I changed bases 9 times. I commuted in the military, it was called TDY and was a cost of doing business.

Pretty sad that a policy that could have been used as a carrot is instead used like a stick. Get a dog, kick it everyday, see how long it takes for that dog to stop coming to you when you call it.

The topics are relevant because DAL - for whatever reason - latches on to bad data and treats it like a manageable metric: Like attila, APU sheriff, and commuting policy.

 

I don't think so. I changed bases 5 times in my 7 years, but 3 of those were PCS. I suspect some of your's were too. I'll stand by my position.

scambo, in 20+ years at DAL, I've commuted for exactly 1 month. By choice.

But as I've said countless times before, I've got no problem with PS passes for EVERY trip for a certain period of time after a base closure or base opening. But we've never had bases in MLB, TPA, PHX, CHS, JAX, CLE, and countless others, yet pilots feel an entitlement to live in those cities, while being paid by DAL, and then expect DAL to foot the bill for them to get to work. I DO have a problem with that mentality, because it costs the company money, and money they pay for that can't be put in our paychecks. Effectively punishing those of us who suck it up and move. That's my beef with the whole issue.

 

Boy, you are out there. The only thing management is doing is hardening the pilot group prior to Section 6....real smart.

The point is either it is a policy or it isn't, if they don't want people to use it they shoudn't have put it out there. Legally the company doesn't have a leg to stand on for punishing guys for using an existing policy. If Dalpa doesn't support the pilot group on this they may as well kiss their butts goodbye, Donut anyone!!

 

My neighbor is selling her house because she took a position in another city with the same company. Part of her companies numerous relocation benefits are that they will cough up $30k if the house is sold at a loss.

This is the kind of stuff we need in the next contract. If they don't want commuters, make it easier to move.

 

Relax -- no one is being punished. But DAL was willing to put a policy in place so long as it wasn't abused. When pilot's on this board say the NWA policy was "use it as often as you want", and assume that should be the same here, the policy will end up coming down. Once again, the majority who are using it as intended, will be punished by the few who abuse it.

 

I completely agree.

 

The question is how many of these abuses are from the Pilot side and how many are from the FA side. Anecdotal evidence (possible sea story) from a DFW commuter I heard from was he was busy scrambling one day to get to ATL from DFW and he sees these cat ranchers just laying around reading Cat Fancy or some such thing not at all worried, because they'll not get on the first plane, call scheduling and get a PS seat.

Anyway, PG you have chosen not to commute Bravo for you. Come down off your high horse and see how the rest live before you sit in judgement. I've had 4 bases in as many years, two not by choice - should I move each time. Have you sold a house recently? Did you get what you needed to get the same standard of living? Anyway lay off the MGMT/DALPA koolaid and get your empathy on.

Pilots will call in sick and they'll even get doctor's notes. We're flying full aircraft with people who obviously didn't pay enough making our perks unusable.

The passenger on my recent 75E to CDG sitting next to the RP seat said he booked with us because we were half the cost of US Air. Our revenue folks need to raise fares enough and establish a load factor where we make money but aren't so stuffed that a rainstorm in ATL doesn't send the operation into a tail spin.

 

I know several people that have used the policy from CVG with absolutely no repercussions. My guess is that this guy did not have a reasonable plan to get to work and counted on positive space. All the guys I know who had good commuting plans and had things pop up to make them use the policy were given a seat no questions asked. No letters, no calls from chief pilots. There are always those few guys that will push everything.

 

My base changes listed were PCS

When I deployed or did some special project, etc. I was TDY. Irrelevant to this discussion. I understand your position that commuting is a choice, it is also reality.

At DAL I have changed bases 5 times, some for juniority reasons, others for seniority or equipment reasons. I have been mandatorily displaced, but never used a paid move - speaking of money out of your pocket. I have also scrolled the paper on the aircraft printer to use for taking notes, that probably ate up some of your profit sharing too.

We really dont need to have this discussion. I commute, you dont. I live with it, you choose not to. JG commutes positive space from JAX. He doesn't have to worry about getting a letter. Heck, I dont worry about getting a letter.

 

FWIW

When I saw this thread started I had no doubt as to the validity of the letter and no doubt it was a bad thing for our policy. So I went to the source and contacted my chief pilot and he said emphatically "NO" letters are not being put in files. He has no knowledge of these particular circumstances but from his office "NO". I believe him and trust him and I am a FORCED commuter, so I have skin in the game.

In a general sense, I would love to hear all sides of the story when a pilot gets done in a chief pilots office, but it will never happen because only one side is free to to talk about the details. Either we have a policy or we don"t that is clear. If someone is abusing the policy then we have a clear process for remedy. I think a particular CP office was seeking to remedy an issue and felt a letter was the way to handle it. I think it "MAY" be an individual thing and a bad response to a particular situation on part of the company.

I have no issue ever using this policy and feel confident it will work as intended and I will use it as intended if I need to. So, now I will get ready for my commute (7th one in 4 weeks) Gotta love 10 hr 3days.