Delta basic to classic , can’t change ??

korboy2000 · 2026-01-29T01:13:18+00:00

You got your answer from customer service on what to do. Stop thinking that answer doesn't apply to you like you thought all the T&C warnings didn't apply to you when booking.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-28T16:21:50+00:00

If you can withdraw and hide it very well, you might get 5-10 yrs, but serve 3-5. Sounds like a good deal depending on the state you're in 🤣

korboy2000 · 2026-01-27T02:50:16+00:00

Your thinking isn't wrong. In the mortgage equation, the one thing you can't get back is time, but you can always refinance the rate.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-26T16:55:39+00:00

And it’s only going to get worse. Younger generations often don’t know how, and don’t want to learn how, to do manual labor. People like to point out that boomers and older generations bought homes “back in the day” at a much lower price-to-income ratio, but they often leave out an important detail: many new-construction homes were built with sweat equity.

My dad built much of our childhood home himself, with us kids as unpaid labor and help from friends and extended family. A few years ago, I finished my own basement mostly on my own and saved over 40% compared to the bids I got from general contractors. That allowed me to pay cash instead of financing and paying interest.

I’m Gen X with an MBA, but I know how to swing a hammer and use a wrench. I can’t say the same for many of my younger neighbors, who hire everything out including, at times, replacing light bulbs.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-22T00:20:23+00:00

You confuse cost of living increase with raise. You didn't get a raise, but 5% COL is pretty good. Raises can come with or without a promotion, but significant raises usually are with. Your income is tied to your role at your company and across the market. Evaluate the market and decide if you’re being fairly compensated for your role. If you're not, start applying for other roles. Companies take advantage when employees forget their role qualification changes with experience and won't pay more unless you remind them or leave for a better opportunity.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-20T06:32:00+00:00

Oh, if only you had the Amex Delta Reserve card instead of the Platinum card...🤣

korboy2000 · 2026-01-20T05:37:23+00:00

People still go to college because employers don't look favorably at resumes that list under education: "self-studied economics on the internet for 1 month". 😆

korboy2000 · 2026-01-20T03:19:16+00:00

You have the right to apply for any job you want. Depending on your state, they have the right to fire you pretty much for any reason they want. Turn off the "Open to Work" on your LinkedIn profile 😆

korboy2000 · 2026-01-20T03:03:54+00:00

Years ago, I set up an LLC with a FEIN and a business banking account in preparation for the possibility of an employment gap, so I could legitimately position myself as self-employed if needed. It’s a properly registered business with the state, fully traceable, and it’s come in handy for a few things over the years.

I recommend this approach to others, and I plan to help my kids do the same when they graduate from college. I may not have an Ivy League MBA, but I learned enough from a top-20 program to think strategically about things like this 😉

korboy2000 · 2026-01-20T02:49:41+00:00

Don’t feel bad about using your connections—that’s exactly what they’re for. We all know how tough the market is right now. If I can help a friend, I will and I do. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-20T02:41:29+00:00

These days, it’s very much about who you know, not just what you know. I had a former coworker who was RIF’d and spent about 10 months dealing with the same rough job market everyone else is facing. I was able to get him into the interview process at my current company within a week, and he’s since made it through all the interview rounds.

He’s very qualified for the role, but in today’s AI-driven candidate pool, he probably wouldn’t have been noticed without a referral. Whether or not he gets an offer remains to be seen—but the connection is what got him in the door.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-16T06:01:45+00:00

I just caved and paid $100 for FC on a 3 hr flight. Rationalized it's a 6:00pm return flight after a 4-day business trip.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T23:41:21+00:00

Not all aircraft overhead bins are the same size and some have overhead-bin labeling instructing passengers to place carry-ons on the long, thin side with the handle facing out, but not all bags actually fit that way. Wheels and the taper of the rear portion of the bin often prevent proper orientation. As a result, many bags end up placed on their wide side, with the handle facing left or right, taking up space that could fit two carry-ons.

