Yup. I am convinced that they are hard-wired to refuse any pilot request because they think we're trying to pull a fast one, even if anyone with an ounce of logic could see how the pilot's suggestion would actually save the company money, save CS time and effort, and make the pilot happy (ie a win-win for everyone.)

In my entire time here I have gotten them to agree to something I suggested precisely once. I had a 7.5-hr credit standup in about a month's time, and I called up and asked if they'd take it off my schedule. In return I would work the min-credit 4:23 standup they had on New Year's Eve in red open time. It happened to be Dec. 30 when I called. I think they realized that this would save them the mad scramble of trying to find someone to work the trip (nearly impossible), whereas the 7:30 standup would be snapped up immediately if they put it in open time.

Sure, I lost 3 hours of pay but I got a day off I absolutely needed.

Aside from that sort of lopsidedness, though...good luck ever getting CS to agree to anything. I'm convinced that if you don't want to work Christmas, just call them up and beg them to let you work Christmas. They'll say "no" just to spite you. Reverse psychology FTW