Originally Posted by
Airhoss
You are basing this statement on what factual information?
The topic is perhaps slightly more complex to unravel then most here appreciate. We are talking about "Open Flying". This is flying for which there are no available reserve pilots. Our more lenient reserve rules as regards FSB and SC gives the company more flexibility to cover sudden open trips. That is the crux of the matter. Now once "open flying" becomes open then we have Step 1-5 (20-I-4 thru 9) that the company must follow until finally getting to Step 5 an "untriggered" reassignment. As anyone who has experienced is aware Step 5 or 20-I-9 is quite lucrative to anyone that has it happen to them. Dissecting the language would be difficult so hopefully you can accept ALPA's summary on the issue which says the following:
Summary- Delta and AA do not restore lineholder days off lost in a reassignment. This explains why AA and DL have emphasized that their reassignment rules are resulting in pilot fatigue. Under the UPA, United pilots get our days restored for RAs (787/777 first day only is not restored), they do not.
- Delta and AA also have no operational minimum day off requirement for LHs, so no MDO restoration is ever required for RAs or even delays. The UPA requires a minimum of 12 days off, and pilots can waive down to 10.
- In general, Delta allows reassignments to occur more often than we do but has stricter limits on how late a pilot must be scheduled to return home. That difference reflects different decisions at the two airlines; Delta book favors more frequent reassignments that get them home closer to the original ETA, while UAL book favors less frequent reassignments that can get home later. The UPA restores the lost days off while Delta does not.
- Delta has add pay for reassignments that is similar to ours, but notably does not pay if the reassignment is caused by weather. DL ALPA is trying to eliminate that exception in their negotiations.
- In general, American's RA restrictions and pay are inferior to ours, which is why the AA pilots have made improving them such a high priority.
Step 5 comparison
4. Removal from first leg (that is operating, and pilot is legal to fly) and RA'ed into something else
- Must first try to cover with reserve, premium pay, SRM
- 125% add pay for all new legs (225% pay)
- Reassignment cannot infringe on days off like #1
- DL: Pilot receives single pay for the removed trip, plus double pay for the new trip
- AA:
- Into an open trip- must first try to cover with PPU
- Open legs (not trip)- no restrictions, same as #1