Did JL once email that if you catch up to scheduled dh you are covered for the "scheduled" leg of the deadhead even if you are deviating? If so, is it still true with the big O?

example:
Scheduled MEM-ORD_SMF
deviate BOS-ORD_SMF

Ord- SMF cancels and you miss. Are you covered since you caught up to the schedule?

 

If you deviate, the responsibility is on you to get there. You might not be in "trouble", but scheds isn't going to get you there, you are. At least that's how I understand this one.

 

I thought O fixed this. I believe you can just check the first leg only on the Dev Req. I did this years ago on MEM-ATL-BOS and just flew the sched. DH on ATL-BOS. The plane broke but got corp trav to rebook me on the next one in an hour. Called Control Center Sched to tell them and they updated the trip and contacted ground trans.

You still have to check in and do a final check in when you get there.

Not sure about recently ... anyone?

 

I had this happen last month. Picked up sched DH on second leg, and was told I would not be protected.

 

We need to get this changed on the next contract.

 

Technically, you are not protected. This is true but keep in mind if you rejoin the crew say on the second leg and you deviated from the first leg. If the plane breaks down you get delayed etc... As long as its not your fault there is somewhat of a get out of jail card. Its when you delay the flight because of your deviation having gone south, thats when you get into trouble. Also, same scenario above, I believe the hotel room is on you, not the company.

 

I wanted to get the definitive answer, so I wrote ALPA contract enforcement this letter:

When you have a 2-leg dead head, say MEM-EWR then EWR-CDG, if you deviate on the first leg but plan to take the same flight as scheduled for the second leg, are you considered a deviator? There are a couple of areas of concern here. The first is protection if that leg happens to cancel for some reason. Does Crew Scheduling have the responsibility to protect you or rebuild your pairing? Second is are you eligible for the scheduled ground transportation?

Here’s the response:
Old/new CBA has the same language and intent .......You may deviate from
the initial leg, join the second, and you will be afforded the same
protections as if you had not deviated. Ground Transport will be
available as per-schedule.

I wrote this follow-up letter:
Thanks for the reply...could you supply the specific CBA
reference for this....not that I don't trust you, I would like to
have the reference available if necessary to convince *crew schedules
or duty officer.

Here’s the response:
There is no specific language in the CBA. It is just the way is done,
although from time to time there have been problems.

Oops. OK, I deviate on the FIRST LEG ONLY on my next pairing and the pairing ends up saying “services cancelled”.

Here’s what I wrote the union:
....not only are the services canceled, but I'm sure if there's a problem and I have to call crew scheduling they will look at this and go "you're deviating, sorry, can't help you". Absent specific CBA language, what am I supposed to say if I find myself in this predicament? On the other issue, I don't really care about the scheduled GT being canceled, although if you say the CBA is supposed to allow us to take the company provided transportation, I see this as bad precedent. But it would really bother me if I was on the same plane as someone who took the scheduled flight from MEM and not have the same protection as them. This problem becomes especially critical now that the company is routinely scheduling these pairings with 18 hours crew rest after the oceanic crossing, thereby eliminating much hope of a backup.

Here’s the union response:
I'll have them look at this. You are certainly protected and the GT
should not have been CX!

Contract enforcement evidently spoke with the company and it was determined that there was a “software problem” .O even mentioned it in an FCIF or lettter and said it would be fixed, but I don’t feel real good about getting any love from crew scheduling if I don’t make it in time for final check in. And by the way, scheduled ground transportation for my trip WASN’T there when I arrived.

GOOD LUCK.

 

Now if we can get our accepted fares adjusted as we have been able to do for the past several years. But I rant......I must be a whiner looking for a windfall.

 

Here is my E Mail to the union in May 07 followed by the reponse. As you can read there should no longer be a problem. If you have a specific example recommend you talk to CE.

My E Mail:

Still haven't heard anything from the union on how the company can change the deviation policy to the detriment of commuters. 18 months ago the System Chief Pilot put out an E Mail/FCIF stating that you can deviate and catch up with the scheduled pairing. 6 months ago the company unilaterally changed this policy and changed VIPS so that if you deviate you must cancel the ground transportation. I thought one of the objectives of a union was to prevent the company from making unilateral decisions that makes life harder for 70% of the members.

This is a follow up E Mail to one I sent in December.

Response:

FDXLAG,
This has been corrected and GT should not be cancelled. Additionally the company is working on software that will hopefully be ready in September that will allow pilots who deviate to specify which leg they are deviating on.
Thanks-

XXXXX X XXXXXXXX
ALPA FedEx Representation
Contract Enforcement

 

Had backend DH from HNL in Oct. Capt dev'd all, I dev'd 2nd leg to MEM. We called Hotels to confirm HNL GT before we left MEM-- said you have GT. Land HNL, called GT dispatch-- said you have GT. Next day at H-hour-- NO GT. Called GT who said FDX Canx'd. Called Hotels who said should have GT. Did OpsRpt- answer was FDX canx'd the morning of the DH. Never did get final answer as to who, how, or why .