In my category, lucrative GSs over holidays consistently go to the top 10-15%...FOs with seniority numbers of < 3,000. The purposely bid 6 day trips with 2 legs (high credit/low block), so they're available (block hour wise) for a 6 day GSs over major holidays.

Except I know guys who bid holidays off so they can then GS over the holiday.....

Bidding behavior may or not change but a whole lot more people fly for straight pay over the holidays than the relative few that get a GS. To me, it’s as simple as holiday pay at 1.5 benefits a lot more of the pilot group than a few green slips. It’s a no brainer.

It’s also very expensive. I am not sure why some think this is a low cost item. 5% of rotations might go out on GS’s over a holiday at 200%. Compare that to all trips at 150%. It’s not where I want negotiating capital spent. That is however why we have contract surveys. If the majority wants it the union should pursue it.
I managed my desires for specific time off by carefully selecting the categories I bid. Unless you are in the bottom 5% of the seniority list you have control. 30% of the pilot group will be working every holiday. Nothing a contract can do to change that.

Holiday pay sounds good on the surface. My fear is that every time we make significant changes, we either don't realize the consequences or down play them as insignificant. I never heard a peep when we voted in a single 365 day AE per year, now it is the single greatest flaw in the PWA. :rolleyes:

I could care less either way but people will adjust and the new status quo will look a lot like the old status quo because we have a seniority driven system. I doubt I'll work holidays and benefit from the pay and I already get them off (except the 4th) so meh from me. I suspect there's a lot of meh/no opinion out there.

Those bidders would still bid holidays off if there were no gs.

Thats the point. Its pretty simple.

Senior bidders will bid the better trips. Layovers. Weekends AND holidays off. Gs or not.

Its called seniority.

Ask for the holiday override if you want. Just dont use illogical and emotional reasons to get it.

There is nothing wrong with simply wanting more $$.

While we are at it lets get an override for weekend and maybe crappy layover. trips too.....see those pesky senior bidders always avoid them too so the junior bidders always get stuck with them.

Its not fair.

This is an irrational argument. Industry standard not just in aviation gives a premium for those hourly workers forced to work on a holiday. You're seriously arguing that we SHOULDN'T have something? Why, because it wouldn't directly benefit you?

And, it would absolutely change bidding behaviors. If only the top 10-15% get a GS around Christmas, wouldn't it make sense that, instead of rolling the dice, 16-50% might bid to fly on a holiday if it meant getting a premium override?

There are people who bid specifically QOL and those who bid because they know they will get GS. Then there is the middle 90% that will do what is best for them and will fly a trip that checks out on Christmas or checks in Christmas because they aren't celebrating until later and want the extra money. Saying it wouldn't change anything is ignorant.

So all we have to do is get rid of those clowns at each end of the schedule bidding priorioity and everything would be peachy. Cuz evrybody else bids in a reasonably acceptable manner.

Got it.

And you say im ignorant? Thats hilarious.

Nobody at delta FORCES you to work on a holiday. Or any other day for that matter.

I may be ignorant....but you are irrational for thinking so.

You dont want to work your holiday trip? Dont. No skin off my nose.

Life is about choices. So stop whining and make some.

Yes. In fact, so ignorant that you can't even imagine a world where anyone doesn't bid like you. That's pretty special.

I support 150% holiday pay for any rotation that touches the APD-formula-days on/ /before/after holidays. That'll probably shorten up rotations built around holidays, which I personally think is mostly good. Or perhaps the company would reduce the apd-restricting footprint with such language... which is also good.

I do not support removing premium pay from a holiday rotation dropped for sick. I trust our people, and never see a good reason to incentivize flying sick... our sick policies go far enough at discouraging abuse and the company has mechanisms to investigate if they need to.

I'm under no illusion that this will be cheap for the company, but I think it is a worthwhile step to take for QOL.

Full disclosure, I have kids and loved ones at the moment... holidays matter to me.