An Anniversary and a Final Flight

By Capt. Rick Kasold (Delta, Ret.)

Capt. Rick Kasold (Delta, Ret.) taxis in for the final time in 2004..

It has been quite a few years since I retired, but I remember my last trip as a Delta Air Lines captain vividly. August 29, 2004, was my 34th wedding anniversary and August 30 was my last flight as an airline captain.

For the last 16 years of my career at Delta Air Lines, I had commuted from my home in Florida to my base in Atlanta. My last trip called for a 4:00 a.m. departure from Atlanta to fly to Bermuda and then fly the B767-400 on a charter flight to JFK in New York, followed by a layover and deadhead back to ATL.

My wife and I flew from our home in Florida to Atlanta on our anniversary the day before my last flight and stayed the night. When the hotel staff found out it was our anniversary AND my final trip, they even comped our room. I reported for my flight on time and my wife opted to non-rev on a later non-stop to JFK (very sensible).

Although based in ATL, I had notified the chief pilot in NYC that I would be flying my final flight into JFK and that I had opted out of the scheduled deadhead back to ATL. When flying into JFK, we received a bit of priority handling, with the ATC controllers congratulating me on arrival in their airspace. After landing, we taxied to the gate and the fire department gave me a water salute on the taxiway. Upon arrival at the gate, I said goodbye to the passengers as they deplaned and they also congratulated me.

My family is originally from New York and when I left the jet-way and entered the terminal, many family members were there to greet me; the Delta flight operations staff at JFK had arranged for them to get a pass to allow them through security to my arrival gate. I am very grateful for the courtesies extended to me by the NYC pilot base, even though I was not even based there.

Later that evening, after lunch with family, my wife and I went back to JFK and non-revved to Germany for a post-retirement vacation. It was a great finale to a wonderful career!