I don’t see why a pilot should inherently be furloughed before another pilot born the day before them. If that’s the case, why don’t we move this beyond the class date bucket? If it means “all the difference,” then why furlough a 50 year old new hire that started class this week and not the 23 year old who started last week? Or why not sort the pool by age and only ever take the oldest of the lot if their time is somehow more valuable than that of a younger pilot? Somehow age is only sacred within a single class…which doesn’t make sense

 

Agreed. I was the youngest in my regional class in 18’ and enjoyed the lovely transcon redeye commute for 8 months to sit ready reserve on the east coast while those older somehow “deserved to not have to deal with that lifestyle”. Again at AS being the plug I enjoyed commuting again although significantly less lengthy. Seniority there moved at a snail pace so it was even more important to get what you wanted early as they only bid twice a year. Coming here I was finally able to not be the plug and enjoy some control over what airframe and base. Otherwise I’d again be commuting to ATL or DTW for a lovely 2 years in the 717. Moral of the story is someone always gets screwed. If the older crowd can say “meh they’re younger they can deal with it been there done that” then I feel I also have the right to say “been the plug and dealt with the hell that comes with no control over what or where you’ll be flying”. Luckily at the moment the movement combined with the monthly AE’s is allowing people to get where they want pretty quickly so currently it doesn’t really matter unless you’re that unfortunate soul who lives out west and gets the 717 on drop night.

 

I have the best reason; since this is a seniority based job with a retirement age (and age correlated medical concerns for all humans) and the issue in question is how to assign seniority numbers within a class that starts the same day, then age makes more sense because older plots will have less time. That small advantage makes sense for them. We've always been told the reason its SSN is due to someone suing, but other airlines still use age within a class so its clearly not against the law.

I just think age within a class would be more fair than the last 4 you were pre-assigned prior to even applying. FWIW my number is fairly good and happened to coincide pretty well with my age in class anyway so this isn't sour grapes or wishful thinking on my part. I just think its the right thing to do for older new hires.

The second best way to do it IMO would at least be by interview/CJO dates.

The third best way IMO would be to randomize it with a system that gives everyone an equal chance for in class seniority when they apply.

And just so no one gets defensive over a red herring, literally no one is asking for a "do over" after the fact if the methodology ever does actually change going forward.

 

Better idea: Military retirees go to the bottom of the class. They already got a pension.
Followed by mil dudes with Tricare
Then dudes that get a VA disability check in reverse order.
Then the regional/cargo/LCC peeps can get figured out in SSN order since they made the career choice to fly airline in the first place, they shouldn't be penalized
Top of the seniority list will be the Propel and ex DL employees since they drink the Kool aid the hardest.

Signed,

Ex mil pilot/RJ trash/part135 goon

 

Should be Golden Corral looking at a lot of our pilots these days.

This is a great idea. I'll tell you what. Let's just reshuffle the entire seniority list and go by age, top to bottom. I'l lose a bunch of numbers, but at least all the North guys who got hosed will be restored. I mean, you guys are all about "fairness" and "equity", right? Those with the least years left should definitely have the most opportunities. That's the only "fair and equitable" way.

 

you realize that I’m not advocating for age to have anything to do with class seniority, right?

 

the current system already gives you a random and equal chance.

 

It's the Delta difference. Embrace it with pride. It's not a flaw but a feature. It won't change because it works fine. Why anyone who already has a number would care how seniority is assigned within a newhire class is interesting. I don't get why this tiebreaker is getting this much emotion.

 

"Because someone having it better than me and getting hired younger than me makes me big mad"

-them, probably

 

Anyone have an idea of what the wait time may be for re-interviewing from an expired CJO? CJO had to be “declined” due to not having availability due to military.