Bidding reserve with vacation isn't myopic. It's a good plan if you have the flexibility to actually be in MEM on reserve for the days you don't knock out. Especially if your vaca is at the beginning of the month and you get leveled for it.

Based on your statements about secondary lines and the fact that you've never used vacation other than with reserve, I said your view seems myopic.

I understand we will eventually be able to have more control over vacation hours used on secondary lines. I also don't expect you to memorize the implementation schedule - just don't throw out some BS example as if you have personal knowledge of it happening when it's not even possible yet.

There is a limit to secondary line holder greed, FWIW. There's still a 40% buy-back limit at the end of the year, so they have to take it some time (or simply lose it). If they lose vacation for no pay, then I would suggest they suck at being greedy.

Frankly, who cares. There are lots of ways to be greedy here depending on circumstances and seniority. Most of them involve working harder than required. If a guy wants to fill his calendar with blue, fly extra carryover at straight time, sell back vacation and work himself into the grave, I really don't care (since we're not in negotiations). If he chooses to work his butt off and complains about it, then maybe chalk it up to his membership in the 5% club and move on.

You'll hear a lot more complaints about QOL issues if we go PBS, except then most likely the complaints will be very, very valid. There is no realistic pay raise that would be worth giving up the flexibility and control we currently have over our schedule. This is a marathon, not a sprint.