Originally Posted by
Davedave
Trip drops--I did a thread search and didn't find what I was looking for. The threads I did find talked about folks not having success because the company said it didn't have coverage. Is this the norm? If so, does this violate the UPA (in letter or spirit)?
If you can't just drop, then I'd imagine we are able to drop if another pilot volunteers to pick it up? If you try to drop in crew companion, does it simply require another pilot to volunteer to pick it up or is there more to it? What have you found to work?
Thanks.
Hopefully this doesn't thread-drift into scabs before too long. 
Saw an AWESOME example of a Scab dealing with a maintenance delay yesterday. Didn't tell the flight attendants the jet bridge was coming back to the airplane, so they were NOT pleased. Then went out and HID in the terminal while the customer service agents and flight attendants dealt with the irate passengers for 3 hours. Hid, like standing along the wall, peaking around the corner at the gate to see if passengers were re-boarding.
Just kidding
Actually, I'm not, he really did that.... but you know what I mean
Dropping trips is REALLY hard at UAL, unfortunately. Especially if it's a 3 or 4 day trip. 1 day trips you have a chance.... if they are good. In order to get a straight trip drop there either needs to be coverage (which there VERY RARELY IS... at least according to the company), or someone needs to pick it up from you. They tend to always zero out the computer so it says "no coverage" even if there are 20 reserves that day. Every now and then you'll see a trip drop, so always put it in there. Your best bet otherwise is to advertise it in Crew Companion and hope someone else wants it.
You can TRADE your trip, but usually only if it's the exact same number of days (or more) as the trip you already have AND starts on the same day, or covers all the days of the trip you currently have. It's definitely onerous. Wish I had better news for you. If you really need the time off, and it's a life event, contact your CPO and ask for help. And then there is always the other option. *cough cough*
Good luck!