Carry over into vacation month
 

I'm trying to figure out if there are any pitfalls of a carry over trip into a vacation month. The carry over doesn't touch the vacation, but I'm not sure if I'd end up worse or better off (from a time off and pay perspective) if I swap into a trip that has more carry over into that vacation month.

Not 100% sure what you are asking, but seems like you are considering a carryover trip in Feb that would push credit into March (a month in which you have vacation scheduled).
Assuming this is the scenario....

The only consideration is whether you plan to bid a line the month you have vacation (many bid reserve in vacation and training months due to the better overall deal unless you plan on working your arse off). If you plan on bidding reserve, all the work in March (and credit with the trip) will go towards your March reserve guarantee and not count for much.

If you plan on bidding a line during vacation month, well when PBS goes to build you a line in March, it will give you credit for your vacation, and carryover trip credit when trying to build you a line in the LCW.

If you're considering reserve, download the PBS reserve pay excel spreadsheet and play with the numbers. It allows you to throw in the data and will give you a good idea of days worked vs pay. Don't really know the pros/cons for carryover in vacation month.

Delta PBS information

Thanks for the info. I’m sure it’s been discussed on a regular basis, is there a resource that explains how reserve in a vacation month Is more benficial? My goal; the most credit with as little work as possible (who doesn’t have that goal, though?)

Each week of vacation in a reserve month is worth about +5 hrs over the reserve guarantee. You can run different senarios using the reserve proration spread sheet. It's really beneficial when the reserve guarante is higher.

Any month with some credit (CQ VAC etc.) will put you above guarantee and reduce your on call days.

December with 8 days of vacation was 81:25 with 13 days on call with an extra X day. ALV and guarantee were 72. I actuallly worked 8 days and 1 SC.

January with CQ is 76:48 with 13 days on call but the day after the sim is ussually rest so 12 practically. ALV and guarantee is 72. So far all I've done this month is CQ. No shortcall or flying yet.

This is interesting and makes sense. I suppose the other aspect of this is whether or not you’re a commuter (I am). So if bidding reserve forces me to use an X day to commute the back end, that could negate the extra days off (possibly cost me days). However, I’d be more likely to have a higher credit for the month, from the sounds of it. Sounds like to capture the full benefit of reserve bidding in a vacation month, you need to live in base. With that being said, I’d be fairly senior on reserve so I think I could do okay....

In base is always easier for reserve. I am and it works well for me. I see it as an efficient way to get through CQ because instead of it devaluing my work days, 4 hours pay per day, (and having to make that up with trips) it actually increases the value of reserve.

I bid reserve this month as a commuter. I had a week of vacation. I wouldn't do it again. My first reserve day I was long call, 2nd day 7am ahort call. They called me at 6:15pm first day to take me off short call and give me 6:25am sign in. 12 hour 10 minute notice. I made it, but most commuters can't. Just something to consider. Sitting long call at home is great, but there's always a chance for a call-out like I got. My first day none the less.