First let me say that I know I won't get any sympathy from domestic only flyers so please refrain from simple bashing. I'm trying to open up some constructive dialog here.

Our MD ACP just sent out his periodic cats-n-dogs email and it addressed some issues on deviating on international legs such as MEM-DTW-CDG, arriving early into HKG, etc. Our CP put out something earlier saying free rides to the Sheraton were out in HKG if you deviate in.

Now while I can agree on some of these issues, some I wonder why? Can anyone enlighten me as to why I can't fly to DTW and get on that scheduled DTW-CDG leg and have a ride waiting when I get there? It doesn't cost the company one red nickel to leave that GT alone. If anyone noticed, this changed when the new FOCUS computer system came on board a few months ago. We used to be able to deviate in VIPS on the short domestic DH leg and keep the ocean crossing leg as scheduled. When FOCUS came on board the screen where you deviate went from a box to check in front of each leg to a single box. When you check that box you are a deviant on all legs and GT is automatically cancelled. I called, emailed and called again to everyone I could think of and many were unaware of the change. Crew scheds initially didn't know about it. After many calls and getting eyeballs focused on it I got a smorgasborg of answers from "We are going to fix it back to the way it was but it isn't a priority" to "That is more in alignment with the company deviation policy" to "When you deviate off only one leg it screws up reservations in Corp. Travel" to "blah blah blah blah blah". Why did it work so nicely for years before FOCUS????

I agree with other issues like showing up in HKG 24 hours early and having to settle the hotel bill using bank money. That to me is a true deviation by definition. But to fly a sheduled 9 hour international DH leg into CDG or anywhere else for that matter is a definite gray area that we are getting hammered on. Plus we did it for years and it changed with NO NOTICE.

 

I agree with you 100%. Seems like the company is changing the way they read the contract - something I thought was not really allowed. Maybe we should all start to read the contract a little differently too - yeah right!

If we let them do this - they will. If we let them build crappy pairings and destroy our lines - they will! What is next? Eventually, they will start optimizing an issue that matters to you!

 

Its a direct consequence of having someone in the CP office who hardly spent anytime flying the line, and whose brain functions are impaired by poor circulation as result of wearing his hat.

 

Great post and an excellent way to share how rules can be chisled away gradually in one fleet at a time or one domicle at a time. I suggest we share the letters from all the ACP's. Years ago there was a B727 S/O ACP that wrote the most damaging letters to the new guys. I called him to discuss one "fact". It does help when all 4900 know what is going on.

 

I don't understand why you can't cancel your hotel room in TPE and stay an extra night in HKG.

I have already been burned twice when the overseas leg was cancelled automatically. First time I had to ride on the company because the original flight I was scheduled for was $500 over the ticket bank even 14 days prior!
The cheapest ticket was almost $200 over.

This new system sucks.

 

the last few times I've had an intl backend d/h I've been able to cancel the last leg into Memphis but I've had to call Global Travel to do it. They let me, but I don't know how long that option will last.

 

Agree! We need to pursue getting it back to the way it was for partial deviations.

 

We have RFO lines that give you ~50 hours in Subic, then the Twatter-Cathay goat rope to HKG for ~16.

Several times I've deviated up on a jumpseat, saving the company hundreds of dollars. But to make it work you have to go a day early. So now this is a "problem." Maybe I'll just do the scheduled dh, donate some money to Cathay for no dam reason.....

 

You are wrong about this issue being purely International -- it also having an affect on Domestic travel deviation also. For example, I live in an area that always requires a two leg commute through two of the biggest hubs we use. I tried to deviate the leg out of Memphis and meet up with the scheduled deadhead at one of the pax hubs. Guess what? It is no longer permitted domestically.This issue was discussed a few months ago on this forum, someone posting the FCIF that changed this policy. I would suppose we could bring this to the union, but the MEC is too busy being 'stridently opposed' on another issue.........

 

This is one of the issues that we (IPA) got a victory this past contract. We would have deviation travel on the first leg, matching up with scheduled second leg and loss of protection for the crewmember. Now, if you deviate and travel as scheduled on a leg, you are protected. This works both domestic and intl.

Pilot7576