FDX - Deviation Question
 

I'm pretty sure I'm ok, but wanted to double check before I bought a ticket....


I have RA days starting on the 15th and have a scheduled trip with a hefty bank at the end of the month that I won't use completely.

I can buy a ticket on the 13 for leisure travel and it will be covered by my bank because it's with then 3 days of my first RA day, correct?

I won't be using this ticket to or from Fedex, but if my memory serves me correctly I don't need to......

THX.

That doesn't sound right to me. Where did you get the idea?

I've actually thought that was always the way, just wasn't sure if it got changed under the new contract.

I'm pretty positive you can still do this on the backend of R days, just wasn't sure about the front....

do you know differently?

THX

Call/email Contract Enforcement for the definitive answer.

Call the union but this is what I understand:

You can expense travel from home to XXX for Business (Trip, Training, Reserve, Visit to ACP) as long as it is within 3 days of "duty". (No duty jokes please)

XXX = Mem or Trip start location.

You can also expense travel from YYY to XXX for the same reasons.

YYY = Anyplace you want.

This would eliminate travel from home to vacation. Unless home is Memphis and you are feeling brave.

Air Travel

1. In the following circumstances, air travel expenses are allowable/reimbursable:
   (a) to or from a pilot's base to position to/from a scheduled assignment.
   (b) deviation from scheduled deadhead travel.
   (c) deviation from scheduled deadhead travel between a pilot's base and training conducted away from his base.

Agree with what FDXLAG posted, and #1 (b) is what you might be thinking of.

Back-end DHs (where you pretty much by definition are AT the scheduled start of the DH) are a free-for-all: go wherever you want. That's a straight-up deviation. Or in FDXLAG terms, going from XXX (duty location) to YYY (anywhere you want).

The problem is 1(a) and 1(b) combined for you. In order for it to count as a deviation you need to end up in the scheduled city for the start of your trip (in this case Memfo since you are sitting reserve). So - start where you live, but end up in Memphis and you will be OK (but will, if you are a Boy Scout, declare the ticket as taxable income under the new rules).

You might be able to look at the Hotel-in-lieu-of-DH rules, but I think they only allow a 24-hour layover domestically.

If you want to go on vacation and have bank $$$ available, just jumpseat to where you want to be and then buy a ticket to Memphis.

Call crew expenses...they will know the letter of the law(whether or not it is legal, or if you will get in trouble).

HJ

Even though there is some language in section 8 that defines what is considered reimbursable airline travel, the only litmus test you ever should see in the FOX system is the 3 day rule. There has never been a requirement to travel from, to or through your home or base in order to qualify. I and many others have used tickets to travel from say home to XXX 2 days prior and then jumpseat to base to start a trip. Guys in the guard and reserve do this type of travel I am sure.

Call the Union or better yet your ACP and ask. I would refrain from inferring "leisure" travel. If it is within 3 days of a trip or assignment, the travel is serving the purpose of you positioning or going home, wherever that may be for that time off the month !

If you end a trip in EWR and the family is in Europe and you have bank, buy the ticket to Europe. NO problem.

Good luck.

d. Travel claimed as a deviation expense must begin or end
within 3 days of the scheduled assignment to/from which
the pilot is deviating (e.g. scheduled deadhead, trip or Rday)
and must proceed to the intended destination of the
deviation with no greater than a 24 hour delay enroute,
domestically, and a 48 hour delay enroute internationally.

Why you would want to risk your job to save/minimize a vacation expense astounds me? Might make it through, but, then again, you might be in "O's" office with a union guy explaining why you thought it was appropriate to go to Disneyland.

Hard to figure out exactly what you are doing. Traveling on the 13th for vacation then J/S into Memphis on the 14th? Buying a ticket from YYY--ZZZ on the 13th, then ZZZ to MEM (with less than 24hrs in ZZZ.)

Simple rule for me, one of my locations for travel has to touch a day I'm working for FedEx. So, have DH'd early to be in place in Florida for FedEx. Have also DH from a FedEx trip to my "temporary" residence.
Just not willing to travel from home to a vacation spot and then to FedEx on the company dime. Risk isn't worth the reward for me.

And, if you can't see yourself calling your ACP to ask what he thinks of your travel plans, wouldn't recommend you doing it.

I don't think you are risking your job. If they don't approve your expense, you owe the company the money for the ticket. I have had to buy a ticket from my house to a place where I could catch a jumpseat. It didn't fit the x and y thing.

You can stop enroute for 24 hours too. So you could buy a ticket from your house to the personal destination, stop for 24 hours and then buy a ticket into Memphis. Or jumpseat into Memphis to complete that trip.