What’s the deal with May FO lines? CA’s came out two days ago and we still got nothing.

 

Those who do the PBS awards are probably stuck in AGS trying to non-rev back. 😁

 

As I’m sure you’re aware, this would drive pilot labor costs up. Doing something like paying double time to cover an ATL-JAX flight that was in the MSP bid package is kinda silly.

Yes, it would be good for pilots. No, I don’t think it’s a reasonable allocation of our negotiating resources.

 

In what fantasy land do reserves get premium pay for deadheading to another base?!

What about trips in the bid packet that begin and end with deadheads to a hub, should those all pay premium pay too (for the line holders who are awarded them)?

Deadheading hub-hub at the beginning or end of a trip is a non-issue. A lot of commuters desire these type of trips.

We do need to improve deadhead language though. The fact that we have to book our own deadheads is sort of ridiculous. I'm sure all pilots could get behind deadhead improvements.

 

Agreed. I have no problem with reserves DH'ing to another base to cover a trip. That's the nature of the business. You're on reserve.

I do have a problem with our domestic DH language. If it's not improved in the next TA it's an automatic no-vote for me.

 

You have to be in uniform, but you don't have to be deadheading.

 

They can put a sherpa to shame with the amount of bags carried. This petty stuff, crew meals, DH, they just want us to waste negotiating capital. Don't fall for it.

 

Hear! Hear!

I say the new contract needs an update to the bidding timeline:

3rd - Bids Open
9th - Bids Close
14th - Awards Posted

* Bs shall be posted within 24 hours of captains.

 

Wouldn’t do any good. That would be just another contract item that would continuously be violated with no real repercussions.

 

So "QOL" (what a ridiculous term...sort of like "inclusion" it is used so much in a flippant manner that no one really even knows what it means) now means that a reserve should not be able to be used by the company as a...reserve...so more guys in base can get premium pay to fly a trip that is easily assignable to a reserve and has been for decades prior?

Don't think the negotiators are going to be wasting much time pursuing that fantasy. Might as well say "QOL" by demanding premium pay for driving to work during rush hour. I mean doesn't that impact your "QOL?"

We need to work hard on improving the quality of our trips as we fly them (improved DH language, which has been mentioned recently, is a great example) and that is where we need to place our emphasis. Trying to restrict the company's ability to run the trip coverage sequence as it currently exists will take a bit more effort.

By the way, I agree that there are a few areas there which should be improved (such as the ability the company has to assign a trip to a reserve that conflicts with his regular line days off in the next month, all for no premium pay, when they could not do that if it interfered with his reserve days off!...that should never have been in the contract to begin with. However, that is not the same as just saying "reserves can only cover in base trips, period."