I just interviewed a week or so ago and was offered a class beginning in early June. I keep hearing all these rumors about no more classes and no more interviews, can anyone elaborate on that? Does that mean that classes are canceled? I haven't heard anything official yet from NWA.

I know all the merger talk is just that-talk, at least until something is made official, and then it still needs DOJ approval. What advice can you give me? keep interviewing and move on? Wait and see what happens? I don't want to keep sending out resumes and burn bridges if NWA actually happens, but at the same time I don't want to stop and wait for 3 months just to have the class canceled! What would you do??

 

To the best of my knowledge, none of the upcoming classes have been cancelled nor are there any plans to cancel them. The word from the schoolhouse is that even if the merger is announced, both Northwest and Delta are currently short on pilots, and so the hiring is expected to continue. Unless a decision is made to park airplanes (DC-9) post-merger, I would expect classes will go on as scheduled.

There has been rumor floating around that interviews are starting to come to an end. If classes are currently filled through June, that may be for one of two reasons: 1) slowdown in hiring/training during the summer months, typical for many airlines 2) if a merger announcement is forthcoming, a re-evaluation of the staffing plan might be coming.

Even if a merger is announced in the next few weeks, it's going to take a number of months to get through the government approval process, if that happens at all. So my gut feeling is your class will still go as scheduled. Just my opinion, fwiw.

 

Why don't you call NWA and ask? If you have a class date it seems like a legitimate question to learn if the class is going to happen.

It stinks that airlines hire right up until they begin furloughs. These Corporations really have no regard for the sacrifice that a pilot goes through when they give up their seniority and start over at the bottom.

Unless you believe that NWA is going to bring pilots up to Delta's pay and working conditions, why would you even consider going there? I'm not insulting anyone who is there, who had to make tough choices in bankruptcy - but - new hires, how could NWA be better than your Captain gig?

 

Bar,

You seem to be able to get a jab into NWA every chance you get, huh? Up to Delta's pay and working conditions?

Just remember that everyting in this industry is co-related. As I have pointed out to you before, Delta got their pay and working conditions because of United, who got it from NWA, who got it from Eastern, and so on and so on....

New hires at NWA right now are going to the right seat of the DC-9 or s/o in the 747-200 (which is a higher paying position than the 757). Apparently, they have no freeze because there are some who were recently hired that are in training for the 320. The 757 is not too far behind. If I am doing my math correctly the bottom 757 FO was one of our first new hires last fall.

So, new hires with all of these options can have layovers from Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo, to Guam, Hawaii, Maui, Amsterdam, and Germany, to yes, even Flint, Minot, or Traverse City. Oh, I heard the 320's have long layovers in the Caribbean now, but I haven't verified that.

Sounds like a better deal than a RJ Captain to me.

Like I said before, you just got to DAL. Be happy you are where you are. But, don't act like God premade you a Delta pilot and that anyone with a choice and a reasonable mind should be trying to get there over any other airline. That's not how we do it. If someone wants to fly for DAL, NWA, CAL, UA, UPS, or anyone else, that is great for them and I wish them luck. You should too.

So, once again I will try to extend the olive branch, I won't badmouth your airline if you don't badmouth mine. Probably a good idea because soon they may be the same.

New K Now

 

Well said New k, when you get hired a Major/Legacy you go. I didn't have a choice, I only had one offer on the table at a time. It gets harder to make the jump the longer you wait.

 

I agree with both of you. Well put! Congrats on the offer

 

You don't get it. Why would a regional guy leave $80 to $100K a year to make $30K with the probability of a furlough?

As it appears that I will be be stapled behind pilots operating a dying category that seats less than half the capacity of the jet I currently fly - it appears I really made an error when leaving the top 30% of a regional airline's seniority list. Certainly I'm not throwing rocks at NWA, I'm asking a legitimate question.

 

bb take the olive branch.

 

Delta and NWA did not build contracts as you write. They got renegotiated in the Bankruptcy Court. NWA had different priorities and the differences are significant. Just look at the charts on this board and draw your own conclusions. It is silly to argue whether the sky is blue - just look for yourself.

In a combined contract NWA's rates are going to be brought up to DAL's where the same aircraft are flown. The A319's and DC-9's are smaller than MD88's, so you would expect the pay to be less. Both groups should get something additional out of pulling the unlikely together peacefully.

Any rate, this is a thread hijack and I apologize. Congratulations who all who have been hired and welcome.

Lets get back to the topic of if NWA is actually going to interview and train more pilots.

 

Bar,

What were you doing when those K's (Contracts) were being negotiated? If I remember correctly, you weren't even there.

I don't think you are hijacking the thread, but I will post in a few moments some things that are important to get out for new hires that pertain to what you brought up......