Majors with Best Commuter Policies
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
You don't. An Assistant Chief Pilot tried that and was shot down in short order. The FAA was very clear that commute time is not duty time.
The only think that looks vaguely like that is our protection. In order to be protected on your commute, you can't have planned a commute day plus your trip to be over 13.5 hours.
The only think that looks vaguely like that is our protection. In order to be protected on your commute, you can't have planned a commute day plus your trip to be over 13.5 hours.
Yes, but at AA/DL/UA/SW, you are can commute and operate right away AND be protected. FedEx’s policy is a lot less lenient than those places. But it is true, that once you have seniority, you can get double dead head trips where you positive space yourself. BUT, you are not protected on those flights either. So back to the same problem. The policy needs to change for the better to catch up to others.
#32
He didn’t really define what “best” or “commuter friendly” means to him. Those things are subjective. For some, it may mean that you are not in jeopardy of discipline. To others it means easy of use. And to some, it means costs.
If what people wrote is correct, AA’s commuter policy is better than DAL. You only need one flight (can be offline) as opposed to two. And if you rather just be there instead, just give yourself two flights like DAL. So at AA, you only need one but can obviously give yourself more chances if you rather just get there. The option of just using one flight and still being protected is not available at DL. To me it’s a no brainer, but maybe that is just me. I came from a regional that had a better commuter policy than any airline I’ve heard of so maybe I’m just picky?
If what people wrote is correct, AA’s commuter policy is better than DAL. You only need one flight (can be offline) as opposed to two. And if you rather just be there instead, just give yourself two flights like DAL. So at AA, you only need one but can obviously give yourself more chances if you rather just get there. The option of just using one flight and still being protected is not available at DL. To me it’s a no brainer, but maybe that is just me. I came from a regional that had a better commuter policy than any airline I’ve heard of so maybe I’m just picky?
Ability to reserve the jumpseat(s)
Positive space options
Commuter hotel options
Full reimbursement of airport parking fees
That’s why I posted.
To your second point, yes AA has a good policy in terms of not getting in trouble, but Delta has access to cabin jumpseats, and the company will positive space you in more cases than AA.
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
Majors with Best Commuter Policies
He did define what best or commuter friendly mean to him:
Ability to reserve the jumpseat(s)
Positive space options
Commuter hotel options
Full reimbursement of airport parking fees
That’s why I posted.
To your second point, yes AA has a good policy in terms of not getting in trouble, but Delta has access to cabin jumpseats, and the company will positive space you in more cases than AA.
Ability to reserve the jumpseat(s)
Positive space options
Commuter hotel options
Full reimbursement of airport parking fees
That’s why I posted.
To your second point, yes AA has a good policy in terms of not getting in trouble, but Delta has access to cabin jumpseats, and the company will positive space you in more cases than AA.
Actually, he said it was a non-comprehensive list. He also didn’t say if the partial list was in priority order. So he didn’t ‘really’ define it, IMHO.
And to your second point, like I said, from what was written, the AA policy seemed better. But if DL also allows cabin jumpseats, that would definitely tilt it their way IF you valued getting there (getting paid) over just not being disciplined.
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Position: A-320
Posts: 680
FDX, can reserve JS 21 days out. Protected if you’re company mental going into a trip with a couple exceptions like duty day, international trip.
But most of us who commute just bid and fly deadhead trips with paid tickets to/from the trip.
If you’re going to commute, there’s no other place you should consider.
Commuted at UAL as well, that on the other hand was absurd. Seniority based JS until time of departure was crazy to me.
But most of us who commute just bid and fly deadhead trips with paid tickets to/from the trip.
If you’re going to commute, there’s no other place you should consider.
Commuted at UAL as well, that on the other hand was absurd. Seniority based JS until time of departure was crazy to me.
#35
This is not correct. Review CBA 5.P.2.
At WN, a pilot must have two flight opportunities (online OR offline) to arrive before scheduled report time. Alternatively, if solely traveling online, one flight is enough IF you are scheduled to arrive one hour prior to report.
We cannot reserve the jumpseat; it is first come-first served starting at one hour prior to departure. No seniority is involved.
At WN, a pilot must have two flight opportunities (online OR offline) to arrive before scheduled report time. Alternatively, if solely traveling online, one flight is enough IF you are scheduled to arrive one hour prior to report.
We cannot reserve the jumpseat; it is first come-first served starting at one hour prior to departure. No seniority is involved.
“Alternatively, the second scheduled flight is not required if the primary flight on Southwest is scheduled to arrive in domicile at least one (1) hour prior to check-in”.
Basically, one flight if it’s on SWA and arrives at least 1 hour prior to check-in. Two flights if it arrives less than 1 hour prior and/or is off-line.
This paragraph refers to domicile and not training. We don’t reserve, just show up and it doesn’t matter if there are available seats.
The best commuter policy I’ve personally experienced.
#36
From the above referenced section, the end of paragraph 2;
“Alternatively, the second scheduled flight is not required if the primary flight on Southwest is scheduled to arrive in domicile at least one (1) hour prior to check-in”.
Basically, one flight if it’s on SWA and arrives at least 1 hour prior to check-in. Two flights if it arrives less than 1 hour prior and/or is off-line.
This paragraph refers to domicile and not training. We don’t reserve, just show up and it doesn’t matter if there are available seats.
The best commuter policy I’ve personally experienced.
“Alternatively, the second scheduled flight is not required if the primary flight on Southwest is scheduled to arrive in domicile at least one (1) hour prior to check-in”.
Basically, one flight if it’s on SWA and arrives at least 1 hour prior to check-in. Two flights if it arrives less than 1 hour prior and/or is off-line.
This paragraph refers to domicile and not training. We don’t reserve, just show up and it doesn’t matter if there are available seats.
The best commuter policy I’ve personally experienced.
Offline jumpseater at the gate 1hr prior, SWA guy shows up 45min prior, does not bump offline guy?
#37
Off-line gets bumped by SWA pilots, of course. But we have two jump seats on most planes and SWA pilots can take the cabin jumpseat to make room in the cockpit if it’s not taken.
#38
I agree with that, but I have heard conflicting stories. The ALPA-site for SWA says:" The flight deck jumpseat is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis subject to the Captain's approval." without reference to OAL/Offline, and most other airlines JS-info do. I have heard from SWA pilots that it is FCFS regardless if SWA or not....
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,262
I agree with that, but I have heard conflicting stories. The ALPA-site for SWA says:" The flight deck jumpseat is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis subject to the Captain's approval." without reference to OAL/Offline, and most other airlines JS-info do. I have heard from SWA pilots that it is FCFS regardless if SWA or not....
#40
Gets Weekend Reserve
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,582
I agree with that, but I have heard conflicting stories. The ALPA-site for SWA says:" The flight deck jumpseat is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis subject to the Captain's approval." without reference to OAL/Offline, and most other airlines JS-info do. I have heard from SWA pilots that it is FCFS regardless if SWA or not....
For example, 3 OAL pilots list for the jumpseat and a SWA pilot shows up after, here's how this plays out:
In this case, a SWA pilot gets the cockpit jumpseat over OAL regardless of when he/she checked in as SWA pilots have priority for our jumpseat. Given that we have access to cabin jumpseat as well, I'd say 99.99% of us will happily take the cabin jumpseat to get OAL guys on. The priority between the 3 OAL guys is determined by their check-in time.
Bear in mind that at Southwest, all employees have access to the 4th FA jumpseat so that can be a little tricky on packed flights.
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