What would you do (pinnacle)

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pilotlight

Well-Known Member
I currently have apps in at all the legacy carriers. I live in a delta base and my entire family does too. I have heard rumors that delta may interview all of the pinnacle pilots within 5 years, possibly 500 or more by the end of 2014 to be hired Into a pool for future classes. I would be in the first or beginning of the second year if that is true. I also have 2 young children at home. Would you stay at pinnacle for delta or get on with the first carrier that hires you and commute. My choice right now is to wait for the ssp at delta because I do believe that it will work and to be able to live in base for my kids would be great. If I don't get hired at delta, I'll apply elsewhere at that point. I think that quality of life is the most important thing and I see the most potential with that plan. I'm curious if anyone else would risk that plan .
 
Make a list of possible "other options". You, and the wife, discuss them and put votes in the hat to make a tally. Then draw up a pro/con list of each after the votes are counted. Make a PLAN and keep SSP as the mindset of the "backstop". Read the SSP language carefully. There is ambiguity to the plus (gotta take X many) and ambiguity to the middle (X amount can be out of seniority), and ambiguity towards the negative of (interview everyone twice and select NOBODY). It's all up to interpretation. O, and let's not talk about the 4-year degree.

In the end, you still must decide where you and the family want to go. Make a plan and forge on. Even to win the lotto, you have to buy a ticket. Have a :30 conversation, set the plan, and execute.If DL is the plan, forge that direction. If DL isn't the plan, adapt and evolve.

My wife and I had this discussion and it took about 30 minutes. We have a plan, the rest is "life". Easier to sleep at night with everything known and a common plan understood.

Just my $.02 coming from the same boat in terms of company (and honestly, mindset). That baby bug and "hopes" don't understand the airline industry.
 
1. What's your seniority number?

If number is < 2100 see #2, if > 2100 see #3.

2. LEAVE!!!! Go to 4.

3. Meh.

4. I move up one!!!!

All kidding aside it depends what your goals are. If QOL and living in base etc are the most important then it sounds like holding out for the Delta SSP is the best idea. You just have to be ready to accept that you could end up being one of the 20 year guys at Pinnacle if things with the SSP don't pan out.

If you just wanna move on to a legacy ASAP then you better just go. Just remember that means you just put wife, kids, living in domicile etc in a spot below career.

I think it's sad that the company is trying to fool everyone that the SSP is going to move TONS of pilots within 2 years. I think what will really happen is a few go to Delta but TONS just leave anyway because of US/American Ways, United, and the LCCs hiring. Delta isn't going to just start taking everyone off the top. If they wanted all the guys at the top they would already have taken them last time around. That's just my opinion though.
 
pilotlight said:
I currently have apps in at all the legacy carriers. I live in a delta base and my entire family does too. I have heard rumors that delta may interview all of the pinnacle pilots within 5 years, possibly 500 or more by the end of 2014 to be hired Into a pool for future classes. I would be in the first or beginning of the second year if that is true. I also have 2 young children at home. Would you stay at pinnacle for delta or get on with the first carrier that hires you and commute. My choice right now is to wait for the ssp at delta because I do believe that it will work and to be able to live in base for my kids would be great. If I don't get hired at delta, I'll apply elsewhere at that point. I think that quality of life is the most important thing and I see the most potential with that plan. I'm curious if anyone else would risk that plan .
Click to expand...

I was in that position but without the SSP. I left for the first carrier that called and commuted for a little while to SFO. I moved to the Bay Area to avoid commuting and yes we left family behind in Michigan. My question to you is this, why are you putting so much weight on this SSP? It's a "guaranteed" interview with supposed quota numbers in newhire classes. Out of seniority hiring? Ask the Pinnacle pilots who went to the WAI conference and were told by a Delta Capt Arnie (something) who is a hiring guy that they would not be looking at Pinnacle guys outside SSP for a fastrack, and that any hiring updates would be through their 9E union. If that isn't raising red flags in you, I don't know what would. If you move on to Spirit/Virgin/JetBlue, you don't think Delta will call you then? You have probably just as better a chance (if not even better) to get called by Delta as a JetBlue/Spirit/Virgin guy with Airbus time/type versus a 9E SSP guy.

And don't buy into that interview everybody quickly rumor, that is there just to keep people like you from bailing out. They have to do something to keep attrition in check, otherwise people will bail out real fast when the -200s are all parked. As for the no college degree thing, good luck. DALPA was not in the negotiations for the SSP, that was between 9E ALPA and Delta management. However, the Delta interviews will be done with Delta DALPA pilots and HR. How well do you think it's going to go with them if a 9E guy shows up without a college degree, when they literally have thousands upon thousands of guys with degrees. The college degree is a published minimum requirement. I'd be willing to bet money they will require it, and anyone without it is going to get a real disappointment in the SSP.
 
