Has Delta Called You Yet?

[blueridge71]

Do reserves have hard days off or floaters?

What is the minimum days off?

Thanks, General.

 

[canyonblue]

We have a 3 day trip to Tokyo from ATL that is worth 28 hours.
Bye Bye--General Lee

And what percentage of pilots at Delta get those? We have some 3 days at SWA that are worth 21 hours, that a larger percentage of our pilot group can fly.

We have a 6 day trip worth 42 hours that goes to Moscow twice(with an ATL layover in between). We have multiple 6 day trips from JFK to Frankfurt, then to CVG, then back to FRA, and back to JFK for more than 30 hours.(same for some Rome trips, and Amsterdam, etc....)

6 days, NO WAY! I see my kids off to school on a Monday and usually see them to bed on Wednesday.

We also go to Rio, Buenos Aires, and Santiago from ATL, with 30 hour layovers. It is Summertime down there, and nice to sight see. We have variety. We also have PLENTY of day trips or turns to the Caribbean and Latin America--so we could be home with our families EVERY NIGHT (I do St. Thomas a lot).

I'll do a FLL or a TPA or even a SAN, and I still enjoy some sun. 30 hrs in a hotel, I couldn't take it. I'd rather spend that time with the family. We also have day trips, but those only work if you live in base, otherwise why spend the night in a crashpad?

You have the 123 rule, and more job security. Great. If I have to be away for 3 or 4 days, why not do it in a city I want to see? You continue having fun on your very productive 4 days.....Good for you.

I really could care less about the 123, I don't drink that often to care. I have seen enough of cities in my life including Europe and Asia. At this point in my life I just want to spend the least amount of time away from my family, and the productive 3 days at SWA are by far the best fit for me.

Were you one of those fat bulleys back in elementary school? Did you lose your marbles?

Yes, I lost my marbles when I didn't apply to Southwest earlier.

Not trying to jump your crap, but why do you always rip on guys who layover in the USA? I like it here just fine.

 

[General Lee]

And what percentage of pilots at Delta get those? We have some 3 days at SWA that are worth 21 hours, that a larger percentage of our pilot group can fly.



6 days, NO WAY! I see my kids off to school on a Monday and usually see them to bed on Wednesday.



I'll do a FLL or a TPA or even a SAN, and I still enjoy some sun. 30 hrs in a hotel, I couldn't take it. I'd rather spend that time with the family. We also have day trips, but those only work if you live in base, otherwise why spend the night in a crashpad?



I really could care less about the 123, I don't drink that often to care. I have seen enough of cities in my life including Europe and Asia. At this point in my life I just want to spend the least amount of time away from my family, and the productive 3 days at SWA are by far the best fit for me.



Yes, I lost my marbles when I didn't apply to Southwest earlier.

Not trying to jump your crap, but why do you always rip on guys who layover in the USA? I like it here just fine.

We have a lot of INTL pilots. We have over 3000 757/767 pilots total, and half are INTL, and they get to manipulate their schedules because 30/7 doesn't apply. Long day turns are fairly senior, but there are plenty. Most are to the Carribbean or Latin America (San Juan, St Thomas, Liberia, Guatemala City, San Salvador, Managua) with some domestic too--Phoenix, Jackson Hole, Vail, Steamboat, etc).

As far as 6 day trips, you usually get 6 or more off after that, or you could line up two 6 day trips and then get 18 off. It is up to you and your seniority. Variety is a good thing. It is great you can't leave your kids for 6 days, that is wonderful.

30 hours in a hotel is not really in the hotel. If you are in the right city, you might sleep a bit when you get there, and then go out, and actually have fun with some of the crew. RIO also has a great nightlife, which could get you in trouble with your wife. The women there are absolutely gorgious, and they target Americans. It is tough to get one of those trips for some reason .

As far as domestic layovers, I think some could be great. I was just pointing out that if you have to be gone for 3 or 4 days, wouldn't you want to go somewhere that you actually want to go? SAN is nice, and so is SFO. I enjoyed those immensely. But, the INTL ones are also interesting and can be exotic. We just started a 767ER run that goes ATL--Dakar, Senegal (24 hours), then onto Johannesburg (24 hours), back to Dakar (another 24 hours), and back to ATL. Yes, it required a yellow fever shot, (all our INTL pilots got one in the crew lounge for free) but that adds to the adventure. The hotels at those destinations have cheap ($50) day tours that are supposedly very interesting. And the next week you could go to Buenos Aires or Munich. Variety can be good.

