Airline Pilot Forums

I'm operating CDG-EWR with a 38hr layover in Manhattan, then D/H to MEM. I want to do a short airport hotel layover, then deviate home. Can I expense the airport hotel? I've already cancelled the Scheduled hotel.

Thanks,
Clutch

Yes, you can.

call FDX ALPA Contract Enforcement - for the complete/authoritative answer

8.C.4.d
Travel claimed as a deviation expense must begin or end within 3 days of the scheduled assignment to/from which the pilot is deviating (e.g. scheduled deadhead, trip or R-day) and must proceed to the intended destination of the deviation with no greater than a 24 hour delay enroute, domestically, and a 48 hour delay enroute internationally.

Your hotel would fall under the 24 hour delay enroute and be covered, I believe.

Because claiming a hotel while deviating at the END of a trip isn't covered under the Deviation section of the contract (unless returning to the same city for your next trip and you want to give up the intervening deadhead tickets and stay in the city --- not your situation).

Here is the section that more closely pertains to your situation.

Sec. 5.B.4.b.ii.7.
A pilot shall cancel any scheduled hotel rooms he does not intend
to use. If, having canceled his hotel room, a pilot’s personal plans
change and he needs a hotel room as originally scheduled, he
may either re-book his original hotel room, or if unavailable, obtain
a hotel room in the same city and be reimbursed for such room
up to the contract hotel rate. If the pilot stays in a hotel room, as
provided in this paragraph, other than after a revenue trip, he shall
notify CRS of his contact numbers. This hotel room shall be paid for
using the Company issued Travel Card. This hotel room shall not be
charged to the pilot’s deviation bank, and shall be documented by
the submission of an expense report.

Here is the section that more closely pertains to your situation.

Sec. 5.B.4.b.ii.7.
A pilot shall cancel any scheduled hotel rooms he does not intend
to use.


MalteseX ... that's a REALLY GOOD ANSWER, but I hate when people confuse the problem by providing facts like a "CBA reference." :rolleyes:

Good job ... this is one of the benefits of APC

Actually,
IMHO the section that applies in conjunction with Adler's.
8.c.3.ii
(b) A pilot who deviates from international deadhead travel may expense hotel(s) as part of his deviation travel as follows:
(1) he may expense 1 hotel room as a deviation expense, or
(2) he may expense up to the same number of hotel rooms as in his scheduled deadhead.

Intent: A pilot scheduled for an intervening layover during a 2 duty period international deadhead may expense an intervening hotel use enroute to his scheduled destination.

Actually,
IMHO the section that applies in conjunction with Adler's.
8.c.3.ii



Oops; I Agree. I missed that he was on an international trip.... focused on him being in EWR.

If the company uses this paragraph, he'll need deviation money to cover it.

Either way, I think he'll be able to expense the hotel change.

Done it several times for the airport hotel in HKG. No probs.

Actually,
IMHO the section that applies in conjunction with Adler's.
8.c.3.ii
(b) A pilot who deviates from international deadhead travel may expense hotel(s) as part of his deviation travel as follows:
(1) he may expense 1 hotel room as a deviation expense, or
(2) he may expense up to the same number of hotel rooms as in his scheduled deadhead.

Intent: A pilot scheduled for an intervening layover during a 2 duty period international deadhead may expense an intervening hotel use enroute to his scheduled destination.

I originally thought this section applied too. However, he's not on an international DH. He's operating from CDG-EWR and then deadheading. The "intent" statement applies to someone with a 2-leg DH back from Europe or elsewhere.

I still think he's okay based on the 24 hour delay rule I quoted. I've expensed plenty of hotels w/in 3 days of a trip. No problem.

Thanks for your responses.

Regards,
Clutch

Clutch,
Also be aware that there is an accepted rate for a hotel in given city and they won't reimburse you for more than that. Go to Expense report page and in the left column is a link for the accepted hotel rate for your pairing/city.

I originally thought this section applied too. However, he's not on an international DH. He's operating from CDG-EWR and then deadheading. The "intent" statement applies to someone with a 2-leg DH back from Europe or elsewhere.

I still think he's okay based on the 24 hour delay rule I quoted. I've expensed plenty of hotels w/in 3 days of a trip. No problem.

After posting it, was rethinking it. I just got feet on the ground and a location with internet access. I definitely agree with you about this. He should still be ok but not because of the my mis-quoted section.

Clutch,
Also be aware that there is an accepted rate for a hotel in given city and they won't reimburse you for more than that. Go to Expense report page and in the left column is a link for the accepted hotel rate for your pairing/city.

Thanks,

We are supposed to layover at the Sheraton in Manhattan. Although I haven't checked it yet, I'm pretty sure the EWR airport hotel will be cheaper.

Regards,
Clutch