Originally Posted by
SNA320
So I have a slight dilemma. I'm bidding the 777 on this current bid closing on the 20th. I also have a fully paid for vacation (Cruise ship) the first week of April. The vacancy bulletin says training can be expected as early as March. Unless something drastic happens, I'll get the award. The cruise is fully refundable if I cancel it by this Monday. I hate to cancel this vacation if there's no chance I'll go to training that early. Calls to training schedulers have gone unreturned. I know training is taking a while to get assigned on the 777 right now, but might that change soon? I'd hate to keep my vacation and then be thrown into a slot early. Any advice how to handle this.
Thanks,
SNA320
I would call the Chief Pilot and let them know that you don't want to go to training until after your vacation. Since it is relatively close in, I would think it would not be an issue. You may need to agree to not be pay protected if they send somebody junior to you to training first (since it would be your decision to delay).
That all being said, the contract doesn't give you any protections in this area , so you are definitely putting the vacation at risk by taking the bid. Now, if you can come up with a reason that this cruise is a "life event" then you might be able to stretch the contract to cover it for you. (perhaps your daughter's wedding cruise, your 25th anniversary cruise, your 3rd marriage's honeymoon, etc)