Delta Questions

[FBN0223]

Assuming that we reach that hypothetical day when all issues including seniority integration are resolved and we are one big happy Delta family, I would like to ask a couple questions about the Delta operation. So putting the cart waaaay before the horse...here goes

1) Do you do computer bidding using a program to build a line with your own set parameters or do bid hard lines of flying?

2) Which base is typical most senior for international flying? Which is most junior? How about domestic?

3) What equipment types are based in SLC?

4) Any commuter policies? Ex: Do you get a positive space seat on a back up flight to base?

I certainly appreciate any feedback from the Delta pilots.

Thanks

FBN

 

[800Dog]

Assuming that we reach that hypothetical day when all issues including seniority integration are resolved and we are one big happy Delta family, I would like to ask a couple questions about the Delta operation. So putting the cart waaaay before the horse...here goes

1) Do you do computer bidding using a program to build a line with your own set parameters or do bid hard lines of flying?

2) Which base is typical most senior for international flying? Which is most junior? How about domestic?

3) What equipment types are based in SLC?

4) Any commuter policies? Ex: Do you get a positive space seat on a back up flight to base?

I certainly appreciate any feedback from the Delta pilots.

Thanks

FBN

1st beer is on me.

1. PBS bidding.

2. International Sr. would probably be ATL. JFK Jr. Junior domestic NYC and Sr. SLC but, domestic seems to be fairly even throughout the system. NY probably the most jr.

3. SLC 757/767, m88/90 and 737

4. Commuters have a call in honest policy. I believe you have to try 2 flights to get to work and if u do not make it, u can call in honest.

5. 1st round is on me if we ever fly togehter. Lets get this SLI worked out and focus on the bigger picture!

 

[FBN0223]

1st beer is on me.

1. PBS bidding.

2. International Sr. would probably be ATL. JFK Jr. Junior domestic NYC and Sr. SLC but, domestic seems to be fairly even throughout the system. NY probably the most jr.

3. SLC 757/767, m88/90 and 737

4. Commuters have a call in honest policy. I believe you have to try 2 flights to get to work and if u do not make it, u can call in honest.

5. 1st round is on me if we ever fly togehter. Lets get this SLI worked out and focus on the bigger picture!

Thanks Dog. I'll get the second and third. cheers

 

[iaflyer]

I wanted to add that reserve lines are the traditional, pre-made lines of work days and off days. However, the PBS folks say that they are working on making bidding for reserve be part of PBS. Right now, they are done in separate computer interfaces (but both can be done online).

 

[gutshotdraw]

Assuming that we reach that hypothetical day when all issues including seniority integration are resolved and we are one big happy Delta family,

FBN

I don't know if there will still be airplanes on that day in 2026......

Don't hold your breath.

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

Man, we've GOT to get that jumpseat thing fixed. NWA guys can do it with VRS or on-line 10.5 days in advance, and once you have it, you can only be bumped for VERY specific reasons (FAA, checkairman actually PERFORMING linechecks, weight restrictions).

2-3 days isn't going to cut it for most NWA commuters.

Nu

 

[JohnQ]

Heyas,

Man, we've GOT to get that jumpseat thing fixed. NWA guys can do it with VRS or on-line 10.5 days in advance, and once you have it, you can only be bumped for VERY specific reasons (FAA, checkairman actually PERFORMING linechecks, weight restrictions).

2-3 days isn't going to cut it for most NWA commuters.

Nu

We need to "cut and paste" the best elements of both airline's operations. Our PBS system (NavTech) is the only decent one out there, so I am pretty sure we are going to keep it (I think you will like it). But I like the NWA jumpseat feature a lot better, as well as your automatic 1 1/2 times pay for all flying > 80 hrs.

If and hopefully when we are finally one powerhouse airline and pilot group, make sure you keep a bug in your LEC reps ear to ensure that we keep the best of both sides.

