Originally Posted by
Freds Ex
Because PBS usually sucks. Few carriers get PBS right the first time. Look at how awful vacation is at UAL for the pilots because of PBS. 2 weeks of "vacation" as a UAL pilot might buy you the equivalent of what one week of vacation buys the FAs or what a Southwest or FedEx pilot gets, if you're above the G line. If you're below the G line, "vacation" for a UAL pilot is just some paid golden days and they'll cram a ton of reserve days in around it on both sides.
PBS is extremely concessionary unless you get a lot of good guard-rails with it, which rarely happens.
I was able to turn one week of vacation into 28 consecutive days off with PBS... I didn't lose pay or go below minimum credit, I got all the days off I wanted, the overnights I wanted, and I didn't have to take any concessions through PBS to get it. Just smart bidding and knowing the system. And I am not as senior as those senior mammas who could really make the system work for them.