enuf:

Your response was fine except when you threw that little quip in about it being political or naive or... Why did you feel it necessary to do that? Let's have the discussion without that kind of crap. I have no agenda.

My perspective about the upcoming proliference of captains and NEW captains (at DAL) is based on my belief that the growth of the airline + the upcoming retirements will require a fairly large number of captains in the next few years. If you have been here any length of time you know that the top 10% or so of ANY category is uber senior for that category. The top 10% of ANY category can hold captain somewhere. (717 might be the exception, but I'll wager it isn't far off. You are obviously correct that the 4th stripe isn't a priority for the average captain, because if it were I would be a low level 737 Captain. But that isn't really the issue on the table here. You are right that some guys couldn't care less about being a captain. (I'll betcha that would change overnight if the LCP thing were to be changed to be less lucritive). Interesting that it isn't about the money until it is, but I guess that is a different discussion for a different thread.

Your turn.

 

That is the great thing about this airline. We have choices. I have zero interest in the 777 or 330. I have met plenty of guys that were on the 777, hated it and bid off. (and they all left for the same reason) One man's trash is another man's treasure. But hey, I guess if you HAVE to have the money there is only 1 place you can really go, right?

 

It is like taking out a car loan. Why finance a depreciating asset? Lots of people do it, but it still isn't smart. So in case you don't get my analogy: regional flying is a dying model

 

If the industry had been longevity pay from day 1 you could. And nopbody would notice except probably those that have big shiny jet problems. Alaska would be the perfect exampple. Why would an AK pilot commute on an airplane across the country to fly a 777 when he can drive to work doing the same thing he had been doing before the merger for the exact same money? Hard on for the 777? Great! He opened up a slot for that guy that was commuting to fly the 777 from Seattle to drive to work. It is like the NW guy I heard about after our merger who lived in LA. He said "I didn't get ****ed in this merger, I got laid" (He drives to work now instead of flying across the country)

 

777 trips may be the reason guys leave, it's an outstanding airplane. 330 has great trips. If you can hack the international flying, it's another airline.

 

Exactly my point. but if you want more money, you are FORCED to go there. Again, why is that better?

 

IDK, tradition unhampered by progress. In any event, the company is took it's ball and went home when we voted NO. Any improvements are going to be hard fought. And I want restoration. Willing to fight for it.

 

Maybe at other bases. If that is true in MSP in 3 years....I'll eat my old NWA hat.

 

That's very short sighted and I'm glad your views are in the minority. It's odd that you still haven't learned from the last decade.

 

And what's sad is that you can't see how the industry has changed. This isn't your father's airline industry anymore. Investment grade ratings and sustainable profits with good industrial margins. But let's keep thinking of it in the same old way and we will continue to wonder why we just lost both rooks. We can do better than restoration if we just open our eyes.