I just think it was a really cool line when Matt LeBlanc said "And the monkey flips the switch" as he launched the Jupiter II in the movie "Lost in Space".

-For some reason it reminds me of my current job in the backseat of the 727.

N!

 

Huh? If an insurance company was stupid enough to allow you to up your insurance before the storm, I'm guessing the courts would make them pay for the additional coverage you purchased, regardless of the date you upped it.

As for not signing the letter, I don't claim to know all the legal ramifications, however, I cannot imagine losing on that either, given the current situation. Let's see, the company and the union are still "ironing out" the final language of the LOA. Guess what, it's not what was voted for months ago. The company keeps adding to what our negotiating committee and others said was their "best offer." The company has yet to confirm a myriad of questions. For instance, the pick-up point for the drive/train/fly to CAN. Can family obtain visas to live in mainland China? Can the crews get automatic deposit into Chinese bank? etc. etc. Minor points? For you maybe. Certainly not for those bidding it.

Now let's talk about "dealing with everyone fairly." Surely, you jest. How about telling us the final ground rules before we bid it. What a novel concept! How about cancelling all bids together and re-bid when they have a clue as to what and how they really want to do things...but I digress.

 

"How about cancelling all bids together and re-bid when they have a clue as to what and how they really want to do things...but I digress."

Or.... how about letting all bids stand and let over 60 crowd bid on new slots if/when they become available.

 

Maybe by the time they figure everything out most of these guys will be 65. But then they'll want 70 or higher!

 

Maybe the company shouldn't have a bid until they are ready to commit to some course of action.

Just an idea, of course.


Monkey and the light switch is a great analysis. My cage has two light switches in it with shocks and blasts of water.

 

I was specifically refering to the practice or potential practice of Bidding HKG CA for the purposes of Passover Pay. My point was bid what you want to fly. In my opinion, anyone that bids HKG with the intent on going probably needs their head examined.....specifically because there is so much in the air and changing with regard to the opening...

If you voted "yes" on the LOA, and go to HKG you get what you pay for. If you voted "NO", at least you knew what you were in for......

By the way, my switch is one of those big fricking "Frankenstein" 3 pole Relays with the big wooden handle that makes lightning bolts when connected.

 

Underdog,

You seem to be hypersensitive on this subject.....you are committing fratercide when you pull the trigger like that. Believe me, I agree on all counts, but it is not me you have to convince....and those that make the decisions are not influenced by me. First off, that was an analogy...it was not meant as a primer on the operations of any actual insurance company...

You seem dissatisfied with the process...I agree. My solution is to not bid HKG since I don't want to go there under the present conditions. I am not even close to wanting to go under these conditions. If they aren't satisfactory to you, then don't bid it. That is something you can control.

You might do well to $hitcan your switch. Much as you want the LOA to be better, the union to be more responsive, the bids to be uncancelled, and the like, your hystrionics will not change things one bit, but only add to your frustration. You can pick apart my post and my cr@ppy analogy all you want (and this one too brother), but it wont make tax equalization go away. You embody the attitude I was finding myself approaching and now make a concious effort to eschew.

Good luck.....back to your regularly scheduled monkey shocking.

 

Monthly bids for upgrade/transition would make a whole lot more sense for a company as dynamic as FDX. They could have a ~4 month event horizon instead of a 18 month one. That's why most airlines do it that way.

 

Then how would you get the pilots to commit to a training cycle that the company really isn't committed to?

 

Easy. The training would begin the month after the bid was awarded. If you don't want to go to training in the summer, pull your bid from April thru August.

As things change the monthly bids reflect those changes.