Probably 90% of my European flights were to London. Great city.

The all nighters do make you tired, but it's not all that bad. Everyone finds and settles into their own little routine. Would loved to have done Moscow! :)

I'm not a pilot, but as a Million Mile Medallion level frequent flyer, I've spent my time at the airport. I have had overwhemingly good service from DAL for the most part, but the recent economy and management input have certainly put their stamps on what the frontline personnel (ticket agent, FA, and cockpit crew) can do in the way of service.

I hope for the best for those pilots who are considering a strike. I suspect they are all somewhat torn about doing it. I suppose, if one is pushed to the limit, one may make the leap and suffer the outcome, come what may.

Might it be better to suck it up (for now) and try to beat the competition (in our capitalist fashion) and let them go under, than to stand on principle (even if it is right), strike, and possibly go out? Or has that time passed by?

I'm not there, I've not seen my pay cut while management deftly packs golden parachutes, so I don't know- and I can't and wouldn't judge. But I do worry a strike will not bode well for the airline.

Respectfully submitted. And no, I'm not a journalist.

You are obviously naive. A reserve guy might work 5 days a month but not all months. Some months he most likely works more. Also, reserve is no picnic. It is not easy to be on a short leash, unable to plan doctors and other appointments etc. The days of high income/little work are long gone.

Management, sure does stick OUT on this site!

If YOU DUMB ASS did not go out and WASTE THE DAL CASH RESERVES on 100s of RJs that burn MORE FUEL/SEAT than a 727 and CANNOT carry any Cargo to FEED your HUBS, THE DELTA PILOTS WOULD NOT BE IN THIS POSITION!

Can you say "PURCHASE CAPACITY AGREEMENTS" THAT COST SHIFT RJ OPS TO THE MAINLINE FOR A 8-10% PAPER PROFIT MARGIN!

ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS GOING TO JAIL!

THE MAINLINE PILOTS OF THE US ARE SICK OF SOME OF YOU DUMB ASS MIS-MANAGERS OF OUR AIRLINES!

IF WE F$$KING FLEW AIRPLANES LIKE MANY OF YOU MANAGE AIRLINES, WE WOULD HAVE A CRASH/MONTH!

That's life. Deal with it

SWA, why would you post that?

AND THIS PILOT IS ON CALL 20 DAYS/MONTH!

And does NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT!

MORE MIS-MANAGEMENT!

Someone sent me this link via email and was shocked at first until I got past the headline and saw it was a spoof. Should be a peice for SNL. No offense was intended by it I just thought it was hysterically absurd.

OldAg84- Yours was a well thought out post and deserves a well thought out reply. I'll do my best.

I don't want to strike, and turn upside down the lives of our passengers and fellow employees, but I may have to vote yes when the time comes. Delta management is asking for far more than they need from us, and they are doing it simply because this is a historic opportunity to do so. They gave us an arbitrary requirement of $325 million in concessions, then gave us a proposal worth nearly double that, when our analysis shows that they need only a fraction of the $325 million. (Our financial analysts have generally been more accurate than Delta's, going back as far as the Western merger.) In addition, they maintain the fiction that they are going try to save our pensions, when in reality, they are just saving that punch in the gut for later.

Like blackmailers, these guys will keep coming back for more, simply because they think they can get it. I think its time to put them against the wall and tell them we're not paying anymore. Don't get me wrong- I'm willing to give them what they need; I'm just not willing to give them whatever they want. At some point, they have to start managing this airline, and fix the yield side of the equation. I hope that their tentative steps in this direction are not too little, too late.

For me personally, I am willing to walk away from Delta and aviation, after more than twenty years in this field. Although I've reached my career goal of becoming a 767 captain, I'm tired of being at the mercy of a bunch of MBA's who have no airline experience, but a bunch of novel ideas. I've already started working on my next career. I may not make as much money (initially), but at least my success or failure will be driven by my ability and efforts.

I hope this helps. As a disclaimer, I am not a union rep, nor a hard-line rabble rouser. I think I represent the average pilot, albeit with more to lose than most.

CVG767A- thanks for the reply. I can only imagine the general frustration and angst level. Clearly it is high when reasonable people are considering and/or willing to potentially fall on their sword and walk away from a lifetime career investment.

Honestly, I've looked at the pay rates on this site and I have to think the money, for the most part, is not that phenomenal. Don't get me wrong, $100-150K as a mainline pilot is not chump change either, it's a decent living. But for the responsibility, career threatening impacts (drag a wingtip into another A/C, get sick, fail your medical, etc.) and the requirement to put up with being yanked around some, it doesn't seem overly lucrative either. Most pilots I've met are bright, energitic types who would do well anywhere. As I'm sure you will. But they must be asking themselves- "how much do I love to fly?"

Either way, good luck- with DAL or without DAL. I've just started my own small company (a sales organization/mfrs. representative) and hope to go it alone- and ironically, it's for a lot of the same reasons you are.

OldAg84- Thanks for taking the time to understand our situation. Stick around- the next 3 or 4 months are going to be pretty interesting.

Best of luck with your new company!