Ain’t that the truth. My “question” was a bit rhetorical.

Same reason we always have to call to be released on reserve even if there is no way you could be used.

Same reason we are limited to the $$ that can be used for parking…even though it comes from the deviation bank and isn’t a direct reimbursable expense.

Same reason it’s called “sick time” and not PTO.

Same reason you need permission to mid-trip deviate.

Same reason they can decide if something is a revision and not base replacement.

The list could go on and on, but you already know that. Control is the name of the game. The more we can wrestle back, the better.

Yes retirement and pay needs fixed, but far too many people seem to be overlooking the impact QOL items play in the day to day ops. I certainly hope folks look past shiny numbers when that mythical TA is eventually produced.

 

Bingo! QOL matters. All the small items, like the ones you mention, add up. If it’s just one or two, it’s not a big deal. But they are strewn all over the contract. Even things where they can still keep some control but improve QOL. For example, the required call after coming back from a reserve assignment. They can simply change it to require you to check for any crew notifications by 30 minutes or call right away if you want. Lots of things can be changed to improve some of these nuisance rules.

 

Before we had any contract we could buy first class tickets as long as you had the bank money. We gave it away as part of a contract. Don't remember if it was the first or second contract

 

I have a trip that starts on the 11th in Memphis. If I purchase a ticket to fly in from ASIA on the 8th am I still within the 3 day window when it is technically the 7th in MEMPHIS?

 

The easiest way to figure out if you are within the three day window is to go into the Deviate Trips page in VIPS. Enter the date you want to buy the ticket on the day you’d be deviating from. You don’t have to have a scheduled deadhead. You should have a Select option for the first and last leg of the trip. Enter when and where you want to fly and select one of the options that comes up. You don’t have to actually deviate. Just click on the flight. If it’s outside the three day window for the leg you are deviating from it will tell you. It will say “The ticket departure time is not within the three day deviation window”. If it doesn’t say that, you’re good to go.

 

Awesome. Thank you

 

Right. Sorry, that is immediate to me. Should've been clearer.

 

Actually, I believe they were taking things away prior to the first contract. I know they made a major change to vacation and established a value for vacation days in the early to mid-nineties. All of that is one of the reasons we ended up with a union on property.

Trying to remember 30 year old acronyms, but I believe it was FCH or Flight Crew Handbook.