Calling in sick more than 12 hours out.
 

Shouldn't have to be said but when you call in sick you should wait to do it less than 12 hours out. You really should do it as close to departure time as possible but that's another discussion.

Are you not on any of the Facebook groups?

I'll give you $5 if you post that on The Line.

An extra dollar if you tag TW!

The guy's a troll, but he's not wrong. I feel like legacy AA didn't think much about it, but it was definitely something known at legacy US. Burn the short call - the long call could very well be sitting at home.

Just for you I'll be sure to call in at least 12 hours before sign in next time.

How am I a troll, because I'm not one of those people that's ok with the status quo?

Yeah, less than 12 is ideal, more than 24 works too. It is a pain in the ass to get that call at 9 or 10 at night as a long call. I would like to see LC unassignable after DOTC. Basically, rather than a 12 hour call out, just make it a 1 calendar day call out, which is the intent of having LC.

Especially if you're a commuter.

Sorry, but I cant buy the argument "screw the short call people". If you're on reserve, be in position to report if needed. I've sat in the crash pad on long call, because I knew I'd probably be getting called outside when I could make the commute, more than a few times.

I stand by my solution of only assigning LC during DOTC. I’ve commuted to LC and SC. For SC I’m there and want to fly (which is another thing I’d like, is the ability for SC to ask to fly). For non commuters, SC are there and ready to fly as well. LC, I could always make it, but occasionally had to drive out to the airport ready to catch the last flight if I was number one in the queue just in case a last minute outside of DOTC popped up. Commute to sit in a crash pad on LC…no ****ing way I’d do that, rather just hold a line at that point.

And it’s not “screw the SC people”. The primary purpose of LC is to fill open trips that pilots haven’t picked up. The primary purpose of SC is last minute stuff like sick calls, time outs, pop up ferry flights, etc.

As a new hire, at base indoc, this was outright STATED by a chief pilot.

I gained a lot of respect for that man, (or woman), that day.

commuting is a personal choice and I will leave it at that…LC is a 12hr call out, that’s the contract, maybe the rule changes you suggested would be good in the next contract…I do agree that calling out sick in the 15-12 hour range is a d move….SC people are trying not to fly just like LC are so I don’t agree that they alone should cover “sick calls”…I like the LC during DOTC only, accept if a trip pops open that reports after noon the next day, that should be the same LC assigned as now…SC people get burned too, tons of times I’ve gotten a crappy 4day that shows at 1pm or whatever that WAS assigned to a LC pilot who later called in “sick” that morning….if a SC pilot calls in sick after getting a trip they don’t want, that’s usually a call from a chief.

I'd rather "just hold a line" every month, but for many of us (myself included) thats not an option most of the time. As was stated above, commuting is a choice, one that I've made on and off for 17 years of my career. If you commute, and you cant hold a line (or bid reserve on purpose), you signed up for having to be able to cover any assignment you get within the contractual call out times, even if that means sitting in the crash pad on long call.

Why again is LC protected? Note: their are SC people based at home who also don’t appreciate working because someone decides to run the clock down on purpose. A reserve is a reserve, so be prepared to do what you are signed up for.

Oh, I agree 100%, you need to be able to cover any assignment, and if you choose to commute, that’s on you. But, you and I and the vast majority of the pilots do have a choice in bid status and can easily avoid reserve in that respect, that’s why I said “I’d choose to hold a lone”. Time will change but right now even new hire won’t be on reserve for very long.

I know my stance is unpopular with non commuters, that’s why I like the solution of assignments during DOTC only for LC, or even as someone else mentioned after DOTC no earlier than noon, or I’d take an 18 hour call out, outside of DOTC. These benefit everybody, not just commuters.

Thats why I’d like to see an option for SC pilots to prefer to fly first (ahead of their group). It’s win/win. Commuter saves on hotels, local stays home.

If I decide to bang in sick, a reserve is gonna have to get used one way or the other. The long calls are working more anyway, and there's a higher likelihood they're a commuter sitting at home. That doesn't mean it'll always be a short call sitting in a crashpad, but if I'm going be burning *someone*, I'm just playing the percentages of which dicking will likely be the least disruptive.

And I say this as guy that lives in base and bids short call if on reserve.

How about calling in sick when you know you’re not going to work. Close to departure… why? That will most definitely screw someone one. We have reserve pilots for a reason, there is no need to RA someone to cover a sick call. Should go to Long Call, Short Call, and finally RA.

Not sure that'll work. "Yeah scheduling? I need need to call out sick. No, not the upcoming trip on Thursday - the one at the end of the month. The four day. Yeah, that one - I don't fly four day trips. Thanks!" :D

Although wasn't that pretty much how it was done at America West?

The idea behind setting a certain window to call out sick is simply to avoid screwing people over. If I know I'm sick the day before a trip, I'll call out sick before DOTC processing. If I get sick after DOTC, I wait to call within 12 hours. It's really that simple. That allows anyone a chance to get to work.

yes this is the gentleman way of doing it and was an unwritten rule with the pre-merger airline I was at in the East, and was basically told to me every other trip my first year and discussed in the crash pad ad nausea for the dense ones who didn’t get it…if it’s less than 15hrs before your report and you know you are calling in sick, just wait for it to be 11hrs. If it’s greater than 15, do what you want, call in sick, wait, whatever….I think the main point is don’t screw your fellow pilot in that 14-12 hour range…

Exactly. I'm a post-merger Eastie and it was definitely beat into us, and I was surprised when I moved into an LAA base and didn't see a similar culture there.

Just out of curiosity, what is the unofficial expectation of call back time for a long call reserve? I know the contract says something non concrete, so what’s the general consensus? Say you haven’t been called yet, but you’re on a flight to head into base and you get called then. Are you still going to get a MA?

For the former, maybe twenty minutes or so. For the latter…When I commute in on status (LCR) I just call CS and tell them I’m flying into base and won’t be answering the phone. They are fine with it and might ask what flight you are on.

Yes, play the odds. SC might actually want to get out of the pad and get some per diem. LC does not, ever.

LC is also much, much more likely to need to commute by air, and possibly have that go wrong. SC should not have that kind of commute.

they maybe true for a base like NYC or a base filled with new hires like LAX, but I can tell you most SC in CLT live in base and are just trying to stay at home like anyone else...I bid SC sometimes living in base bc it pays more AND I don't want to fly...no reserve wants to end the month with 70+ hours of rsv flying, not ever, SC or LC...the commute thing is probably true, but why should that be a factor when it's a personal choice? I am not trying to dog people who commute, everyone has their reasons, it just shouldn't be a living in base SC rsv pilots responsibility to "pick up the slack" so to speak...

I got burned twice in a year @ LUS on LC. There were some db out there, too.
I got the impression of a more cut-throat (seniority IS everything, jumpseat!) culture @ LAA.

Actually that’s exactly how it works… 99% of the time I call in sick the day before my trips starts. No one will fault you for calling in sick a few days prior if you’re really sick. Not talking about a sickcation. Common sense goes a long way.

No idea what the West or the East did, I was a LAA hire.