And, I am not trying to rip on you too much. Enjoy your trips and I will enjoy mine. Take care.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Do reserves have hard days off or floaters?

What is the minimum days off?

Thanks, General.

Hard days off if you don't answer your phone on those days. I guess they could tag you at the end of a trip if they really needed you. The minimum days off are 11 on odd months, 12 on even. Some categories have only 8-10 reserves, so a line is not too far off depending on the base. Atleast 1 year is expected if you stay on one aircraft.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[NAAPilot]

Hey General,
How's Accra working out for you guys? Not a bad trip either. Does that flight continue on to Mumbai?

 

[landlover]

you guys ain't seen nothing!!! i get to do 12 day trips to exotic locations such as ottumwa iowa, laredo texas, pontiac MI, sandusky ohio, jackson mississippi, waterloo iowa, statesville NC, everyones favorite, willow run in ypsilanti MI. cant forget gwinner ND (where jet a isn't sold). 5000x75 in a falcon-20 at night. ohh the stuff that dreams are made of i tell you! a few other gems, rocester ny, jamestown ny, grand island nebraska. even better yet i get to push freight to the back of the dassault fanjet! you guys need some work rules like i have.

 

[michael707767]

Do reserves have hard days off or floaters?

What is the minimum days off?

min days off are 12 in a 30 day bid period and 13 in a 31 day bid period. The reserves lines are published with one day less than the min, and then scheduling gets to decide where to put your last day off.

All in all, I don't think reserve is that bad. I sit right on the edge....I get a line about half the time, get reserve the other half. Frankly, when I look back at my schedule I end up with better months when I am on reserve.

 

[PHXFLYR]

.............................

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

I am sure wakeing up in Venice, Italy with a 50% pay cut is alot of fun. go for it. It's all yours.

Complain all u want; I' take my $105/ hour to wake up in Venice (or Nice, Madrid, Barcelona, the UK Paris, etc, etc).

 

[Spooky 2]

We have a lot of INTL pilots. We have over 3000 757/767 pilots total, and half are INTL, and they get to manipulate their schedules because 30/7 doesn't apply. Long day turns are fairly senior, but there are plenty. Most are to the Carribbean or Latin America (San Juan, St Thomas, Liberia, Guatemala City, San Salvador, Managua) with some domestic too--Phoenix, Jackson Hole, Vail, Steamboat, etc).

As far as 6 day trips, you usually get 6 or more off after that, or you could line up two 6 day trips and then get 18 off. It is up to you and your seniority. Variety is a good thing. It is great you can't leave your kids for 6 days, that is wonderful.

30 hours in a hotel is not really in the hotel. If you are in the right city, you might sleep a bit when you get there, and then go out, and actually have fun with some of the crew. RIO also has a great nightlife, which could get you in trouble with your wife. The women there are absolutely gorgious, and they target Americans. It is tough to get one of those trips for some reason .

As far as domestic layovers, I think some could be great. I was just pointing out that if you have to be gone for 3 or 4 days, wouldn't you want to go somewhere that you actually want to go? SAN is nice, and so is SFO. I enjoyed those immensely. But, the INTL ones are also interesting and can be exotic. We just started a 767ER run that goes ATL--Dakar, Senegal (24 hours), then onto Johannesburg (24 hours), back to Dakar (another 24 hours), and back to ATL. Yes, it required a yellow fever shot, (all our INTL pilots got one in the crew lounge for free) but that adds to the adventure. The hotels at those destinations have cheap ($50) day tours that are supposedly very interesting. And the next week you could go to Buenos Aires or Munich. Variety can be good.

And, I am not trying to rip on you too much. Enjoy your trips and I will enjoy mine. Take care.


Bye Bye--General Lee

General, are you flying international these days, or for that matter have you ever flown international

 

[General Lee]

Hey General,
How's Accra working out for you guys? Not a bad trip either. Does that flight continue on to Mumbai?

That is a NYC INTL trip(Accra), and I am ATL based. I haven't heard much about that. The Mumbai flight is a 777 trip originating in ATL (ATL-JFK-24hour layover)--BOM (48 hours)--JFK (24 hour optional stay or jumpseat home) worth 42 hours. The leg from BOM to JFK approaches 17 hours in length---but there are 2 Captains and 2 FOs, and a crew rest facility above first class on the 777 with lie flat bunks. Not bad I hear. The hotel in Mumbai is very nice.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

General, are you flying international these days, or for that matter have you ever flown international

Maybe , and it could be on the 765 too..... I can't say. I didn't fly much INTL at the commuters.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

min days off are 12 in a 30 day bid period and 13 in a 31 day bid period. The reserves lines are published with one day less than the min, and then scheduling gets to decide where to put your last day off.

