JamesBond

They can't do more with less. Everybody I knew hit some of those insipid 117 limits during the summer. Multiple times. So how is it possible to do more with less. And to take the other part of that slash... the RLA works both ways. They cannot unilaterally cut pay or change the rules, so it is impossible to do more FOR less either.

It will be interesting to see what the training backlog and lack of significant hiring does next summer, but anybody that was on Express knows what is possible with short staff.

notEnuf

I don’t know. We are asking the same questions my focus is QOL, yours seems to be $$$. The only thing might be longer freezes but I’m sure that will get zero traction.

Big E 757

We don’t necessarily have to be more productive on an individual basis for savings to be realized. I know I am flying more than I’d like to be for the most part. What would some minor changes to the manning formulas do to pilot costs? I haven’t looked at them and don’t know what the benefits would be to the company but I’m guessing it would allow them to operate each category with fewer pilots, while they count on GS flying to cover the summer surge. Pretty much like this past summer.

notEnuf

Aren’t we already there? I don’t see how having fewer makes things more productive. I think it just puts more pressure on the system and that will lead to burning up availability and push coverage to GSWC and IA.

Besides that, they have professed to be adding pilots to alleviate staffing stress for next summer. I’ll believe that when I see it.

JamesBond

Not necessarily. I really don't care about the $$$ at this point other than getting (if we insist on the outdated method of compensation) the 767 up to widebody level. QOL would be great. A biggie for me is that international flying from a domicile be done by that domicile's pilots. It is complete BS that a pilot from another base DHs or flys around domestically, lays over in a base then flies a premium trip from that base. YES... we DO own the flying from our base. I know ALPA doesn't agree, but it is flat out wrong that (for example) an LA guy Dhs to NYC and then flies 2 international trips and DHs home. (I use that example because I saw it this summer). It needs to stop. West coast guys come to NY and fly Europe, and I have yet to see any significant Asia flying for NY pilots. There was 1 in the summer that I remember.

/rant

JamesBond

No one is forced to fly GSs. IAs for the most part are voluntary as well unless they start grabbing people in the jetways.

I really am stuck on how productivity can be increased with the FAR limits we currently have. I certainly think it can't significantly increased. I am looking for ideas on this, because I have none.

PassportPlump

This is about your third time saying this in this thread. Why are you looking for ideas on how we can be more productive? Weird. There’s plenty of ways we can be more productive. Summer 2019 was a start. There are other opportunities for them hiding in plain sight.

JamesBond

Because I want to be convinced it is an issue. I timed out a lot last summer, and wasn't working all that hard either. Personally I couldn't get more productive. Try taking the question on face value and stop looking for something nefarious.

notEnuf

In a sense I agree with you. On the ER the blended trips have ruined the QOL. No more domestic day trips or 2day long leg efficient trips. Also the international is contaminated by both domestic start and finish days. Nobody likes it. You either like one or the other.

The ownership issue is ridiculous because the same route can change fleets multiple times during a season. I don’t like it but that’s how Delta has structured the business to be responsive to demand. The only real ownership is ATL owns all flying and occasionally farms out to other bases. Do I like it, no. Is there anything I can do to change it, no. Am I then forced to accept it, yes. Is this a deterioration of QOL, yes. Is pay going to be roughly inline with the industry, yes. Does this leave only really QOL to focus on, YES.

RANT COMPLETE

JamesBond

No, it's not ridiculous. GRU in NYC went from the ER to now the 330. Both are domiciled in NY. No reason whatsoever for ATL pilots to be flying those routes. When MSP has KEF... no reason for NY guys to be flying that from MSP.

Yeah we own the flying. It is the sodomiser that allows it. It is a QOL issue.