Originally Posted by
JoeyMeatballs
Jesus, is this because you guys are short staffed? Or has it always been like this? Either way, well done, lol
It's a combination...
The Co. started about 4-6 months late to start hiring, and now it will be extremely difficult to catch up.
It also has a lot to do with soft time and premium pay. Most airlines have a 150% premium pay system, DAL pays 200%. Using restored days off and pay above guarantee opportunities while on reserve help in various ways. Increasing the pay for training, home CD's, vacation, increasing the ADG up to 5:15, etc. all piles up on itself. (oh, and having a company that is paying 15-17% in profit sharing doesn't hurt either).
A contract is WAY WAY WAY more than the Section 3 paytable. They are but one number in the multiplication table that is total pilot pay!
Example:
Senior pilot bids reserve for 76:00.
Places all 13 days off at the beginning of the month (preferably one that has lots of bad weather).
Puts in for premium flying on day one.
Gets a 3 day trip for 16:00. Pay for the reserve goes above his guarantee, now he is making 92:00.
The three days off he didn't have now get moved to his first three "on call" days + 10:00 for rest. Now he is "on long call" starting the 18th at 10:00.
He has one day off, then gets called again for another 3 day for 16:00.
They add three more days off +10:00 over his reserve days.
Now it's the 7th of the month, he is crediting 108, and doesn't go "on call" until 21st at 20:00.
No fly on the 8-10.
Gets a 4 day on the 11th worth 22:00.
Paid 130:00, days off moved to the 26th at 0800.
Takes 15-16 off.
Gets a 4 day again. Paid 152:00, days moved to 29th at 1800.
22nd, gets a 3 day for 16.
NOW IT GETS FUN!
Month ends on the 30th... can't get any days off restored, right? Wrong!
The days off that he is owed go into a bank. 2.5 days in the bank.
Takes 25th off.
Gets another 4 day 26-29. 174 hrs. pay., 6.5/7 days in the bank.
Gets a day trip on the 30th. 180 pay. 8 days in the bank.
Yeah, he worked 19 days.... for 180 hours of pay.
Now he has 8 "payback days" available for use.
Bid a line in the next month for 88:00. Drop 2 of your 4 day trips worth 44 hours with the 8 payback days.
Get a Green slip for 4 days at 200% as a lineholder. Now you get 88+44=132 for 12 days.
Do it again and get another 4 day, you get 176 hrs. for working 16 days, the same as your originally bid schedule!
That adds up to around 356 hours for two months. Very frequent, no... Done enough that it can happen with some planning and category seniority, absolutely.