Seriously though, it seems to me that the whole premise for passover is that when a pilot bids a seat that he or she can hold, but is not awarded it due to the company's whim, then passover is paid.

I bid Mem 30 Capt, was awarded it, and now due to decisions that the company has made, they are taking it away. Oh well, it's still better than a stick in the Eye.

 

I hope you are right. I could handle being a senior FO again flying around the world in my Armani suit lst class getting paid capt. pay. I'll have to take the 1st rest period, but I will be platinum elite again.

 

The most interesting thing to me is this new HKG LOA.

We are having a bid and somefolks may go to HKG but they do not know what the company is even offering. Some Junior pilots that got HKG Capt under LOA version 1.0.0.1, may not have been able to hold it if LOA version 2.0.0.1 has significant enhancements. Are they going to Rail us out of Passover pay, or just rebid the whole HKG thing.

Another point, how many of our geriatric pilots are going to stay if the next contract is concessionary? Leave now or get less later. I believe this is a real possibility given the current economic situation. High gas prices and a bad economy make for a perfect storm.

 

Check your email or the ALPA website. It was just (today, I think) approved by the MEC reps and is available for download/viewing. Ratification admin stuff to follow according to the info sent. Haven't had a chance to review so no comment from these quarters.

BTW, apologies if someone else beat me to the punch.

 

Dakota, I agree with your assessment.

Re-align the seats, so that the bottom 550 pilots are in the S/O seat, reach an agreement with the association regarding the "48 hour credit requirement" in the contract, then furlough the 400 pilots for 24 months to 36 months. (Another LOA to be voted on by the membership, which will pass by 85% to 15%.....)

If you believe this is not going to happen, then let's talk after the 5th excess bid (#2 was announced today, then the fifth will be in August).

I wish I was incorrect, but from the FCIF, the company will continue to excess until they have the most junior seat in excess....the next (obvious) place to go is furlough.

 

If the company is trying to align for furlough or adjust seniority, then now might be a perfect time for "up or out". (especially because I've already qualifed as CA but will be FO soon.)

This might mitigate the effect of the furlough by getting rid of some of those pesky ND's that never upgraded.....and those annoying senior F/O's....Booby Lightpurple comes to mind. That way, we can thin the ranks at both ends.....

Whaddya think?

 

Thank God we had the excess bid that got DW's buds out of the backseats!

 

Some thoughts.

FDAs (yes PLURAL) should've been filled LONG ago with a DECENT LOA! Think the senior "this won't affect me" pilots are taking a closer look now when talking about excessing? See? It does affect you! Best what we could get LOA was a joke! We're stagnating due to sh!tty LOA while our competitor Brown grows! Pathetic. HKG go senior right?

If we didn't have growth (777 and HKG) planned, I'd be really worried. Numbers don't make sense as mentioned before here...we're going to need bodies soon to handle growth.

I understand that multiple excesses to fatten up bottom junior seat...but what is junior now? 727SO for HKG FO? Not sure if it will materialize to kill PO pay...must be activated in the seat, not only awarded. I think 777 bid will save those junior guys getting PO pay.

I think it's another scare tactic to fill HKG. Although a tactic that does/may have some bite.

 

Lindy,

You may be right and I could see the Flt Ops division going in this direction. Yes, even with PC's daughter being furloughed.

However, I think Fedex Corp would squash the idea. Strategically, a Fedex pilot furlough says "unreliability". It will play that way in the press and UPS will have a field day. FWIW.

 

Exactly, don't think after a bunch of people go backwards in their seats and then are faced with a 40% cut in their BLG that there is going to be a rallying cry to save the junior guys. The "F" word is a real possibility.