The problem is that it’s already “every man for himself.” I don’t begrudge the farmers for exercising their contractual rights and getting 23M7 payments. However, they know, whether they admit it or not, their auto-accept of trips they have no intention (or ability to be in position) to fly is absolutely harming pilots down the seniority list by gumming up trip coverage, as Hockey and NotEnuf have already detailed. That leads to folks hawking OT and preemptively calling CS, hence the dealmaking email—seniors are in “I got mine via 23M7,” and others are in “I got mine because I called CS and they had something for me.”

The company does need more schedulers, and there do need to be guardrails. I liked the suggestion of 23M7 leveling—I.e., once you’ve been paid 23M7 for a trip, you’re ineligible for another 23M7 in the footprint of that trip.

All of these things can be true at once, but acting like it’s not a problem for both sides is disingenuous at best. I don’t think the dealmaking is going to stop until the situation is resolved, because right now, it’s untenable.

 

This is why I would trade auto accept to get rid of 23.M.7 payments. Right now, my phone rings all the time for IA’s. I learned a few days ago that I can’t get them if I want them. Maybe trade auto accept for much steeper 23.M.7 pilots. Time for every pilot that is skipped.

 

Change 23M7 to pay directly to ALPA instead of the individual pilots. Then whenever they do the thing they can just send us all a refund check.

-Money back to the pilots
-Eliminates farming cheesedickery

 

Then everyone farms because everyone gets paid. And seniority goes out the window.

There are plenty of post-Covid hires getting 23M7 in multiple categories. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not reserved for the ultra senior. Bid what you want, want what you bid if you’re not happy with the hand you’ve been dealt as a junior captain who enjoyed an unusually fast upgrade.

 

What about guys who are not farming? Just last night a buddy of mine saw a trip he wanted to fly (nice layover) put in a WS for that specific trip, got the call out, but never got the award and it went out on IA. Luckily he got the 23M. Should that go to ALPA to be distributed to the group?

 

Technically have a much better chance of snagging an IA now than I ever did when things were "normal" when I was #98 in a 120 GS batch. Not mad about my hand in the slightest.

 

Good, then enjoy it.

Different relative seniority ranges will always come with different perks. Flattening seniority is not always the best solution for the pilot group as a whole.

Those who advocate for throwing out seniority while at the bottom of the seniority list are just as self-serving as those who advocate for a higher retirement age while at the top of the list.

 

Currently, only a few farmers are making bank while the rest of the category are having a premium free for all without seniority being honored.

They skip coverage because people farm. If 23M7 isn't paying individuals and instead pays out to the entire category, there's no incentive to farm. Your buddy wouldn't have gotten 23M7 because they would've just gotten the WS.

You could easily argue the entire category is affected every time coverage is skipped when 23M7 is used, so if that trip pay out were to be paid to the entire category, regardless of slip, then there's no incentive to submit a slip just to farm. Would you rather fly the trip you submitted for or chance getting a few bucks at the end of the year?

-Youre not "giving" anything away
-it still costs the company to use it
-it still puts money in the pilot group's pockets
-theres no reason to farm
-Everyone gets something, even the harmed pilot

The only negative is the harmed pilot isn't capturing the full value of the trip they were skipped for, but if trip coverage returns to normal with the current "running a little hot" status, they'll easily be first in line for the next premium pay opportunity.

 

On the contrary. Your idea motivates me to start farming just to increase the pot. If we all farm, the pot gets big! Let's go, everyone! Start farmin!

 

how the hell am I advocating for flattening seniority when the end goal is to return premium trip coverage to the way it was, which was honoring seniority and no longer an IA free for all?