Ranger, are you saying (using the above example) that if you have 2 days of vacation (12 hours) and the line you bid pays 78 hrs and doesn't touch your vacation (no conflicts with trips or buffers,) the company will pay you 90 hours in that month? (not as part of the Dec 31 buyback)

Admittedly, I have only been here 11 or so years, but that has never been my experience. They will take the days out of the bank (BFD,) but the 12 hours will stay and be eligible for buyback. See the applicable section below.

I know the reserve rules are different, and I usually bid Rsv in the months I have vacation, but the times I have had a line during a vacation month, it has worked as stated below. Vacation adds no pay, but conflicted trips subtract from your bank. No conflict, no bank use.

Obviously, unused vacation bank under 40% of your yearly total gets bought back on Dec 31st. I've got 25 or so hours left over this year, and am looking forward to that extra year end check.


"Section 7G. Vacation Bank Administration

1. Regular Line Holder

A regular line holder shall be removed from a trip(s) in conflict with his vacation period (as awarded or slid) or vacation expansion. Conflict with an international duty free buffer, as described in Section 12.D.1.d., shall constitute a conflict with the trip protected by that buffer and may not be waived. The SCH value of the removed trip(s) shall be deducted from the pilot's vacation credit hour bank."