General Lee
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2002
- Posts
- 20,442
As someone junior out west, The smallest gauge a/c we have is the 73 (LAX) and the M90(SLC), which is what most of us junior folks are on. We have no where else to bid down to. I'd be more than happy to fly a CRJ if they build a base out west. So unless they're building a comparable sized new fleet out in the west, i.e. SLC A320, SEA 7ER... that equates to the net loss to our current SLC/LAX fleets, we'll be flushed out to ATL MD88, or even JFK MD88. And once SOC completes (which we know it's sooner rather than later), and all of our west coast bases open up, most of the FDL will lose some base seniority, and in the case of us junior folks, we'll find to like ATL/DTW/MSP for a while.
I chose DL over NWA because of the west coast presence, and I knew I was lucky enough to get a seat in the west coast so early in my career. From one of the CP, displacement is coming in Jan, so if I'm getting bumped from the "cascading" effect, i.e. 7ER->767->737->m90, so be it. I know we're in a very envious position among our peers, and I'm grateful to still have a job at the end of this year.
I don't see a lot of DL guys bumping you out of LAX, vs FNWA guys wanting to bid into LAX. If there is no bump and flush from FNWA guys, then I think you will be okay. I see SEA opening up with an 76ER base, and some DL pilots from both LA and SLC bidding that. Any pilots in SLC will likely bid down to smaller planes to stay there, or bid SEA. LAX could be expensive for other DL pilots, especially for reserve with 3 airports, so many will avoid it if they don't live there already. Again, if NWA guys can't bump and flush, and you are on the smallest plane there, then I think you would be okay, as long as DL pilots above you don't bump you out.
I see A320s and A330s moving to SLC eventually, and some MD90s going to MSP, but none of those are on the fence list, and SLC has a lot of senior DL pilots there too. We'll see....
Bye Bye--General Lee