Originally Posted by Probe

James;
I did not mean that refusing an airplane amounts to buffoonery. I meant when a small number of individuals do it over and over for 25 years, buffoonery is a much nicer term than I would really like to write here without getting booted off the forum.

I had a Dispatcher on my jumpseat for a couple of legs a year or so ago. The Dispatchers know them by name. Unfortunately a lot of them are on our wide body fleets, and have been for a long time. And yes they are predominantly LUAL.

I also had the displeasure to fly with a much more recent hire (late 90's) who bid 756 left seat about a year ago. I am sure he is legendary by now in his new base. He was at our base, as an FO. First FO I actually considered throwing out of the cockpit. He was personally responsible for numerous cancellations in only a couple of years.

There are lots of reasons to refuse an airplane. I think I have done it twice in 13 years in the left seat. I think only 1 air return. I would bet 90+ percent of us have similar stats. But a small number have much more. They are not worth it to our customers, fellow employees, or the company. Their total "cost" is a tragedy.