LOA 22 – Voluntary Early Separation Program
 

How many are they expecting to take the VESP?

It makes sense for pilots who have less than two years left. For those with more time left, they may not want to leave that much money on the table.

I think there will be more takers than people think. There’s no way to know how you’d feel about it if you aren’t in that age range. And like any time a contract vote comes out, the overwhelmingly voiced opinion is “No” and then the thing ends up passing. Saying “No” to the company is just the more popular thing to type online until it comes down to making a real decision.

Apples to oranges don’t you think?

A pilot voting “no” to a contract TA knowing that it’s only 1 out of 5,000 votes is totally different than voluntarily deciding to separate from the company. Having to decide in the next few weeks to give up all their seniority, vacation etc….is a big decision and there aren’t other votes that will cancel out your vote.

Out of the 600+ that are eligible, how many are commuters, that are dissatisfied with their schedule and have other ways to make an income?

Senior pilots, pilots who live in base, or don't have good exit options are obviously going to stay. But a I bet a decent number of older commuters can get a corporate or part-time job in their hometown and use the lump sum to offset the pay cut.

Call me crazy, but I wouldn't be surprised to see 100+ take it.

No, I meant that there’s a perception by people who aren’t even eligible that this isn’t a good deal and no one will take it. I think people who are eligible are having a hard look at it. I was comparing the response I’ve seen to this LOA to every contract ever. A lot of “this sucks, totally underwhelming” and yet I think many will take it. I personally know of 4 who are leaning towards taking it.

Again that’s totally different than what you said about a contract vote and how the most vocal people are no votes. Those people actually have a vote. If some mid-30’s FO on the PotatoFarm thinks it’s a bad deal…. who cares, he doesn’t have a say. Might as well as Gary Leff from View From the Wing what he thinks of it.

I’m literally everything you said with the exception of being 54.
Commuter. Dissatisfied. Corporate offer on the table.
The 18 months severance would mitigate the first year of corporate until the end of year corporate bonus kicks in. Or if big oil gets in trouble here in TX and starts laying off pilots. Gulfstream 650. Start on G280. I’d take it if they dropped the age.

My only point is there are a lot of posts saying they doubt many will take it. Look at the guesses on this site. I think there will be more than seems to be expected. That’s it.

Not to mention it’s early enough in the year to dump some of that money into real estate investments, qualify as a real estate professional, and write off most of the federal income taxes on it.

Add all the money from VPTO/PTO + 17%, and you’re paying minimal Medicare/Social Security as well—because you’re basically shifting the next 18 months of income plus ALL of your PTO/VPTO bank into ONE tax year.

I think it’s a no brainer for two groups of people:

1) People around 59-60 who live near legacy bases or want to do NetJets until they’re 80

2) People with less than 36 months left and mostly full PTO/VPTO banks