in these two examples.

1) - Take home pay is $149,058. Contribution into 401k is $42,120.

2) - Take home pay is $99,372. Contribution into 401k is $35,880.

I wasn't a finance major, but I think I can figure out which one of these is a better deal.

georgetg

Bar, gotta side with slowplay on this one.

The merger has been beneficial to the current Delta pilots.

Let's go back to 2008, the company was willing to grease the skids to provide for a smooth merger. The stock options, incremental pay raises and no furloughs for 2 years were all benefits that have improved things for the pilots on the seniority list. None of that came for free and some items like incorporating the AS codeshare from the NWA contract are what we gave the company in return. Our cooperation was worth money and the company delivered.

The merger happened at a time when record fuel prices left most airlines pretty unprepared. Since then great strides have been made by Delta and others to reduce fuel price volatility and associated risk along with passing on some of the increased fuel cost to the pax.

Fast forward 4 years and the merger has been very successful for the company, both operationally and financial. The EF&A team predicted that 2012 would offer a much better financial environment for contract negotiations and thus warranted and extension.

All of the financial predictions have been spot on and Delta has had 2 consecutive years with full year profit exceeding $1B. What Delta has not delivered is the equivalent of shareholder value for the pilot group: seniority advancement. Because we have a Seniority based system that's an inherent promise and the frustration coming from the ranks is a direct result of the failure to deliver on seniority advancement.

I'm "happy to have a job", but I didn't sign up for a job, I signed up for a career at Delta.

If we can't turn 2 consecutive years of record profits during trying economic times into pay and seniority gains, then there is not much hope moving forward.

Cheers
George

DAL 88 Driver

Differences training + FMS + a Digital Flight Guidance System. And a lot of procedures that are different from the old "north" way to the way Delta operates the 88.

Not disagreeing with you. I suspect a lot of the DC-9 guys will go to the 88. Just pointing out that the transition is not quite as simple as differences training.

tim123

What's the opinion of others..legal or illegal?

Boomer

Yes. Look at 3:44. It's a P-51, Cavalier build I'd guess from the tail profile.

Carl Spackler

Very short sighted thinking IMO. You'd walk away from SWAPA's scope because of a few percent differential between their DC and ours?

Hope you enjoy those few extra % points as you continue to go backwards due to outsourcing.

Carl