 

[FBN0223]

Another couple of questions: For you Delta guys on the B757/767, do you bounce back and forth between the two aircraft on trips or will you bid for example a B767 international trip and the next trip might be B757 domestic? I also live out west and wouldn't mind being SLC based someday. Any international out of SLC?

Most all of the FO's at NWA on the B757 at have unrestricted type ratings and it will be kind of cool to finally fly one of the aircraft that came with the common rating. I am not an Airbus fan and the A330 was the next step up in my case. So nice that you guys have the 767.

Thanks again in advance for any input.

 

[General Lee]

Another couple of questions: For you Delta guys on the B757/767, do you bounce back and forth between the two aircraft on trips or will you bid for example a B767 international trip and the next trip might be B757 domestic? I also live out west and wouldn't mind being SLC based someday. Any international out of SLC?

Most all of the FO's at NWA on the B757 at have unrestricted type ratings and it will be kind of cool to finally fly one of the aircraft that came with the common rating. I am not an Airbus fan and the A330 was the next step up in my case. So nice that you guys have the 767.

Thanks again in advance for any input.

We have seperate categories. LAX 767ER does most of the Hawaii stuff from LAX and SLC. LAX 757/767 domestic does flights out of LAX, SNA, and ONT mainly Eastbound. On any trip, you may fly a few legs on the 767-300, with the rest 757, or some trips only 757. JFK 767ER does mainly Europe, Africa, and some South America, almost exclusively on the 767-300ER. ATL ER does the same and has a mix of 767 and 757 flying, but also some domestic in the Winter because there are so many pilots and the frequency of flights decreases a bit in the Winter.

Our Domestic flying on the 757/767 does mainly transcons, with a few Carribbean Island layovers or a Cancun thrown in there. If you are SLC based, you will be doing some ANC, and mainly FLA with some early East Coast departures back to SLC for that last leg home.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

The 7ER guys do the int'l flying. The 767 guys do the domestic stuff. (That is the designation for the categories). The 767 guys could get either on a trip (pay is the same). The 7ER guys until recently would only get 767-ERs. They would do the overseas portions and the 767 guys would have done the domestic flying of that same ER brought to JFK or ATL. Since we received the first batch of the 15 757-ERs, the same rules apply, however, a 7ER Int'l guy can get a 757-ER on the Int'l portions; JFK-DUB, FRA, EDI, and a few others.

 

[FBN0223]

Thanks guys!! Now I just wonder who's going to get all of the B757 Asia flying. Time will tell.

 

[General Lee]

Thanks guys!! Now I just wonder who's going to get all of the B757 Asia flying. Time will tell.

Probably the base that was trained for it. DTW? We used to have certain bases trained for specific flying---like CVG used to do all of the 757/767 Latin America flying (Bogota, San Jose CR, etc) which has been changed since. Now all of the 767ER pilots are trained to fly that stuff. But, I would think your current base who flies it would continue to do so....? Our ATL 767ER guys do fly to HKG via ANC for MX flights, so we have the ability I guess.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[andyd]

WOW, this is really refreshing! An entire thread with honest questions and answers and no smart @ss comments, flames or screw you mentality. Let's keep it up.

Now for my question, General or ACL....included in the TA that's being proposed has some travel times and payrates for ground travel between some city pairs, eg: LAX-SNA, equals 1:30min and $18.75. What does that mean? If I'm based in LAX and finish a rotation in SNA and they van me back to my domicile...Do I get 1.5hrs credit and $18.75 towards the cab ride? Or is the cab/van ride taken care of and they're giving us an extra $18.75 for the hassel?

Thanks....

 

[andyd]

WOW, this is really refreshing! An entire thread with honest questions and answers and no smart @ss comments, flames or screw you mentality. Let's keep it up.

Now for my question, General or ACL....included in the TA that's being proposed has some travel times and payrates for ground travel between some city pairs, eg: LAX-SNA, equals 1:30min and $18.75. What does that mean? If I'm based in LAX and finish a rotation in SNA and they van me back to my domicile...Do I get 1.5hrs credit and $18.75 towards the cab ride? Or is the cab/van ride taken care of and they're giving us an extra $18.75 for the hassel?

