Sorry for the confusing joke. No, it's not really sad.

 

Any recent updates on this one? I start a long MLA in a few weeks.
It'd be nice to be able to jumpseat, but I'm not really expecting it. I believe the last thing I heard (from the union?) was that the company was still "looking at" it.

 

I'm afraid they've been too busy hiring P.I.s to follow us around and cranking up the optimizer to work on that "side" issue.

 

I vaguely remember Capt. "O" commenting that he making this one of his projects?

 

Actually you're right, thanks, that is where I read it.

 

I did this as well from 2002-2007. I usually only used mil leave when a drop was not honored after several attempts. In hindsight, I may have given up some B fund money, but like you I didn't want the hassle and I didn't want it to mess up other benefits. I think the newer VIPS options make it a little easier than it used to be.

I cannot say enough nice things about SM, the ALPA Mil Affairs guy. He seems to have a very good bead on the ins and outs of the fine print on USERRA, and for those of you doing either short term or long term leave options I urge you to check in with him for any latest/greatest info. Mil leave should be a win/win in this environment. Hopefully everyone will benefit from the latest initiatives...

 

Bots have been locked out? I don't think so. Maybe those that haven't reconfigured their bot to get around the numbers that come up every 5 trips to open time but apparently there are lotsa bots still active.

BTW, I went on disability and jumpseated several times on several carriers. No CASS, no cockpit but as long as I provided an ID, I was good to go. One captain asked out of curiosity why I hadn't renewed my first class but didn't make an issue otherwise.

 

I am currently on a MLOA. I tried to look a couple of days ago and could not get to jumpseat reservation for company airplanes online. I guess I will have to call when that time comes. I'm fairly certain I am not in CASS anymore.. But as another poster said, ID is still valid and if there is a seat in the back I should be good to go.. but no Cockpit access.

 

Always use MLA to cover military duty. If you drop a trip without this, you lose USERRA protections plus the benefit of having your B Fund contributions made for trips dropped while performing military service. Under USERRA you have an obligation to notify your employer of military service. That's your end of the deal. They have many, many things to provide you, but it starts with your notification.

 

Most guys do not mil drop for every mil duty. For one, if I Mil drop then I am forcing the company to take that trip off my hands. If I just straight drop then I am asking for permission not to do the trip and I am being approved. While a small difference, I try to save the "mil drop" option for when I absolutely have no other option. Yes it costs me B fund contributions, but it is also not taking advantage of the system. I am getting off a trip just like everyone else. My trip straight dropped into open time can be picked up by someone and flown, while my mil drop I forced might be given to a reserve pilot. If I can't straight drop the trip, I try to change my mil if possible or find another work around. If everyone taking mil always just jammed the schedulers forcing them off trips, then at some point the company may be inclined to slow down the volume of my military buddies that they hire in the future. Or they might just make it more and more unpleasant when we do have to take mil (more then they do now). There are lots of ways the mil guys could take advantage of the system, we try to self police, and this is one of the ways we try to limit the impact on the company, and our fellow pilots.