Originally Posted by
Adlerdriver
Are you asking how to do that? If so, I'll be happy to explain but I can't tell if you already know and are just asking rhetorically.
There is no one place the step by step, nuts and bolts are explained. Officially anyway. There's a 21 page PDF circulating around that explains deviating in detail. Absent that, the procedures simply evolved and people have figured it out via WOM, this forum and trial and error. There are some FAQs in Insite and notes contained on various VIPS screen that you only see when you actually have a deadhead and are attempting to deviate. Some are only available to read after you've taken an irreversible action. It's a pretty bad education process for our new hires - hence the single source PDF I mentioned.
We used to have to deviate all legs no matter what. There was no option to join one of the DH legs. You lost your GT no matter what you did. You did your final check-in when you were within 100 NM of your revenue city. That was it.
Now we have more options, but those are only worthwhile if people understand them, use and enforce them when necessary. As you can see, some people didn't even know the Check-in criteria changed and the screen now includes "joining a segment of the scheduled deadhead". But it's there.
Why it makes a difference to crew control is they want to be able to pawn the responsibility off on us rather than solve the problem themselves. If the DH goes as scheduled, it makes no difference to them. If it doesn't, the less pilots they have to revise and reschedule the better. So, you bet their first option is going to be to tell you - "You deviated, it's your problem". That only works now if we let it (or you're actually still deviating and not on a segment of the scheduled deadhead).
Originally Posted by
Adlerdriver
I understand how the check boxes work. What’s your point? Are you saying that if I check both boxes that somehow means I can’t join the second leg of the deadhead and perform my Final Check-in because there’s a “$” by my name?
The only criteria I see in the CBA I need to meet in order to do that check-in is physically arriving at the departure gate for said DH leg. After that and my check in via VIPS or CRS, according to the CBA, I’m “no longer considered deviating”. There’s nothing in there about whether I have a “$” by my name.
I’ve done it on several occasions and it works great. Even got my GT back with one easy phone call to limo and catering.
“We’ve never done it that way” or “it’s always been this way” isn’t valid. Our CBA changed for the better. It’s a good thing - one of very few.
This is also from the contract:
"The intent of the deviation policy is to allow a pilot business travel flexibility in accordance with the options and conditions specified herein. Except as provided in Section 8.C.1.f.ii.,
a pilot who deviates is responsible for his scheduled, revised, rerouted, or canceled trip. A deviating pilot must ensure his compliance with FAR crew rest requirements prior to operating a Company flight. A pilot who deviates from a scheduled deadhead shall earn trip guarantee as if he were deadheading as scheduled."
I'm not saying that this hasn't worked for you. I'm not saying that the check-in criteria hasn't changed. I have deviated on both legs before as well as only deviating on the first leg and then joining the second leg. I didn't make it a point to notice if VIPS said the same thing for both check-ins. My point is, the language isn't as simple as you make it. You may be right and that is how the company interprets the language. You may also be wrong. If you want to risk it and check that you are deviating both segments of a 2 leg DH, and then try to change you flights and catch the second scheduled leg if something goes wrong and expect the company to protect you if you aren't in position to fly your trip as scheduled, so be it. I have been around here long enough to see that the company will do what is best for them, period. The only way to know for sure if to have an arbitrator rule on the meaning of the language or for the company to publish an FCIF or other communication stating that your interpretation of the language matches theirs.
Again, do what you want, I really don't care. I hope you are right and nothing bad ever happens. However, if you deviate both legs and then the scheduled leg gets cancelled and you were on that flight, don't be surprised if you get the scheduler and duty officer who say you are wrong and you end up greiving it. I'm just saying.
