Originally Posted by
golfandfly
I remember both of those, particularly the VCP-SJU-MEM. Have you ever flown that pairing? I have flown it once (not when it was disputed) and it is a very difficult sequence. I'm not sure I have been more tired upon arriving at MEM. I will not fly this pairing again.
Fact is that if we would have hung tough, they would have worked in an SJU layover or a crew change and deadhead home. We didn't, the union pulled the dispute, and we have that crappy trip on the books today.
This is how our pairings start getting real bad..... There is a consequence for the rest of us when our fellow pilots fly these trips....
I was assigned that trip off reserve during or slightly after the disputed period and I recall everyone on the aircraft being asleep at one point. Terrible pairing. Point well taken. Had we done it right, and not flown it for 3 months, what was to stop the powers that be from saying "shut up and fly it." The language needs to be airtight the next go round.