Planning around a rumor isn't exactly smart. Especially if it is a rumor where you will benefit. I say get out while you can. Another regional likely won't be good but JetBlue or Spirit would be good options.
 
The easy answer would be to leave ASAP but then again commuting with little ones at home sounds crappy too. I think you have to gauge your current situation. Are you cool with being at Pncl 2-3 more years or to the point where DL calls, if they call at all?

You sound ok with the risk as you understand it, being that SSP will get you an interview. What if you found out it isn't as it seems? You're basing a lot on that...
 
pilotlight said:
I currently have apps in at all the legacy carriers. I live in a delta base and my entire family does too. I have heard rumors that delta may interview all of the pinnacle pilots within 5 years, possibly 500 or more by the end of 2014 to be hired Into a pool for future classes. I would be in the first or beginning of the second year if that is true. I also have 2 young children at home. Would you stay at pinnacle for delta or get on with the first carrier that hires you and commute. My choice right now is to wait for the ssp at delta because I do believe that it will work and to be able to live in base for my kids would be great. If I don't get hired at delta, I'll apply elsewhere at that point. I think that quality of life is the most important thing and I see the most potential with that plan. I'm curious if anyone else would risk that plan .
Click to expand...
Delta Crew planning has said they are going to hire about 500 or less people TOTAL in 2014. 9E's union is really pumping up the SSP because they know people are bailing too quickly. NO one has been hired yet through the SSP so you have no idea if it will work as planned, how long have you been at 9E? It seems to me you need to move onto any major ASAP. The days have changed, it is back to "get your time and get out"
 
If you're able to leave now, you'll start accruing seniority at another carrier RIGHT NOW. If you wait for a few years to MAYBE get on at Delta, and then you DON'T, you've now lost a whole heck of a bunch of seniority at another shop.

The more senior you are, the less commuting sucks (usually). When you're senior, you can make almost any commute work. I once took a guy out of Grand Junction, CO, and he was eventually headed for Charlotte. First he'd fly to Denver, then he'd hop on a plane to Charlotte. If he got on one of the first two flights out of GJT in the morning, he was able to bid trips with late enough starts that his trips were STILL commutable while doing a cross country, two leg commute.
 
Is moving to another city to be based in domicile at another carrier a possibility for you? If so, I'd say go to the first carrier that calls. If not, I know a lot of people would disagree with me, but I wouldn't leave. Commuting is pure hell. I'd rather be stuck at Pinnacle living in base than commuting.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Is moving to another city to be based in domicile at another carrier a possibility for you? If so, I'd say go to the first carrier that calls. If not, I know a lot of people would disagree with me, but I wouldn't leave. Commuting is pure hell. I'd rather be stuck at Pinnacle living in base than commuting.
Click to expand...
IMO the majors are so consolidated that the risk of any of them going the way of EAL or PAA is slim. Regionals.... Not so much. If anyone gets into this line of business without considering there is a real possibility of commuting they need to really look to see if this is the right fit for them. Atleast the 121 side... Bases close, look at MEM for 9E or NWA/DAL... I feel the same about where I live as the OP, I really do not want to leave or commute but I know it will happen again someday, it is what it is.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm having so much fun with my kids living in base and all of our babysitters (all family) are right here with us. Even though I don't think pinnacle is the next comair I'm not going to be dumb about it. I'm waiting for something official from our company or union to describe what the process will be. If there is nothing going on and American or united calls , I can't turn that down.
 
I'm just not buying the idea that Pinnacle is that risky a place to be. More risky than a legacy? Sure. The legacies are "too big to fail" now, so they're the safest place for a pilot, but I don't believe that the added safety is worth the horrors of commuting. I believe it's trading a little bit of job security for a lot of QOL.
 
In my humble opinion, I would give up 2 years of seniority to live in base. The ability to swap stuff around and to do day trips, or if you are stuck on reserve for awhile - all of it beats commuting. 18 days off commuting = 13-14 days off in base.
Now, granted, I have to pass the delta interview and that is no guarantee, but I will make sure that I am ready for it.
I think the current plan is to wait and see how the delta process will work and see if it is legit. If it is not or if I wait and don't get the job at delta, then I will take the first job available and find the most desirable city to live in and move there.
 
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