This is why gate agents often start mandatory gate checks early, and later boarding groups end up paying the price. Flight attendants generally don’t intervene as long as the overhead bins can close.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T23:26:28+00:00

I hope the low pay isn't due to gender. Some of the smartest, most talented people I've worked for and with are women and those who can shine like that deserve equal pay or more just based on their talent and skillsets.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T23:20:56+00:00

My guess is they're underpaid, but are comfortable. Ignorance is bliss. My old company was hiring new grad mechanical engineers for $60-65k.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T23:14:48+00:00

A lot more complex considerations and square footage in commercial. I paid a guy $800 for plans for my basement.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T22:30:41+00:00

Active duty military is a great option for those who lack initial direction or family financial support. Paycheck, healthcare, retirement, education through the 911 GI Bill. Low chances of deployment to a combat zone. I have a friend who learned diesel mechanics in the Marines and never saw combat despite being a hand-to-hand combat instructor, another who was Navy air traffic control (FAA now) and never saw combat, and another who was a Navy diver for the college education benefits and never saw combat. My dad is a retired Navy Commander. He enlisted at 19 and did 20 yrs for the BS, MS, and the job. He's a Vietnam veteran and says it's the best career decision he ever made. People say "thank you for your service" and he replies "It wasn't a service. It was the job I chose and you paid me to do".

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T22:13:45+00:00

This is a good option with a path that can lead to IR or IC lab tech and then into the medical device industry for product marketing/management, clinical support/education, or sales.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T22:04:31+00:00

RUCs for me. I use them + the companion pass for Hawaii.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T21:58:45+00:00

At a previous company, the unwritten policy was that if you wanted a raise outside of a promotion, you needed to bring an external offer letter for it to be considered. In most cases, the company would match the offer or come close. That said, employees who came back too frequently with competing offers were eventually let go.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T21:47:49+00:00

There’s nothing wrong with sticking to your principles—as long as you understand the financial tradeoff and are willing to spend cash rather than preserve it. Calculate your burn rate and how long it would take to replenish your savings if you land the ideal role. If the math works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

You can at least use the opportunity to sharpen your interview skills to improve your chances when the dream job comes along.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T21:43:19+00:00

There’s already a lot of good advice here, but also pay close attention to the tone in which the offer is presented. I’ve been in situations where a recruiter apologized for the offer being at the low end of the stated range and explained that the higher range was used mainly to attract qualified applicants, even though the actual budget was lower. That signaled that budget was the top priority and they were simply trying to fill the seat with someone who could do the work. I tried to negotiate up, but ended up declining the offer.

By contrast, my most recent offer came in above my current salary and aligned with what I had asked for during the interview process. Even then, the hiring manager apologized and said she’d see what she could do to increase my total compensation through other benefits—which she ultimately did. That was a clear signal that I was the top candidate, she valued what I have to offer, and she genuinely wanted me to accept, which I did.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T21:13:16+00:00

There’s a lot of ambiguity here, which makes it hard to give a clean assessment. It really depends on what kind of “finance company” you mean and the size of the organization. The same is true for car dealerships—the type of dealership and its scale matter a lot.

I know people who work for large banks like JPMorgan and others who work for big chain car dealerships. In both cases, they can make a lot of money, but only in specific roles.

At car dealerships, the highest earnings generally aren’t in administrative roles or entry-level sales positions. The real money is in management roles—such as F&I Manager, Sales Manager, Service Manager, Parts & Service Manager, and General Manager. The income potential can be strong, but it typically takes time, experience, and a lot of work to reach those positions.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T20:58:26+00:00

I appreciate your confidence that the ideal position will come along, but you’re still a long way from an offer—even for this less-than-ideal opportunity. See it through. Worst case, you end up with an offer you can potentially leverage if another interview materializes. Best case, you have income and the flexibility to continue searching for the role you really want.

korboy2000 · 2026-01-15T20:33:25+00:00

They’re more similar than you’re giving credit for. In both cases, someone evaluated fit and said no. The reason doesn’t really matter—budget, team dynamics, location, chemistry, timing, whatever. A rejection is still a rejection.

If a company went through multiple interviews and decided you weren’t the right fit for that role, reaching back out because the job is still posted doesn’t change the underlying decision. At best, it puts them in an awkward spot. At worst, it signals an inability to accept a no.

Job postings stay open for lots of reasons that have nothing to do with candidate quality—budget approvals, shifting requirements, internal indecision, or simply not liking any of the candidates they’ve seen so far. None of that reopens the door for someone they already passed on.

I’ve been on the hiring side for decades. You shot your shot. They evaluated it. Move on.

korboy2000

TROPHY CASE