Latest rumors outta MSP. Company does have a bid in for an RFP for 32 CRJ-700s. Who knows if Pinnacle actually wins the bid or not. Hiring by fall rumor is predicated on no new A/C coming aside from ones already guaranteed so IF 700s came to 9E hiring would start sooner. As for attracting people, union rumor is hope the bridge agreement attracts folks as a bonus would not be offered. Supposedly it was tried before at 9E and quickly shot down. That was before my time there so I do not know if that's true or not. Rumors aside...just watching the crap show for all regionals right now!

Is it part of the bridge agreement that new hires would get the interview with Delta? Or is it only for pilots on the seniority list at the time of ratification

And would they have to upgrade to CA first then wait for their seniority number to come up? IIRC, that was in the bridge agreement as well. You either had to be a CA or have been one at one time.

If that's the case, then you might have a better shot of getting on at Delta faster from outside the "preferential interview" agreement.

Enjoying your San Juan overnight Kellwolf!? Lucky b***ard! Another problem with the bridge agreement and 9E reared it's ugly head recently too. It seems DL recruiters will not even look at a 9Eer trying to get in outside the bridge agreement. Some 9E pilots introduced themselves to the recruiters at the WIA conference and were quickly given the cold shoulder trying to get in with DL off the street "you have a bridge agreement, why are you even bothering talking to us" is the quote going around from said conference. So the unofficial stance is then I guess, if you work for 9E your only hope for DL is the bridge agreement. I hoping someday blue will be my lucky color if that's the case. ;-)

As a wholly owned, why even bother with a RFP? Daddy Delta is running the show now and can make Pinnacle's bid whatever they want/need.

What's stopping delta from cutting we hires bonus checks directly. How would the union fight that?

Eh, Daddy D will threaten you all again and you guys will cave to more concessions... Voila, there's the bonus money...

As long as skywest doesn't get another plane I will take another paycut:D

(I kid for those who are unable to detect sarcasm)

Unfortunately this is true. Recruiter was pretty quick to tell me " you know you have an interview". I questioned him (arnie) about possibly jumping ahead and doing the full interview, his response was basically - your union will notify you of any possible progressions in the bridge agreement...what a joke...

And remember the 9E union fed BS that you didn't have to be a CA to qualify for the Delta preferential interview? And that FOs could do it outside of the Streamlined Selection Program (SSP)? Yeah right! Delta just gave a big resounding NO to that one.

Bottom line, no 9E FO will see a Delta interview until they upgrade at 9E, if and when that happens.