VX A320 flying formation with Virgin Galactic White Knight 2 (including formation landing at SFO. Pretty cool....
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Per the JV protocols that all the companies and the unions signed, an equivalent number of available "seat miles"(or seat kilometers for the European types) will have to be transferred to DAL metal for us to fly across the Atlantic.

It is not just limited to the "new hires." Unless you overflew 80 hrs a month a lot or actively worked towards paying off your bank, many had a -15 bank when we changed over. The info about Delta grabbing the "over 80" for bank payback is correct.

Thanks for the insight. I guess my question is how it got there in the first place? The extra pay in training was mentioned, but I went through my old NW statements and they were still adding to it a year after I was hired until it hit the -15 limit. I can tell you with certainty that I never manipulated that bank on my own and that I never went cumulatively 15 hrs over min guarantee during that time. Man, I wish I had noticed it back then so I could ask the people that were actually well versed on the manner before the merger and so I wouldn't be paying it back at my higher payrate. There's a few hundred dollars the company gets out of me for free.

As you know the metric is ESK's or Equal seat Kilometers. It is very complex and does not just deal with passengers but cargo capability as well.

Not directed at you, but in general: It is a North Atlantic JV, not a Europe to the Eastern United States, so yes, this change effects it. I beleive it is being flown on the 777-300 right now. (At least that is what I saw last month sitting at the gate)

As I said, we don't offer anything competitive with LH's 380. If someone was going to Europe from SFO, and was given the choice of a single connection in FRA on a A380, and a double connection via SLC and CDG on a ER... I'm pretty sure LH would win.

Since I don't think we were anywhere close to launching a direct to AMS or CDG from SFO with lie-flats, and amenities equivalent to the 380, then this is a move that's exploring JV revenue on a city pair we're not toying with all that much.

I didn't say this is anything to do backflips over, but it is an example of the JV working as intended.

If we're distributing flying on the basis of ASM's, then I would imagine one A380 SFO-CDG needs at least two 7ER's from the East Coast to offset. And if this dings the SLC-CDG flight, which I don't really see (there are plenty of better options from SFO on Star), then we need further offset.

I can certainly review my analysis if warranted. At a glance, I'm not worried about this one. I'm more concerned we'll not see AMM or CAI back from JFK, for example.

Mostly sports reporting IS inane... but then again.. he's a GOLFER, not a rocket surgeon.

You are pretty arrogant in the way that you like to throw around numbers. Ponder this: How many members would ALPA have if we were not FORCED to join? SO before you get all comfortable in your assertion that everybody who is not a DPA "member" is automatically an alpa supporter... step back and take a look at it from a different perspective.

I don't remember exactly why, but I ended up with the same negative bank after I got hired as well. I'm pretty sure everybody did. I only remember it because they took it out of my last paycheck when I got furloughed in 03. They also took what I still owed for my new hire uniforms. Needless to say, that last paycheck was a little smaller than I expected.

As for paying it back, yes delta takes the first five credit hours over 80 for negative bank, but it is only the first five credit hours, not all hours. So, if you are over 80 only due to a green slip or other pay/no credit time, they won't put anything into your bank unless you ask them to.

Tsquare wins the debrief.