5. If the Company is required to provide catering, and the location
has no FDA-approved inflight kitchen (i.e., it is a “NOCAT” city),
the pilot shall, upon submission of an online expense report
identifying the NOCAT city, be entitled to $25 for each occurrence,
in lieu of catering. NOCAT cities shall be designated in the bid
period package.

It does not matter how much you spend, you are entitled $25 on your expense report.

 

With the current state of domestic catering, especially am side, lets make every city a NOCAT city.

Why are so many of the am breakfast meals designed to be served hot?

 

Hmmm, I will stand corrected on my earlier response. MG2

 

If you look at BFM AM turns (trip 21), you will see that out of MEM it gives you a BM. Then, on the return flight to MEM (usually 3 hrs later) it has a NO CAT also. I don't think that we are due both caterings (only a 6.5 hr duty day), but, both DS and NO CAT are on the pairing.

So, I was going to expense my lunch in MEM up to $25.

I guess what I'm asking is that anytime you have a NOCAT on your pairing (regardless if you received catering on the leg prior) you can expense up to $25?

Does that makes sense? Thanks, 30

 

I looked at 727 bidpack for both Aug and Sep pairing 21. I don't see NOCAT anywhere on the pairing. Just because it is a NOCAT city (as you stated in your first post) does not mean it means the required catering guidelines.

 

The Bidpack pairing (or the Vips Trip Recap) should indicate NOCAT if the trip meets catering parameters.

Obviously the company won't help you out if you miss the fact that you should have been catered and weren't, nor will the company point out that you could have expensed 25$ for a NOCAT city but only put in for 10 or 15.

And as was pointed out, the NOCAT provision is in an entirely different section than the catering didn't make it.

If the catering doesn't make it, then I would suggest that the capt give the DO a call and get the DO to zap an email authorizing reimbursement of a meal. (Std comments will apply, supposed to use the Company Card and only up to 25$) Having that email will make the financial geeks happier when you do file.

Think of FedEx finance as a HMO/insurance adjustor. Initial response is always deny, deny, deny maybe the request will go away. Maybe if I make contacting the ACP a big enough hassle the pilot will quit asking for that measly 25$.

And again, would never suggest a flight be delayed for catering. But, if I'm facing a 5 hour flight and it's been awhile since I ate and I'm expecting catering.....am I delaying the flight for catering or is it for safety. Afterall, what would the NTSB say if I had a landing incident and I told them I hadn't eaten in 17 hours

 

They would tell me that it doesn't look like I've missed a meal in years.

 

On my pairing in VIPS, it shows a DM and NO CAT?

Pull up trip 21 in VIPS on any date Tues-Fri (JUL or AUG) and it shows BM on MEM outbound leg and NO CAT on inboung to MEM leg?

Again, I just want to make sure I get this right before I get called into the ACP for 20 NO CAT expenses I didn't deserve!

Thanks, 30

 

Hopefully, when you're flying out of Seoul, you have a NODOG on your schedule, right?

 

You are correct! This is the first time I have ever seen it in VIPS. It does not show up in the bidpack though. I would try it for each day on your expense report. All they can do is turn it down.