Florida's not my bag but rock on, I see where you're coming from. And I'm not against positive space vacation passes, but it is way, way, way down the list. If I were planning a vacation to an ultra high load factor destination like FL or LV or really anywhere in the summer, I'd fly comfirmed for less and know I'm getting there. Now on our greatly reduced pay, multiplied by the seniority pounding of outsourcing half our airline, I can see why buying a ticket is not always a financial reality. But that's the issue. We can't afford our own product, which is cheaper than ever.

That's what needs to be corrected. Once it is, we can look into vacation passes as a legitimate perk, not a band aid trying to cover up grave dancing bonus mongering emergency survival contracts that divert money to "executive talent" instead.

 

Like I said, I'm not against nice perks for us. But we have a massive amount of work to do first. I see this as a potential emotional distraction. I'm pro pilot to the bone and have a thin skin for jealous entitlement mentalities from other groups, but this is one issue that if we paid for in negotiations, we would be paying to get it for everyone. If the company wants to make this a policy because they feel it will build goodwill and attract/retain talent and make for happier employees, great! Gordon Bethune used to buy new cars to give away to employees with perfect attendance. But he did it because he wanted to because he saw a ROI in doing so. The pilots didn't buy them for everyone.

I just thought it was odd that such a random third tier issue was embedded in lines of questioning that tried to get us to choose between scope and pay, retirement and work rules, etc. The survey was very much a "the pie is only so big so what do you want and what can you live without" and yet here is this interesting but extremely low priority issue.

Fix pay, scope, work rules and retirement and we could afford our own tickets...although if, after all that, the company still wanted to offer them as a perk, rock on!

 

Not me. Almost every Captain I've flown with lately knows we got raped in BK, and they all want large increases. But, those surveys seem important, so make sure you tell everyone to complete it and not to aim low like some North LEC members advocate.

 

I've heard a rumor that the "Chili de Conquistadors" that I had for dinner, washed down with a flat, tepid Diet Coke served up by an irritable waiter, will soon be flowing through. Judging from the looks I got in the car, more than one person has heard this as well. I should know more details in a minute or two.

Which do you think is more likely to come true?

Nu

 

It is interesting in that the top captain is 9700 euros and the base captain is 7600 euros however, the base FO is only 2750 euros. Using your calculations, the base FO us rate would be just under $90,000/year.

Are you suggesting that the FO's take more pay cuts in order to increase the captain pay?

 

Sounds like you better drive fast.

 

I don't know what base/category you are in, but the other Captains I've been flying with (and they are the MOST senior Captains we have, single and two digit seniority numbers) are mad as hell and NOT about to sign on for anything less than 25%, PLUS a whole lot of other stuff.

Maybe it's because they lost the most, dollar wise, (over a $100/hr. pay cut and over a Million in their DB's) and have the least amount of time to recoup it, as this will be their last contract, but I have been flying with the most senior guys and they are very PO'd.

The F/O's on the other hand, seem ready to settle for a quicker, smaller, raise, with no talk of a job action from them. Maybe it's because they are already overextended, have kids in college and not willing to walk, where the senior Capt.s are about to turn 65 and be gone anyway.

 

Thats interesting because the FOs you fly with are about the same seniority range as the captains he flies with.

 

I guess that explains why they are of the same mindset.

 

Been hearing that from the ASA guys for some time. Talked to one of their corporate guys a while back, and he also stated that there would be some interesting initiatives announced by our hiring department and theirs. Surprisingly, I did not did any deeper.

Makes sense, DAL loves their ASA pilots, except for yours truly, and ASA has done a lot for DAL.