Originally Posted by
index
In fact, as you pointed out, every pilot effectively has the "option" of selling back 100% of his vacation---the net effect on manning is MUCH, MUCH worse than when pilots could sell only 50% back.
Not true. Under true vacation sell-back, the company knew before vacation bidding even began which vacations were being sold. Those vacations no longer counted toward the staffing formula, and the company had the better part of a year to manage the reduced staffing requirement to their benefit.
Today, the company must staff for 100% of all vacations. The only negative effect on staffing we see when a pilot WSs more due to his vacation is fewer reserve and/or GS usage. The negative effect on staffing of this is MUCH less than vacation sell-back.