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-   -   Premium is king (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/frontier/152768-premium-king.html)

LifetimeCFI 04-16-2026 09:46 AM


Originally Posted by Togaabort (Post 4024178)
yet again. This is a lot about safety. Look at all the examples of people not getting proper rest. If you look at flica and “hustle” all day and then go fly a red eye after being up since 6am you are the problem. Have fun causing the next tail strike buddy though. Putting people’s life’s at risk for an extra 8 hours a trip is extremely unprofessional. May I never fly with you or anyone like these “hustlers”.

You're drawing a ton of assumptions from which the conclusions are dubious at best. This is a can of worms that I don't think the pilot group wants to open if they truly think it through, as dracir alluded.

Planedrive 04-16-2026 01:05 PM


Originally Posted by LifetimeCFI (Post 4024191)
You're drawing a ton of assumptions from which the conclusions are dubious at best. This is a can of worms that I don't think the pilot group wants to open if they truly think it through, as dracir alluded.

The can of worms is already open. The FAA is investigating the recent tail strike tied to one of the biggest premium abusers.

fcoolaiddrinker 04-16-2026 01:31 PM


Originally Posted by Togaabort (Post 4024178)
yet again. This is a lot about safety. Look at all the examples of people not getting proper rest. If you look at flica and “hustle” all day and then go fly a red eye after being up since 6am you are the problem. Have fun causing the next tail strike buddy though. Putting people’s life’s at risk for an extra 8 hours a trip is extremely unprofessional. May I never fly with you or anyone like these “hustlers”.


Yup. The big pic bottom line is these folks are going to force the faa to consider commuting as duty. That was already contemplated in 117 rough drafts. Potentially Hosing all commuters industry wide.

dracir1 04-16-2026 04:14 PM


Originally Posted by RStrawberry (Post 4024164)
I am unconvinced any bots even exist.

BOTs are definitely being used. Their speed is the evidence of their use. Not a single human in the world can select that "Add" button next to the pairing then the "submit request" button above it in less than 1/2 a second. Yet, there's been evidence that trips have been selected in less time than that from being advertised.



Bulldog319 04-17-2026 02:40 AM


Originally Posted by RStrawberry (Post 4024164)
This only works insofar as the pilot group is remotely capable of it.

From my experience, and the recent drama shared in class group chats, many of these guys are completely misguided on how picking up premium actually works. They’re too lazy or life constrained to really “hustle” like the “pros” and just want these flights served on a platter to them. And you want them to police the alleged bot usage? I am unconvinced any bots even exist.

I was a junior FO when I figured out how to get some premium. I could probably get 50% of the ones I put in for and I was junior. It involves a lot of staring at FLICA and seeing where the reserve coverage is weak.. Obviousy this favors the folks with more time on their hands or who commit to it entirely. All of these people complaining don’t want to do that. Go figure.

It boils down to jealousy, and you don’t want mob rule governing the pilot group.


And therein lies the problem, There shouldn't have to be any hustle required other than the hustle and the desire to actually show up for the trip ready to fly.

Staring at a screen for hours at a time does not have the payout when looking at the hours required vs hours gained. reCaptcha did nothing except knockout the people using an AutoRefresh script leaving more scrap for the bot people.

A FIFO type system is the only way to do this fairly IMHO

If a person is a regular premium flyer and they say that they aren't using a bot, then they are a filthy liar and I will happily call them that to their face.

LinaPeru 04-17-2026 07:52 AM


Originally Posted by Bulldog319 (Post 4024404)
And therein lies the problem, There shouldn't have to be any hustle required other than the hustle and the desire to actually show up for the trip ready to fly.

Staring at a screen for hours at a time does not have the payout when looking at the hours required vs hours gained. reCaptcha did nothing except knockout the people using an AutoRefresh script leaving more scrap for the bot people.

A FIFO type system is the only way to do this fairly IMHO

If a person is a regular premium flyer and they say that they aren't using a bot, then they are a filthy liar and I will happily call them that to their face.

there’s some very simple solutions to this problem that we just don’t implement for various reasons. For example, put a 5-15 minute window on this stuff, then assign it by seniority. Restrict or deny out of base pickups. Apply a back of the line solution.

a lot of these BS problems would go away. You me and everyone else would feel less ****ed, and it probably have th added benefit of being safer.

dracir1 04-17-2026 08:33 AM


Originally Posted by LinaPeru (Post 4024478)
there’s some very simple solutions to this problem that we just don’t implement for various reasons. For example, put a 5-15 minute window on this stuff, then assign it by seniority. Restrict or deny out of base pickups. Apply a back of the line solution.

a lot of these BS problems would go away. You me and everyone else would feel less ****ed, and it probably have th added benefit of being safer.

This would work; however....

That'd be more work for Scheduling (who is already borderline capable).

Windsor 04-17-2026 08:45 AM

Screwing over fellow pilots while also screwing over the company by picking up an out of base premo, then calling in sick or calling off via prudent judgment should be a punishable offense. At my old airline, that would get you fired. Its bad enough these clowns are using bots. But its adding gasoline to a fire when they screw the company hard as well. These trips are in premo for a reason. They need to be covered. It most certainly does not help us at the bargaining table to have flights cancel because pilots were cheating the system and failed to show up to work. I say a 6 month remote flica ban to start with. Ramp up the punishment from there.

Planedrive 04-17-2026 09:27 AM


Originally Posted by Windsor (Post 4024494)
Screwing over fellow pilots while also screwing over the company by picking up an out of base premo, then calling in sick or calling off via prudent judgment should be a punishable offense. At my old airline, that would get you fired. Its bad enough these clowns are using bots. But its adding gasoline to a fire when they screw the company hard as well. These trips are in premo for a reason. They need to be covered. It most certainly does not help us at the bargaining table to have flights cancel because pilots were cheating the system and failed to show up to work. I say a 6 month remote flica ban to start with. Ramp up the punishment from there.

Haven’t employees been fired for stealing off the food carts?

When I was hired it was “don’t lie, cheat, or steal and you will keep your job here”

How is lying about a bot, cheating with it, and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from your peers not a fireable offense.

Everyone was warned about this 6 months ago by a must read.

dracir1 04-17-2026 10:04 AM


Originally Posted by Planedrive (Post 4024517)
Haven’t employees been fired for stealing off the food carts?

When I was hired it was “don’t lie, cheat, or steal and you will keep your job here”

How is lying about a bot, cheating with it, and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from your peers not a fireable offense.

Everyone was warned about this 6 months ago by a must read.

The reason we have police, FBI, etc. isn't because people haven't been told. Most people break the law daily (usually through some sort of traffic violation like speeding or not stopping full at a stop sign, etc.)

The only reason this is a thing is because the company has been impacted by those who pick up then can't show for whatever reason. If it continues, the company will take further action, I'm sure. But it's doubtful it will. Expect more of the same.

This is the pilot force of Frontier Airlines.


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