Thanks....

 

[FBN0223]

Probably the base that was trained for it. DTW? We used to have certain bases trained for specific flying---like CVG used to do all of the 757/767 Latin America flying (Bogota, San Jose CR, etc) which has been changed since. Now all of the 767ER pilots are trained to fly that stuff. But, I would think your current base who flies it would continue to do so....? Our ATL 767ER guys do fly to HKG via ANC for MX flights, so we have the ability I guess.


Bye Bye--General Lee

Everyone that comes out of training on the B757 at NWA is qualified on all NWA B757 routes and also NWA has a couple of good guides, Asia Familiarization Guide and North Atlantic Guide, which walks newbies to AMS and NRT through pretty well. Kind of nice to fly Europe one week and then Asia next. South America is different animal though. I have flown into Quito a few times with another company and found that to be interesting, to say the least. What's the airport elev. down there, around 10k?

 

[michael707767]

Now for my question, General or ACL....included in the TA that's being proposed has some travel times and payrates for ground travel between some city pairs, eg: LAX-SNA, equals 1:30min and $18.75. What does that mean? If I'm based in LAX and finish a rotation in SNA and they van me back to my domicile...Do I get 1.5hrs credit and $18.75 towards the cab ride?

LAX, SNA and ONT are considered co terminals. If you are LAX based you may start and finish a trip out of SNA or ONT. I think the trips are built to start and finish at the same airport, but I suppose it could happen that it doesn't.

That said, there used to be some rotations at other bases where you flew into LAX, but the next day flew out of SNA (for example). So, you got paid for the time it took to van you from one place to the other. The company provides the van of course, but you get paid for your time.....kind of a ground deadhead if you will.

 

[General Lee]

Everyone that comes out of training on the B757 at NWA is qualified on all NWA B757 routes and also NWA has a couple of good guides, Asia Familiarization Guide and North Atlantic Guide, which walks newbies to AMS and NRT through pretty well. Kind of nice to fly Europe one week and then Asia next. South America is different animal though. I have flown into Quito a few times with another company and found that to be interesting, to say the least. What's the airport elev. down there, around 10k?

Yes, it is close to 10K at Quito. That flight, continuing onto Guayquil, will probably go to the 737-700 when they come online in AUG. Our 767ER pilots often do Rio or Buenos Aires one week, then Europe or even Lagos the next (that Lagos trip is getting senior---24 hours in 3 days).


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[dtfl]

Heyas,

Man, we've GOT to get that jumpseat thing fixed. NWA guys can do it with VRS or on-line 10.5 days in advance, and once you have it, you can only be bumped for VERY specific reasons (FAA, checkairman actually PERFORMING linechecks, weight restrictions).

2-3 days isn't going to cut it for most NWA commuters.

Nu

DAL pilots get to work every day with a 2-3 day window to schedule the JS.

Having the JS 2-3-10 days out only tells you you have it sooner vs later. You will still be fighting the phone lines at 10 days and 1 min or 3 days and 1 min regardless. If you don't get it you try to non-rev or get another JS.
I wouldnt mind knowing a few more days out that I was good to go on a JS, but in my experience, there is a LOT that can happen in 10 days..and Id most likely be bumped or the flight CNX.

 

[EdTeachLives!]

OK..while everyone is civil, how does NWA's reserve system work? DAL's could use improvement when it comes to shortcalls and their length...particularly INTL shortcall.

Ed

 

[p3flteng]

I can tell you how domestic short call is, I am not sure if their are different rules for International or not.

Long call is 12 hours phone call to checkin, and short call is 2 hours. Although I have never actually been given the minimum time for a call out. The computer calls you when it is assigned, which takes that decision away from scheduling. I have had as much as 18 hours notice for a long call and as much as 12 for a short.

