Originally Posted by
SoFloFlyer
Of course, but with some seniority, you can play the game and to get those days off. Not even that much seniority either to be able to play said game.
I spoke to a retired UA guy and he said that in his 20+ years at UA, he never got Christmas off. Since only 4 lines had the 25th off, the top 4 pilots in base would get it. At Spirit, I’ve spoken to pilots who are sub 10 years on property holding the major holidays off.
I know how QOL is hard to see with all those Benjamins in the way, but it’s there, Bluedriver.
JB 12+ years. Have NEVER worked a Christmas or Easter. I've sometimes CHOSE to work a thanksgiving because I choose, for my own reasons, with my own strategy. I've never worked a 4th of July, although I screwed up my bid (didn't realize it would hit me with a carry-out from June) once and was scheduled to work one, but it was with a check airmen, and was bought.
Your own example proves my point. If only 4 lines had the 25th off for this United pilot, only 4 pilots got it off (not counting reserves). If that were ever true at Spirit, the same proportion of guys would HAVE to work Christmas. The flights WILL be covered. The proportion of JB, NK and UAL pilots with Christmas off is the same, and directly proportional to the amount of flying the airline does that day.
You're missing a basic understanding of airline scheduling.