Did you try calling crew scheduling and asking them?

Bueller? Bueller?

No I did not call schedules to ask them.

I asked my sister in law, an attorney, to take a look at the language in section 24. She didn't see any difference in the 3 parameters in section 25.N.4.1.2 that would change the company's obligation to offer AVA.

That means that if they have to offer it when they cancel vacations, they have to offer it when the trip shows between Thanksgiving and Dec 31st.

So I ask the question:

Does the company have to offer AVA when they cancel vacations voluntarily or involuntarily? Or is it optional? Historical knowledge? Anybody?

JJ, Redeye, 727pilot: No opinions?

Happy Thanksgiving

FJ

I checked again this morning and VIPS still says that AVA is not available in my seat. So I'm guessing its not a computer glitch.

FJ

FJ,

I will concede that you are probably correct, given the way it's worded.

On the other hand, as was pointed out earlier, they hold all the cards. They know if they'll need to DRF, slightly or heavily. Given current manning levels, I don't think there's much overage out there.

If, by chance, you notice a day (Dec25 or 26, say) when # of trips exceeds max open, make the attempt to pick one up @ AVA. No vips option, call scheds and make the verbal request to put it on tape. When denied then, if you've filled the squares for being assigned an AVA trip according to the CBA, grieve it.


Good luck.

Even if AVA is offered, they don't have to use it to fill trips. I ran into this a couple of times. A sweet trip will be open during AVA and you put in for it only to get it declined. The reasoning is to call crew scheduling. When you call, the answer is "we don't have to use it to fill the trips, we only use it when manning is down for that day". So if you think you would get a trip when AVA open and manning is fat in a seat--guess again!

Still no comment from Redeye or JJ. Come on guys, can you please tell me if you think the company is required to offer AVA when they cancel vacations?

Please.

Pretty please.

Thanks,

FJ

Understood. But you should have the option to at least put in for it when the CBA says it is available. Who knows, maybe they get short one day and the computer throws you a bone. If they don't open it up you have no chance.

FJ

Well since you specifically asked for MHO, I think the out the Company is using is contained in section 1 of your contract quote. They are treating it as a "both 1 and 2 must be met" type situation.

1. AVA shall be available and assigned to all eligible pilots beginning 7 days prior to showtime for that assignment, based on the reserve forecast.

Since the reserve forcast for your seat is way more reserves than open time, no AVA, despite the provisions of section 2 being met.

Just my $.02 worth, as I'm no lawyer, and have not stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in a long time.

As long as you asked Nice. :p

I agree that the company must institute AVA when they
1. Ask for Voluntary Vacation Buy Back
2. Involuntarily Cancel vacations

The 1st contract had this language to have a $$punitive effect on the company for Canceling vacations. The probelm has been in the past when vacations Buy back was going on every month, AVA was instituted but CRS wasn't properly assgining trips per AVA in MY humble opinion.

AVA folks are supposed to be at the head of the line before reserve assignments. In other words, when AVA is in place, folks on reserve probably would never fly because the AVA Who**s would be picking everything up at 150%.

The company began ilimiting AVA assignment (by FCIF a few years back) limiting AVA to a MAX Open time formula. The FPA never grieved it and that was a Big mistake (again IMHO).

So FJ, I agree, AVA must be instituted when the Company canels Vacations, either vol or invol.

Your Welcome