Openers today?
05-04-2026 | 08:11 PM
#941
On Reserve
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 197
Likes: 31
From: 767
seniority does matter. Seniority should put you at the front of the line for your first premium trip, you shouldn’t be able to get 4 SS, 1 GS and 1 QS before anyone else gets a shot at any premium flying.
most of this airline was hired when there was 1 form of voluntary premium and it was leveled. Those arguing for no leveling now had no problem spending 2 decades of their career with a senior pilot only getting 1 premium trip before going to the back of the line. SS/QS moved the goalposts, wanting them all leveled and on the same counter is just putting them back where we found them.
most of this airline was hired when there was 1 form of voluntary premium and it was leveled. Those arguing for no leveling now had no problem spending 2 decades of their career with a senior pilot only getting 1 premium trip before going to the back of the line. SS/QS moved the goalposts, wanting them all leveled and on the same counter is just putting them back where we found them.
You can’t have a one size fits all levelling mechanism when all the premium trips do not pay the same.
05-04-2026 | 08:19 PM
#942
Moderator
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,301
Likes: 1,312
But all premium flying is not the same. A silver slip requires you to have pick up available. It is not double pay above the GS trigger, I could be single pay above the trigger if that’s all you have. Both a GA and QS are double pay, but one requires you to meet a trigger, one does not.
You can’t have a one size fits all levelling mechanism when all the premium trips do not pay the same.
You can’t have a one size fits all levelling mechanism when all the premium trips do not pay the same.
05-04-2026 | 08:28 PM
#943
On Reserve
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 197
Likes: 31
From: 767
what I am saying is you have to have pick up available. A SS pays single toward your pick up limit, plus single toward the SS.
Suppose I have 10:30 of pick up available. I get a two day SS worth 10:30. I get 10:30 toward the pick up limit, which I could have had by flying a WS, and another 10:30 of SS pay. So my “premium pay” is an extra 10:30. But if I WS a trip to fill up, then get a two day GS my “premium pay” is 21:00.
So if we had single leveling system, you blew your one premium trip for essentially straight pay above the pick up limit, vs. GS which could pay double above the pick up limit.
Suppose I have 10:30 of pick up available. I get a two day SS worth 10:30. I get 10:30 toward the pick up limit, which I could have had by flying a WS, and another 10:30 of SS pay. So my “premium pay” is an extra 10:30. But if I WS a trip to fill up, then get a two day GS my “premium pay” is 21:00.
So if we had single leveling system, you blew your one premium trip for essentially straight pay above the pick up limit, vs. GS which could pay double above the pick up limit.
05-04-2026 | 09:09 PM
#944
Racketeer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 13,319
Likes: 812
From: N60.4858 W149.9327
Both parties are trying to sharpshoot (banked PBs, withhold pay etc.) but one party has the ability to violate at will and they are poaching while sharpshooting.
Last edited by notEnuf; 05-04-2026 at 09:21 PM.
05-04-2026 | 09:14 PM
#945
Racketeer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 13,319
Likes: 812
From: N60.4858 W149.9327
seniority does matter. Seniority should put you at the front of the line for your first premium trip, you shouldn’t be able to get 4 SS, 1 GS and 1 QS before anyone else gets a shot at any premium flying.
most of this airline was hired when there was 1 form of voluntary premium and it was leveled. Those arguing for no leveling now had no problem spending 2 decades of their career with a senior pilot only getting 1 premium trip before going to the back of the line. SS/QS moved the goalposts, wanting them all leveled and on the same counter is just putting them back where we found them.
most of this airline was hired when there was 1 form of voluntary premium and it was leveled. Those arguing for no leveling now had no problem spending 2 decades of their career with a senior pilot only getting 1 premium trip before going to the back of the line. SS/QS moved the goalposts, wanting them all leveled and on the same counter is just putting them back where we found them.
05-05-2026 | 12:36 AM
#947
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 320
Likes: 20
From: Pro happy
If junior didn’t pick up senior’s straight time trip, senior wouldn’t be able to pick up a SS. Stop picking up trips from the swap board. Senior can’t drop them trips on his/her own because there’s never adequate reserve coverage (at least in my category) to do so.
05-05-2026 | 03:31 AM
#948
Moderator
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,301
Likes: 1,312
what I am saying is you have to have pick up available. A SS pays single toward your pick up limit, plus single toward the SS.
Suppose I have 10:30 of pick up available. I get a two day SS worth 10:30. I get 10:30 toward the pick up limit, which I could have had by flying a WS, and another 10:30 of SS pay. So my “premium pay” is an extra 10:30. But if I WS a trip to fill up, then get a two day GS my “premium pay” is 21:00.
So if we had single leveling system, you blew your one premium trip for essentially straight pay above the pick up limit, vs. GS which could pay double above the pick up limit.
Suppose I have 10:30 of pick up available. I get a two day SS worth 10:30. I get 10:30 toward the pick up limit, which I could have had by flying a WS, and another 10:30 of SS pay. So my “premium pay” is an extra 10:30. But if I WS a trip to fill up, then get a two day GS my “premium pay” is 21:00.
So if we had single leveling system, you blew your one premium trip for essentially straight pay above the pick up limit, vs. GS which could pay double above the pick up limit.
SS still pays double. Just like GS, OOBGS, QS, and IA.
05-05-2026 | 04:04 AM
#949
Bent over by buybacks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 638
Most SS have been in open time for days and days. They are horrible trips no one wanted or would swap into. I wouldn’t fly most of them for triple pay.
Accordingly, in many categories, it’s not rare to see SS go to 50% or even lower.
Sorry, 90%-in-category guys hired in 2022+, we’re not upending the system because you chose to be a super-junior captain and will be for years.
Accordingly, in many categories, it’s not rare to see SS go to 50% or even lower.
Sorry, 90%-in-category guys hired in 2022+, we’re not upending the system because you chose to be a super-junior captain and will be for years.
05-05-2026 | 04:29 AM
#950
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,481
Likes: 477
I wouldn't say most. The SS in my category have never survived first contact, usually taken by the same top 20%. I think the only reason they even get that far down the list is because to very top of the list doesn't want them on their line because it would hinder their m7 pillaging.
I'm not for leveling SS, I'm for getting rid of them.
I'm not for leveling SS, I'm for getting rid of them.
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