Originally Posted by
inverted pilot
Actually it does... Piedmont's agreement with American is flowing all pilots (unless they bypass), in seniority order to mainline... no interview, no catches unless of course they fail training, in which case they return to Piedmont ... they simply give them a class date once it's their turn. There is no language in the agreement that allows American to deny any Piedmont pilot the flow, regardless of things like jet time or college degrees. Now PSA, on the other hand, has preferential interviews.. so those guys could be denied based on something like lacking a college degree, if American chose to do so.
Piedmont's flow is real. I've done contract compliance work for two airlines over the course of a decade now, and I can safely say that flow letter is effing solid.
I've expressed to our negotiating committee that I think a flow is an important aspect of our next contract, becuase it would help to solidify our new hire "show rate" once upgrade times inevitably stagnate. That helps us maintain and continue to grow our business. I hope the Association pursues a flow or preferential interview with UAL or AA--it costs nothing, and it gives all of us a lot of career-planning assurances, if it's on the level with the deal the wholly-owneds have secured for themselves.
I would trade any pay raise in any new contract for the deal PDT has. Not joking. Just knowing that you're going to have a place at a legacy regardless of interview performance or experience or anything else is like having a box full of solid gold buried in your backyard. It costs nothing but it means everything.