I just had this last month...It “Should” go above guarentee. But make sure it is pay only and NOT credit ... if there is credit as well, it will go towards guerentee (which needs to be 4F1C not 4F1R)...

 

Great, thanks Mongo. It appears to be pay, so hopefully come payday everything is there. Thanks!

 

Yeah, there’s just nothing shi**y and underhanded about that!

Yes, it may be “legal”, but......Why don’t all the mil guys get hired then go back on active duty, get their .gov pension, collect profit sharing and 401k money all while “earning” seniority, then just waltz back in after 20 and become 777 captains?

Maybe the regional guys should do the same!

 

Thanks for the idea. After leaving a 16-year active duty military career to get hired at NWA I was furloughed after 9/11. The hardest, but smartest thing I ever did was return to active duty, receive a great bonus to return, than sat on the sideline watching more furloughs, bankruptcy, merger, etc.
I came back after a 7 year absence. I never wanted to leave but the situation presented itself and I made the smartest decision of my life. Other furloughed pilots weren't as fortunate. One cleaned rugs, one drove a bus, etc. So blessed, fortunate, but not a choice many of us wanted to make. Please don't paint us all with the same brush. Not certain many choose to return to active duty nowadays. Tons of deployments, limited flying hours, moves, etc.
Certain if there were a way to quantify you might be surprised that the numbers have dramatically decreased.

 

Pulled into MCO tonight and it appears TAM has joined the ranks of those that bought the A-350. Not making anything of it, just reporting. I also think it looks pretty good in the Vietnam livery.

 

TAM was actually the very first 350 I saw in person... saw it down in GRU on my 330 OE February 2017.

 

We all know that the men and women that serve, and have served, in the armed forces, are this country’s finest citizens. No one disputes that fact. From me, personally, thank you all for your service to this great Country!

When someone recommends taking a full time job, finishing the minimum work before going off for 3-4 years, back on active duty to earn a pension, while also earning seniority on that other job you had no intention of working, it kind of sounds wrong.

I know he was “just throwing it out there”, but there is a reason Delta has been cracking down on the guys getting hired and then after training, ending up on active duty orders for the next year or four. I’ve got no problem either way. I appreciate all you guys and girls do for our Country. Thank you all for your service!

 

What is the reason they have been cracking down? Is it because they don't want to hire people who might do this or decide to after being hired? Is it because they want to discourage people (as you appear to) from doing this? I ask because those efforts would be in direct violation of federal law. You may support their actions, and not support the military member who does this with or without an original plan to do so from the get-go, but that doesn't make it legal.

I understand why people would be frustrated by losing seniority to someone who is off property for several years. I also understand the frustration of losing profit sharing to the same individual. But the law is the law. If you want USERRA-equivalent protections for community service, teachers, medical professionals, etc....lobby for it. If you want to remove USERRA protections for voluntary (or non-voluntary) military service, lobby for that. If you want people to simply stop doing something that benefits their family because it doesn't benefit yours, I'd ask what you're similarly doing in the same vein?

Some (not all) people don't understand the actual way full time service in the Guard or Reserve, or returns to active duty actually work. There is much uncertainty and people take personal and financial risks to effect the plan you reference above. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it does not. People leaving active duty early (with zero retirement benefit) often do so with no guarantee of ever earning credit for years or a decade+ of service. Sometimes they need to leave to save a marriage when the latest offered military assignment would strain their relationship or family dynamics to a breaking point. Sometimes they need to leave to avoid a non-flying assignment that they fear would harm their chances of getting hired at an airline following military service.

Many people in the reserve component don't even have access to full time positions when they apply for or accept an airline job. Many people take significant pay cuts for military work, and many get stuck with awful assignments and open themselves up to undesirable months- or years-long overseas deployments to nasty places (many unaccompanied by their family). They're doing this to fill otherwise unfilled positions fulfilling national and regional commitments we all establish and continue via the ballot box. If you want the need driving these folks onto MLOA to go away, consider voting that way. If there's no AD work to be had, they'll stay right here at Delta.

Now, should they have no place to go and simply stay at Delta, they'll not vacate the list temporarily for someone to fill their slot ot increase the need to hire more. They'll not create the inefficiencies that expand staffing. And they won't earn the privilege of tricare military medical insurance at age 60... which can enable many to vacate the list early before MRA of 65.

I'd offer that people should be careful what they wish for, have a little empathy, and thank a military member AND THEIR FAMILY for their voluntary service and sacrifice. There's way more than greed at work here, and the vast majority of Delta's military members are doing what everyone else on the list is doing... balancing current and future income, quality of life, and family obligations. Support them in their endeavors, and encourage Delta to knock off their antics. If Delta loses the pending MLOA lawsuit, punitive damages could be pretty costly.

Back to what does or doesn't sound wrong... how about folks on years-long PLOA making big bucks for themselves in private industry while remaining on our seniority list? 'Supwidat?

Thanks for reading.

 

Cathay had two (2) parked at EWR earlier this year (standard Cathay livery so nothing too exciting...&#128513. That has to be one of the longest "Trash Panda" routes going...until Singapore gets their A350ULRs this fall. Of course, Singapore is only going to have 161 seats on theirs versus our 306 so that probably helps the range just a smidge.

As for livery, I think Sichuan Airlines got confused about the "Trash Panda" moniker....

 

Anyone know if there are any Backdoor's to the monthly Bid Awards? Can't remember if they shut them down or not.

Thnx - Baja.