Just curious how quality of life has changed since the new contract has gone into effect.

 

We've kept the great flexibility that we had. Some pilots have spoken with legacy carrier crews while jumpseating and report that there are aspects of our rules that they wish they had, like the ability to swap and drop trips based on open trips in the pot, i.e. without regards to reserve staffing. Three days out, it changes to drops based on reserve staffing withing the morning/afternoon/evening windows, so if the first method didn't work, with a little planning you can still get it done as you get close in to the trip date. I don't think I've had a trip drop that I wanted and wasn't able to do under the new CBA.

Relief lines under the new rules are a bit worse than before because line holders get to bid again after monthly open time before relief lines are built, but there's still the huge flexibility with the open time rules.

Reserve rules are much better than before. Reserves can now add trips on days off, and have a chance at breaking guarantee without flying on days off due to better rigs. In addition to the regular reserve lines like before, we have lines that enable you to get 20 days off in a row over the bid transition, at the cost of being on reserve for 20 days straight before and after that (scheduling has to give you at least 30 hours rest in domicile every 168 hours). That's not my bag but it's an option if you need it.

 

Other than pay, I think better hotels is what I’ve noticed most, but that’s great work by our union hotel committee, not the company.

Trips have the same odds 50/50 of going off without a hitch, or going totally bananas.

FAs are definitely worse, more unruly and rude than ever, but that will never change here imho.

ORD base still very chill. Others seem the same, but I’m an outsider looking in.

If nothing else, Barry, SC, & Co. are not currently bludgeoning the pilot group, but as others have posted here, that could change anytime as deemed by the oracle in Scottsdale.

 

FAs are definitely worse, more unruly and rude than ever, but that will never change here imho.

The FA contract vote closes tomorrow I believe. So if they vote yes they may be nicer !

I have also noticed a large increase in underwing staff. I confirmed that with the tug driver while we’re pushing back. They are really being pushed hard for on time departures.

 

It’s funny that you say this.

I took a 20 minute delay on departure and a 20 minute delay on arrival a couple of days ago in Denver because we didn’t have a ground crew. Redeye turn. 10pm departure and 0430 arrival.

I would think that if we really care about ontime performance, having adequate ramper staffing would be low hanging fruit.

 

That would cost money they want to fix the operation for free.

 

I think we’re only a couple of “WINNING!” newsletters away seeing the success of that plan.

 

Necro...
I understand the reserves at NK took a hit on QOL with their rules under PBS. Are these provisions likely to stay equitable when you move to PBS? What are your rules on reserve day swaps/drops?

Is the PBS transition happening through a completely different negotiation and will you get to vote on a PBS agreement?

Are your rigs dependent on the switch to PBS, like NK's, or did they already take effect?

Thanks in advance, just trying to figure out if Frontier is a good fit.

 

The agreement we voted on had a pbs Loa. It has protections. Loa 3 paragraph 4. The parties agree the intent of pbs is not intended to alter the terms and conditions of the parties collective bargaining agreement, including but not limited to vacation slide, no fly list, as well as types of res lines as ta’d by the parties. That’s one of the protections. Pbs cannot change agreed upon language. Some examples, res grid numbers can’t change, various res lines can’t change, line average number can’t change, basically most hard numbers can’t be changed through Implementation of
Pbs. Reserve swap/drop similar to nk. Now I don’t really want to get into a pbs debate on a public forum while its being negotiated so let’s leave it for the negotiators. We know management reads this.

Separate negotiations we don’t get a vote but can make our voices heard though reps.

Rigs are already in affect.

 

Does anybody know the minimum number of consecutive days of reserve? Thanks.