acl65pilot

That statement holds no water. Even the esteemed WN lots its a$$ on fuel hedging. Every talking head stated that it would be 200 by Labor Day. No one could have predicted that this financial mess would turn south as quick as it did.
I do not blame them for this loss. In fact 91 million is a pittance to that of UAUA.

DAL4EVER

So what would you say about the United think tank that lost over a billion on hedges? Or how about AMR? SWA? No one was immune to this. People were more concerned over airlines who weren't hedging than those who had. Imagine if fuel had gone to $200/barrel as predicted, any airline that didn't hedge because they thought oil might go down would have been annihilated. The experts were predicting oil was on its run and would stay there due to peak oil. We now know it was speculators obviously and not the market that was causing the runup.

If you were so smart about prognosticating the falloff in oil prices, I hope you shorted the heck out of it in July-Sept. In fact, you've done so well, I can envision you typing away on some island in the caribbean about how stupid DAL management was and how smart you were to have made your millions on the fall of oil.

NotsoFast

My wife and I vacationed in Santiago last week and were scheduled to come home on AA940 on 28 Jan, but it got cancelled. Having to get back to work, we searched around and found that delta 146 (28 Jan)was relatively empty around 70 empty seats and went from SCL - ATL. I bought my wife a last minute ticket for 1200USD and decided I would ask for a jumpseat. The captain looked over my credentials and said ok, I was very early. At the last minute I was denied boarding after my wife boarded. All the gate agent said was Captain weight restriction. I noticed AA had a flight to Miami and ran down to their gate. They got me on a totally full airplane and I got the last seat. (Thanks AA BUDS). I asked AA912 Captain to pass a word to Delta146 captain to tell my wife I was on a different plane to Miami - he did as I asked (thanks again AA) The Delta captain knew who I was because I personally told him my story when I asked for the jumpseat. When I arrived in Miami my cell phone had loads of messages from my wife asking where I was and what happened. Delta captain told her nothing.

At Fedex we are able to deviate and the company buys several business class tickets a month for us to position for flights. I generally split all my money between AA and NW. I am not buying anymore tickets on NW aka Delta. I am posting this because even if there was a valid reason to deny me one of the 60 or so empty seats confirmed by my wife, he could have at least informed my wife. I am also wondering what I will say to the 2 or so Delta guys that show up a year and ask for my jumpseat. I also felt it pertintent to post this under the Delta loss thread.

acl65pilot

We carry a ton of cargo. That is probably why you were bumped.

DAL4EVER

A few years ago my father tried to ship a small breathing machine to Victoria, British Columbia. He needed it following surgery to be used while he slept. It contained no oxygen so there was no hazmat or shipping issue. The box was lost by FedEx who told him repeatedly they had no idea what happened to it. Then they told him for an extra $100 they could deliver it to him on Saturday nearly four days after he had it overnighted. When asked why he should have to pay he was told be the manager that it was because it would now be a Saturday delivery. My Dad replied that it would have been a Wednesday delivery if they had never misplaced it. To make a long story short, they wouldn't budge. Because of health reasons my Dad needed it so he had to absorb the extra charge. It was FedEx's responsibility to get it to him since he had paid for the shipment. Bad experience. However, I realize that even the best of companies have occurrences. So I continue to ship overnight packages on Purple.

My point is that you didn't pay for any service yet you are annoyed you got bumped? Perhaps as ACL indicated you got bumped because of cargo.

FedElta

NSF,

I have a dog in this fight , so here goes......I haven't been at Delta long, but every Captain I have flown with has gone out of his way to welcome all cass jumpseaters......without exception.

I don't know about cargo loads out of Santiago, but it is conceivable to legally have to remove a non-rev, or JS due to loads......I even remember having to do it a couple of times back in my purple days.

I have no explanation concerning the lack of communication with your wife, but I am sorry and believe there was a breakdown somewhere, not an intentional neglect.

Have a chat with your JS chairman, and I'm sure he can discuss it with his Delta counterpart.......far better than burning bridges on either side. I'm sure your experience will be much better, if you give it another chance.

Regards,
BG

Carl Spackler

That is incorrect. Fuel hedges are not cash losses unless they are sold for a realized loss. Whether your hedge position is currently profitable or not, it has to be accounted for as a paper gain or loss...not a cash gain or loss.

Carl

Eric Stratton

so how muck did Delta actually lose on poor fuel hedging?

What did they pay per barrel vs what they could have?

FedElta

Can you move my answer to NotsoFast to the " Delta jumpseat " thread that is already open?
Thanks,
FD