All in all, I don't think reserve is that bad. I sit right on the edge....I get a line about half the time, get reserve the other half. Frankly, when I look back at my schedule I end up with better months when I am on reserve.

Ooops. I haven't been on reserve in awhile. Sorry.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Spooky 2]

Maybe , and it could be on the 765 too..... I can't say. I didn't fly much INTL at the commuters.


Bye Bye--General Lee

That's what I thought. Flying international in todays airlines world is very over rated IMO. I don't think I would subscribe to a SWA schedule, but 12 hour legs with significant time zone changes can be hard on the body, even if you are young and in great shape. I would prefer a steady diet of west coast HNL to east coast central Europe given a choice. Of course that's what makes the world go around...so to speak.

Writing this from YSSY and on a 12 day trip isn't to bad, but still not the perfect solution to growing old.

Happy New Year!

 

[GogglesPisano]

Dometic vs Int'l.

Domestic is a lot easier on the body and from a workload perspective.

Personally I'd take a cappucino and a Belgian waffe (from a street vendor in Brussels) than the leftovers from Sam's Club at the local Holiday Inn for breakfast. Bratwurst and flalafel for dinner (as opposed to the TGIF down the street from the Holiday Inn.)

Plus, there's free porn in European hotels.

 

[Pat Fabin]

Our 737-800 schedules are pretty nice...nice mix of domestic and pseudo-international (Latin America/Caribbean). Most of our trips are just 1-3 legs per day and are VERY productive... 18-21hr 3 days, 21-24hr 4-days. We also stay in the bigger cities for the most part with 14-24hr layovers being common.

Once the -700s come on line I guess we'll have more MD88-looking trips with more legs and maybe smaller cities, but right now its very comfortable flying.

 

[michael707767]

Once the -700s come on line I guess we'll have more MD88-looking trips with more legs and maybe smaller cities, but right now its very comfortable flying.

actually, I think the initial batch of -700s is going to be longer haul stuff to Latin America. But, I hear the order for 10 700s is just the start, so will probably end up doing some short haul stuff too.

 

[Pat Fabin]

Michael,

It should definitely be interesting, whatever they do with the -700s. I am hopefully going to move to the ER late this year or next year, so someone else will have to keep us posted on NG life!

 

[michael707767]

I am hopefully going to move to the ER late this year or next year, so someone else will have to keep us posted on NG life!

I hope you get it soon. I hear the next AE is in Feb and should be a pretty good sized bid. Will start to account for the 757s that are coming. I just want to move up in my category.

 

[FlyingSig]

Michael,

It should definitely be interesting, whatever they do with the -700s. I am hopefully going to move to the ER late this year or next year, so someone else will have to keep us posted on NG life!

I hear the ER is awlful... you should stay in your category.

 

[Pat Fabin]

Sig,

I sense a bit of personal agenda in your post! I always tell people in the jumpseat that flying in NYC is very difficult, even for those of us living there... you wouldn't like it at all.

I'm sure you'll be a lineholder by the time I move over...you won't feel a thing.

Happy New Year!

 

[michael707767]

PF, are you on the 800 in NYC? Remember the rumor a while back about the 738s moving from NYC to CVG? Keep that in mind............

 

[Pat Fabin]

Mike,

It was more than a rumor...nearly a year ago we got the letter from the CPO saying that we were losing the -800 time to CVG, then mgmt changed their minds the day before a bid came out and the status quo prevailed. The end result was we did a lot more flying than we did the year prior and they've announced countless new -800 routes.

My current take, for a number of reasons, is that mainline CVG wont see additional flying except for when we get more 700s and possibly a smaller aircraft that replaces what the 737-200s have been doing for a long time. Management seems pretty happy with the new ratio of connecting vs. O&D traffic there and I'd say its unlikely they'll try anything different for a long time.

My approach to bidding is to go with what you know, not what you think MIGHT happen. So I'll enjoy my plane for now until I'm kicked off or I leave on my own...and I'd be too junior on the ER to make it worth my while at this point after spending most of my DAL career furloughed or on reserve.

Here's to 2007 treating everyone in this business better than 2006 did!

 

[michael707767]

My current take, for a number of reasons, is that mainline CVG wont see additional flying except for when we get more 700s and possibly a smaller aircraft that replaces what the 737-200s have been doing for a long time. !

