Those of us who work at Alaska are very aware of how inflexible scheduling and adjustment to a schedule can be at Alaska. Ever since they “supposedly relaxed and opened the trade desk”, less of my trips get picked up in open time, unless they’re a day turn, which was the same before. Maybe the trade desk is making picking up less needed “although denied” seems to be the only response I get.
For the sake of discussion what could we hope for in the next contract or maybe it’s time to suck it up and quit while the hiring gives us all choices.
What are rules like at other airlines?
Had a 1.5 year Spirit FO who said he averaged 17-19 days off, 80 credits and the ability to trade until his trips were commutable, TRUE for other spirit pilots?
Same senority at Alaska would be 14-16 days off, 80 credits and no ability to get commutable trips after or during bid awards, in my observation.
Other great (sarcasm) things about Alaska, only way to drop a trip below 75 credits is to have another pilot grab it, otherwise denied.
Want to drop a 3 day for a 4 day, denied, no reserve coverage to drop the 3 day.
In other words, your going to fly 75 hours at least every month and it will be the schedule your awarded.
Reserves, you don’t want to be on reserve, be prepared to be flown up to 90 credits every bid, especially in Seattle.
Am I missing any other Alaska scheduling joy?

 

I have nothing constructive to add. Alaska sucks, this place is brutal.

 

It’s a shame the pilots were never able to negotiate a decent contract with management. How did the flight attendants manage to negotiate with them?

 

Legacy me arse, roll with management propaganda during arbitration.......LCC baby.

 

It’s flat out pathetic how bad this contract is. It’s also sad how so many Alaska pilots think the scheduling section is ok.

 

I’ve never met an Alaska pilot in 15 years that said they were happy with our scheduling system. No idea where the hell you're getting that assertion.

 

How many times have you been in contract negotiations in the last 15 years? What was so great in in those CBAs that you were willing to over look the scheduling system and vote yes (as a pilot group as a whole, not you specifically)?

 

"Fuk the contract & section 25, I'll just pick up open time to make up the difference."

We all know who they are......

 

This right here is pretty sad! 15 years and you clowns didn’t think to change it?
Oh wait, you got Crew Meals and other useless s..t... unbelievable!

 

It’s ridiculous blanket statements like this that keep the animosity alive between the two pilot groups. There have been plenty of AS pilots fighting for change and improvement. To refer to the whole group as clowns, spineless or weak is just stirring the pot and fueling tensions. Not to mention that it’s a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. If the you demanded excellence in all aspects of your aviation career, why did you ever go to VX in the first place? No contract, no union, sub par wages even by AS standards, out of order seniority issues, limited growth, failing business model and no profits. ******, took “you guys” 10 years to start to address any of it. So did you just “overlook” these issues the past 10 years?