S2B
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but S2Bs for holiday travel for one family member fall below S2s, is that correct? So, when everyone starts checking them and their 7 kids in as S2s, the S2B is essentially useless just like S2s tend to be. I hope I'm wrong, sure would be nice to bring the ole lady with me over the New Year.

I think you’re right. The main benefit I see is that the S2Bs don’t count against your S2 allotment for the year. This really helps those that have run out by this time of year.

Correct, you're free to use a S2 if needed however.

It would be nice if you're junior and have to spend 30 hours over Christmas or Thanksgiving away from home, your significant other could be given priority over all other non revs so you don't have to spend it alone. That seems fair.

It sounds like the S2 would help you achieve that more than the "holiday family S2B pass".

False.

Available seats is a zero sum game, and there is no way someone should get an additional special pass to let a non employee bump an active pilot trying to get home or to work, over and above their current allotment that already allows them to do so at least 6 times a year.

Disagree. This is good morale for pilots stuck working on the holidays.

I've not found an S2 to help me yet. I get the theory, but there are so many of them their value is quite low. I've never seen a senior person not have an S2 to trump someone junior who checked in with an S2. Either way, in the spirit of thanksgiving, I'm thankful to have the travel benefits.

Do you say this from experience? Curious only because anything less than positive space would seem to be stressful to me... and I'd rather have those distributed outside of holiday criteria anyway.

I think most airline pilots have known since their teens years that they might miss some important dates at home.

Holiday premium pay could solve much of the angst.

Care to expand on why you think that's fair? Odd to me that my loss or degradation of a holiday travel benefit might happen to enable others to bring their spouse to work.

Are airline pilots and their dependents not pretty adept at spending time apart? There's always the instructor or CPO gigs for those who can't stand the time away.

And for that 30 hour layover, you can always buy a ticket like the rest of the world.