What I have heard from a pretty good source, is that they are ready to move the 800 flying from NYC to CVG right now....but we are too short staffed. Evidently in the process of moving a whole category, there is a need for more pilots. You know, for a time there will be some 800 flying in both places and with people in training, and the need for reserves in both places, it generates a short term demand for a lot of extra pilots. Which we just don't have now.

I don't think this will mean additional flying in CVG anyway as I suspect the 88 flying will leave to be split between NYC and ATL

I certainly would not plan on it in bidding. But, if you are on the 800 in NYC and it starts looking like it will happen, or it is announced, don't go for the ER on an AE. Take the displacement. Then you have no training freeze.

On a side note, I have heard nothing lately about an aircraft smaller than the -700. I keep wondering if they will just order a bunch of 700s (I am sure we will get more, just don't know how many) or maybe go with the 190 or 195.
Mike

 

[acarpe3448]

For God's sake General Lee, did they used to beat you up at the bike rack in Elementary school? I could care less about waking up in Venice or Dothan. Bottom line I want to wake up at my own house as many times a month as I can. Dothan, Venice, who cares, it's still a hotel and away from your family. When you get a family you will know what everybody is talking about.

I average 16-18 days a month at home. I am flying around 80 hous a month and can easily get paid for over 100. The last twomonths my rotations are two legs a day. Along with Holiday inns, we still overnight at some prime hotels, in prime locations! I have not see any Comair pilots staying there! PBS is a great system, I can work three days, four days, whatever. Upgrades to the 767300ER are going super junior, Atlanta 757/767 domestic is going very junior. We have lots of new international destinations on the MD88. As far as the family, I have a family and I am looking for quality of life, career advancement potential, and more money than I would make at a regional. I have nothing against a career at a regional, I worked at one for a long time. Delta's financial position has improved beyond description. We have close to $5.0 billon in cash, our cost per ASM is much lower, and our revenue per ASM has increased big time. Renegotiated lease rates are dramatic. I always have a good time at work, even with the senior mamas in back. Let's be realistic, Delta has changed big time. We gave up a lot, but we kept some very important benefits also. But to compare a career at Delta mainline vs a regional is a no brainer. I respect all the regional guys, your work is every bit as important as ours at mainline! I also respect anyone's decesion to make a career at one of those regionals. A point to consider, for those who are considering Delta, you have obviously been trying for other mainline carriers also! What would be the harm in waiting for your UPS interview while you fly to Venice, or Mobile? In any case, good luck in your career choices! I grow tired of the negative posts, so I am trying to stay positive! Happy New Year to everyone!

 

[GogglesPisano]

Nice post acarpe. It apears it's not all doom and gloom at DL.

 

[Scrapdog]

Nice post acarpe. It apears it's not all doom and gloom at DL.

Goggles, I think your avatar says it best. It's all in how you look through your glasses, they can be very dark or rose colored. I know 3 guys with Delta...1 hates it, 1 is so-so with it, and 1 likes it. Same company, different individuals. Go figure.

 

[n25na]

Actually, when you start a trip to Venice, you go to bed in your own bed about 48 hours later. Try that with a 3 or 4 day domestic trip. Ain't gonna happen for the hours you put in to a VCE trip our of Atlanta. 4 48 hour periods--while technically 12 days--gives you about 80 hours of pay in what amounts to 8 days.

You guys are quick to slam life at Delta. It's real simple, don't apply. 5 airlines, and Delta is BY FAR STILL the best quality of life.

If it is such a crappy job, why would there be so many applications on file? Are that many people wrong and YOU are the only one right???

Is that why Delta pilots are NOT quitting in droves?

Just some rhetorical questions for your bemusement.

For the record, I welcome your NON-application. We have enough whiners here.

Puff

The edit: BTW, the food and wine are MUCH better in Venice than Dothan, as is the Italian scenery, as is the, uh, "exploratory" nature of the Italian woman who has all of her teeth

for what it's worth, from a regional scrub, i couldn't agree more.....any major on their worst day, has a better qol/pay then anything we deal with at the regional level. the challenge, of course, as it has always been, is picking the place where you can finish your career.happy new year. btw...... i would like to work at delta

 

[Pilottodd2]

Is here any rumors running around Delta that the MCO base will re-open? (It used to be 737-200 Delta Express) If so, when and what type of equipment/flying?
....waiting for the phone to ring....

 

[michael707767]

Is here any rumors running around Delta that the MCO base will re-open? (It used to be 737-200 Delta Express) .

nope. No rumors at all.