Originally Posted by
intrepidcv11
Abused with vacation passes? Perhaps sometimes. It's happened to me 3X in 13 years. Each time all I did was burn my own vacation pass. One time I was able to tell the dope thanks for being an idiot and causing us both to waste a pass. I'd be all for a free pass travel system, but you and I both know Jeff won't give and a whole lot of 25+ guys would scream of wasted negotiating capital if it was attempted as a contractual issue.
When I retire the last thing I ever want to do is non rev esp if my DOH is needed just to think about making the flight. But since you want a far system, sure restore their DOH. In the meantime glad they got vac passes. My wife and I travel all the time. Never really found myself cursing our system as unfair. I do agree the SA0X issue is BS that needed to be stopped before it started.
Just priced ORD-NRT-BKK roundtrip in BF costs $1556 for two people. From what I recall, fronting the cash would have been the only choice under the prior UAL system. Getting it for zilch by using a vac pass sure seems like a better deal for the vast majority of UAL employees that lack your distinguished 25+ years.
We can agree. The UAL system had it's problems but one thing for sure was the order the employee got on the airplane was DOH. For the most part business travel was covered by DOH. There was no pay before you go ever that I can remember. You were never charged until you got on the flight and the fee was modest(mostly taxes). Except for international travel, I think it changed a little under Tilton but the fee was eventually dropped. Current system of pay before you go could tie up a credit card for some time before the refund occurs. Hurting newer/younger employee. I've heard it can take a billing cycle plus to get a refund. It probable cost the company more to administer the pass charges than any perceived gain in revenue or to pay for admistering the system.
The pass system is company wide - there has never been any pilot negotiating capital expended for the system except maybe company business travels.
The old UAL management gave parameters for pass travel but employee groups basically administered the program. The system worked and may a good direction to take for the new United. Jeff won't be around much longer, why not start working on a system that's fair to all employees, ramper to the Captain.