 

[slapstick]

To be clear, the DL commuter policy favors those going to work - you can reserve it 3 1/2 days in advance. Coming home - 2 1/2 days in advance. For pleasure travel - 1 1/2 days in advance.

 

[FBN0223]

Is priority given to Delta pilots, who are jump seating on it's affiliates like Skywest, over other airlines. Can you book jump seats on any affiliates?

And thanks again, Delta guys, for all the info. cheers

 

[General Lee]

Is priority given to Delta pilots, who are jump seating on it's affiliates like Skywest, over other airlines. Can you book jump seats on any affiliates?

And thanks again, Delta guys, for all the info. cheers

You cannot book a jumpseat on any DCI carrier. But, you supposedly have priority, except for their own pilots. IOWs, if you and a USAir showed up, then you would get priority, although it is up to the Captain of course.

Remember, we also can now sit on the flight attendant jumpseats, as long as a stew doesn't want it. And, if you get a jumpseat on the phone with one back up and your flight gets cancelled etc, you are covered. You just can't get a jump with no back up behind it, and still be covered due to a wx or mx problem.....

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[p3flteng]

Same at NWA, we can sit in the FA jumpseat, but we can't list for it. The FA's have Pri on thier jumpseat, but usually its empty. I have often sat in the FA jump so another airline guy could sit in the cockpit( only NWA pilots are allowed access to the FA jump behind our FA's , no other pilots.) I assume this will carry over.

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

That said, there used to be some rotations at other bases where you flew into LAX, but the next day flew out of SNA (for example). So, you got paid for the time it took to van you from one place to the other. The company provides the van of course, but you get paid for your time.....kind of a ground deadhead if you will.[/quote]

Here in NY we have some rotations that start at LGA and go to FL and come back up to JFK, and have a JFK layover. The next day you fly back south and then return to LGA to complete the rotation. Even in "co-terminal" bases, if they do not bring you back to the airport you began at, it is still a layover. Of course if they wanted to they can van you from JFK back to LGA to finish the first day but they don't. I am not sure what the pay is to surface deadhead

 

[~~~^~~~]

From what I'm hearing, there may be a lot more commuters in the future, amongst the Delta pilots. It is hoped with load factors as high as they are and load optimization programs setting artifical weight constraints on flights that POSITIVE SPACE PASSES for commuting are negotiated. They may be needed.

 

[skystud25]

Can any Delta guys shed some light on how parking works in La in the above examples. IE, called out on a short call to ONT, SNA, or LAX, where do you park and how is it paid for?

 

[Jiminmem]

Wow, a first on FI, an entire topic that is civil and more importantly useful and full of good info.

As for the jumpseat at NWA, no Pinnacle, Mesaba, and Compass are first at their carriers, then we are next on the list. The flight deck jumpseat on any mainline NWA aircraft can be listed for by computer or phone 10 days out and after that you have it. The only reasons that you wouldn't have been listed before.

Reserve bidding at NWAis just bidding for days off you want. The rseulst come out a day before block lines are, I believe. You can then prefrence long/short call. I live in base so when I was on reserve I just left it at short, get used less often from what I hear and obsereved.

As for call outs, they were all over the place. Only once did I get the infamous, how fast can you make it. Other then that it was anywhere from almost 24 hours prior down to 5 hours prior.

Good luck to all and hopefully we can merger then best with each company.

 

[Noserider76]

Can any Delta guys shed some light on how parking works in La in the above examples. IE, called out on a short call to ONT, SNA, or LAX, where do you park and how is it paid for?

If you're LA based you have a parking pass at LAX. Bus ride lot to termimal is about 10 min. We have a contract with hotels in SNA and ONT to use their lot and van service to airport.

 

[skystud25]

If you're LA based you have a parking pass at LAX. Bus ride lot to termimal is about 10 min. We have a contract with hotels in SNA and ONT to use their lot and van service to airport.

Thanks Noserider for the info.