It was 15 prior to scheduled departure but they had moved the departure up 5 mins so in the red coats mind it was 10 prior to departure and the flight was closed. Last passengers were still boarding. I was traveling for personal reasons so that’s why I didn’t try and contact the crew. If I was in uniform and needed to get to the destination I would have no problem using that card.

Not sure if you are a Capt or not but the Capt absolutely has the authority to get the gate agent to open up a closed flight. They may complain or put the late on the crew but so be it. Nothing moves till the parking brake is released. I’ve done it before for late connecting pax when the door is closed right at 10 mins early and you can see them frantically running up to the gate. Ive found most gate agents are happy to do it as long as they don’t get blamed for not meeting one of their metrics.

From the latest MEC email:

Year to date, Delta has hired 674 pilots. There are now 13,075 pilots on the seniority list

Nice to be back over 13k, keep on truckin'

If you asked, would Delta allow you to start Indoc earlier if you asked (assuming openings)?

I'm not sure what their process is for scheduling people to classes with people having different availability dates, etc. What happens if someone has to delay their class? I wonder who Delta asks first to move up.

I heard that if you ask them any of these questions they’ll come to your house, slap your spouse on the ***, scream in your baby’s face, beat your dog, and pour all of your alcohol on the ground in front of you.

Seriously though, they’re not going to revoke your CJO for asking to fill early available slots if they open up. Ask Delta Pilot Recruiting on FB, I hear they’re pretty responsive. I presume the key approach would be politeness and tact, not assumption and entitlement.

I'm sure there are lots of folks that want to start earlier.

Some folks have a hard no earlier than date of availability....mostly military guys/gals with a firm separation date.

Others have the available ASAP....if DL needs to fill an earlier class, they will go down the list of those people....people with earlier CJO will get called first....one would call it seniority based.

When bidding in a training month, I always ask for the two days prior to training “off,” just in case I need them. I have PTP (Pre-Training Period) on my schedule.

Question: Can I pick up a trip on a PTP day or is it like an ADP day where you CAN’T fly?

I can’t find an answer in the PWA.

99.9% sure those are hard OFF days-no flying.

I started a few weeks early.
called and told them I was available on short notice if anyone no-showed.

Hard off day is defined in PWA 2.A.132 however the PTP days aren't specifically mentioned there.

PWA Chapter 11 (Training) section F.2.c states the two days prior to training are "free of duty".

Going to say can't fly