While I certainly understand your disdain in the "encouragement for the other half of us to stick around longer," please do realize that many of those who will see 25 years with the company, will not have the benefit of a well-deserved military retirement. Likewise, many of the 25-35+ year pilots get nothing extra beyond the 25 year point, even if they retire at 60. We all have our own unique set of circumstances. We all have different priorities in what we would like addressed in our contract. I have asked for the 25 year cap to be addressed since our first contract, when I was younger than the average new hire. I'm not apologizing for starting while relatively young. I am grateful/lucky in that regard, especially when considering other pilots misfortunes at some other airlines. I pay dues just like those who will not attain 25 years with the company. The only difference being, I will pay more over my career retiring at 60, than the less than 25 year group will pay retiring at 65. I'm not trying to stoke the resentment towards the idea of increasing benefits for those who will have more than 25 years of service, rather, I just want to provide a different perspective. Again, we all have different desires/aspirations. This issue will continue to be important to me until the day I retire. And yes, some of "us" do retire at 60 or earlier, as evidenced this past week.

 

Disdain is a strong word, I don't care how long anyone works here. I just am not in favor of rewarding guys in the penthouse for living in the penthouse with benefits that could go to everyone from the basement up. Want more vacation give everyone an extra day or two instead of giving 20% of us an extra week.

 

+1

If vacation days are to go up, add a week to EVERY seniority block, not just a week at the 25 year block.

 

I'll take it a step further ... let's give everyone with 25 years a week LESS vacation as incentive to make them go away. We could take the cost savings and give EVERYONE with less than 25 years more vacation?

 

I'm confused. Are you making a statement or asking a question?

 

That's not how it works. Never has with any Airline the last 70 years.

Vacation is accrued over one's Longevity with a company. Just like Prior to BK for the legacy Airlines. They had 6 weeks of Vacation for longevity OVER 25 yos.

No one was getting 3 weeks Vacation after year 1. Or 4 weeks Vacation after year 5.

It is a Longevity Perk. Just like every other industry does. Gov't, Military, Private, etc.

To say they need to give an extra week of Vacation to everyone is a pipe dream.

 

Yes but if we are negotiating extra vacation take what the company is willing to give and divide by 4218.

 

It is a Longevity Perk. Just like every other industry does. Gov't, Military, Private, etc.

To say they need to give an extra week of Vacation to everyone is a pipe dream.[/QUOTE]

Military gives same amount of vacation regardless of pay grade or longevity. Nothing is necessarily a pipe dream. It's just not a priority of yours. Got it.

 

You Sure about that? If I remember, the Full Bird had more Vacation than the Capt.

Think you better go put that ROTC uniform back on since your memory is lacking. Got it.

 

No...everyone gets 30 days per year regardless of rank or longevity.