Executives at Delta did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

In an e-mail message to employees last month, he made clear that the old order at Delta was history.

Preston looked over at Delta as he took a break to wet his throat.

The pilots are the only work group at Delta to have representation.

Pilots are the only major employee group at Delta represented by a union.

Such a run occurred at Delta last year, when more than 1,100 pilots took early retirement in just a few months.

At Delta, he said, 20 percent of phone calls now result in a sale, up from 16 percent last year.

"We have a lot of momentum going at Delta," he said.

Now, even some of the union's supporters at Delta doubt that its efforts will succeed.

At Delta, more thought is being given to movie choice on all flights.