PBS (non-starter), Draft, Protecting Carryover, SELLING VACATION at the end of the year..... yada yada yada. These are all issues near and dear to us on the next contract.

Why do so many of our pilot continue to work extra days they don't have to, and save vacation time to sell back at the end of the year at straight time? Everyone has their own reasons, and I'm not judging anyone. I've had almost all of July and August off for the last 10 years with 15 days of vacation. I flew with this Captain out of JFK on the MD about 10 years ago and he asked a few leading questions about how I use my vacation. After listening to my answers, he said you're just like 90% of the guys here who don't understand how awesome our vacation system is. For the next two hours he gave me "VACATION ACADEMICS."

In a nut shell, his approach was always bid the end or beginning of a month so you can slide to cover two months, being in "the vacation hole" was a good thing, and vacation make up to manage your bank is actually a good deal. You can take four weeks of vacation and have more control of your schedule for 8 months.

For me, I want July and August off, so I bid 15 days in the beginning of August (sometimes I bracket July and August), then I slide it back one day into July and extend it out to wipe out my entire line (with one day). This may put me "in the hole (STS)." i.e. I have a 90 hour bank to wipe out my line, if my line is more than 90 hours I may have to do a make up trip (which is a good deal, i.e. nice trip with a dead head and 1 leg, etc). If I'm not in the hole and have at least 1 hour in my bank I bid a VTO in August with 14 days @ 6 hrs/day = 84 hours pay and not work. Yea, I'll be way "in the hole (STS)" at that point and have to do a MU trip at some point, but I just got paid 170+ hours for two months and not turned a wheel with 15 days of vacation (90 hours). I do the same thing with my other periods, and just do an occasional MU trip to manage my bank. I always carry a negative balance into the next year and just continue to do the same drill. That was the brief in a nut shell. I'm really confused why guys work more days then they have to, allow the company to staff at min manning, then sell vacation back at the end of the year (straight time).

Food for thought, start the spear throwing.

Disclaimer - You have to be able to hold a line to do this

 

Awesome, sounds good if you're senior enough to do it.

 

Ah, another senior guy who doesn't realize that not everyone can do what he can do, in that not that many junior or even mid-level guys can get awarded 15 days of vacation, especially during the typical "summer months." However, that said, I like your idea. Personally, I take the entire summer off, but then again, I'm retired.

 

Been doing this since year 3, but I was a 727 SO UNTIL I could hold a line on the 11. If guys choose to go wide body junior it won't work. You only have to be junior once, the rest is by choice.

 

I have also been doing this since hired. That is best part about it.... don't have to be senior.

 

Jolly,
Excellent advice! Currently on week 6 away from purple. Pretty sure the wife is checking to see how soon i could return... I am not senior(but at least a line holder) but I also have been able to get multiple weeks off during one of the big 3 (june/july/aug). Vacation usage is a lot like some that are currently flying every chance they get. Don't confuse them with facts, their minds are made up.

 

What is this "line" you speak of? Is it like a Sasquatch or unicorn?

 

That sounds like a great plan, but I've never really liked using vacation makeup. You can't drop it, you can't swap it, you are stuck with it, no flexibility. It would be excellent if that was fixed in the next contract.

 

"For me, I want July and August off, so I bid 15 days in the beginning of August (sometimes I bracket July and August), then I slide it back one day into July and extend it out to wipe out my entire line (with one day)."

Do you actually have to slide it back for one day into July? Can't you just expand your vacation to all those earlier trips, and not slide it at all, so you can slide it in August, if you want?

 

If you expand to hit a trip you are limited as to the amount you can knock out. No problem if you slide. Plus, you cannot expand backwards into another bid month unless you have first slid into the month first.