So what's the big rush? (DALPA)

Yeah... that's a little bit troublesome. Not that getting a good deal quickly isn't a big benefit to the pilot group but it takes some really special circumstances for a Company to play ball that way.

Then again, we are currently approaching 3+ years of an old contract here, so what do I know.

They'll announce the Alaska merger/acquisition within 48 hours of completing negotiations for the pilot contract.

Like many say, it seems like they get what they need with the codeshare from Alaska.

If that codeshare somehow became jeopardized though, I'd think they'd almost have to try to buy them. Alaska is now codesharing with more than just AA; Emirates is now on the list. So DL has a codeshare with an airline that also has a codeshare with a major competitor. Who knows.

Other people theorize about Hawaiian. Personally I am not sure what that would do other than get a couple more slots into HND, albeit at inconvenient hours just like the two flights that are operating again as of two days ago.

A vendor with flow eligible pilots also appears to be gearing up for movement in a more obvious way than the last time DL hired.

717s? A319s? jetBlue?

Something seems to be in the works.

Yep, that's who I see as their dancing partner!

Expound, please...

The man has spoken. It shall be done.

I'm OK with a 20 year fence around anything bigger than a 737. They can have SEA.

Sounds like great news.

Judging from what I've heard through the grapevine, and a family friend who's in Delta's management team...Alaska will be Delta's "FWB", until someone else tries to swoop in. While it's good for Alaska Air Group and my current employer, I see it as more harmful to the airline that I've grown up wanting to fly for. I DO NOT want to see Alaska/Horizon grow if it comes to Delta shrinking...no way, no how, un-uh. DL can sell up to 40% of available seats on Alaska/Horizon codeshare flights...that's a pretty high number for me.

Lots of things happening right now that raise red flags for me:
- Alaska/Horizon moving to T6 in LAX, connected walk-way to T5 with DL.
- Delta growing SEA internationally (Shanghai is reportedly in the works, with the 76Er)...SEA is one of DL's "4 Corners" for International Gateways (SEA, LAX, NYC, ATL)
- Horizon in the State of Alaska (Delta CPA's the flying to Horizon that has the required equipment for those routes, drops the routes that require special crew certifications/quals and keeps routes like SEA-ANC/FAI/other "trunk" routes).
- Alaska adding routes that have international feed for DL into SEA.

Scope is the most important thing here ... then getting the pay rates somewhere near those SWA guys

I wonder what is going to happen with the freighter and combi. If they get rid of those it will leave a major hole in our freight market up here. I know NAC has another 732 sitting on their ramp waiting for the cargo conversion, Everts is getting DC-9s, and Lyndens Hercs are busy in PNG.

Everytime I read a DALPA letter regarding negotiations I wonder whose interests they are trying to facilitate...mine or the company's strategic vision. I was worried going into negotiations because every communication was aimed at managing pilot expectations and disguised as an "educate the pilot group" infomercial. Any further degradation of scope, both RJ scope and code share scope, is an automatic no vote for me. Furthermore, surely DALPA knows they are toast if this contract fails to meet the pilot group's expectation, right?

Why do I get the feeling we're going to get a modest pay bump and some scope changes that make me very uneasy with DALPA and the company saying in unison, "if you guys just trust us and sign it quickly, good things will happen."

Oh, and I think this has nothing to do with Alaska. There's something else going on.

Is it a pipe dream that the scope changes would bring in smaller aircraft??

Do you guys think that these expedited negotiations have anything to do with pinnacles bankruptcy and possibly they want to replace a lot of pinnacles 200s with larger regional jets? I can't think of any other reason why given the timeline.
Especially with deltas interest in the chapter 11 precedings and the fact that pinnacle has 140 200s. I could see delta trying to get pinnacles total fleet down to 50-75 200s and 50-75 900s. I guess its dalpas job to figure out if that may be a reason and if it is good or bad.

There could be dozens of reasons for Delta's willingness to engage in expedited bargaining. It could have to do with the PCL bankruptcy, it could be about another merger, it could be about buying our 717s, or it could just be as simple as Richard Anderson being smart enough to realize that if UAL/CAL gets their CBA done first, then he's probably going to end up paying more money. Those are just a few reasons that I can think of. No need to see black helicopters everywhere all the time. Better to just relax and wait to see what happens.

Probably better chances at seeing more 76 seat aircraft with an overall reduction in RJs.