Because the company says no. I guess its been offered multiple times. Actually it was 1.5x pay on those dates. Got that on good word. The company hasn't bought into the value of it yet. I think the average line pilot could convince them of the value. Or they ought to try it just once like on July 4th this year and see what happens!

We really need them to understand that when there is no financial incentive to fly on these holidays that everyone bids them off then you have to do some unstacking and then planning for excessive reserves to cover those dates with high sick call rates. Then the problem becomes people with legitimate sick calls over the holidays are lumped into those who try and want a sickaction.

Here is the deal as I see it, give an incentive (2x pay or a flat x amount of hours for the day) and you will see less unstacking, less sick calls, less reserve coverage required.

I agree. Problem is that they generally have the staffing on all fleets to cover the flying, and the computer does the work. They do not seem to care if they unstack and it is contractually allowed.

It comes down to: Is it cheaper to pay everyone or cover 40 trips each holiday at double pay. (exaggeration, I do not think it even that many) Point is that the current system is cheaper.

And I bet that is exactly right.

Yep - unstacking doesn't cost them anything. Also - giving additional pay for the holidays is a definite cost, while the possibility of a GS or two over a holiday is less of a sure thing.

Speaking of extra pay for things - what do people thing of a COLA like the Continental pilots asked for? From what I read, the pilots at CAL asked for a Cost of Living Allowance for pilots based in Newark - I don't remember the amount, but it wasn't just a pittance.

NYC and LAX seem like some high cost places to live - what about a COLA for pilots based there? Or maybe for pilots based there who live within a certain distance? (say... a reasonable distance from EWR, LGA or JFK - get my drift?)

If you are already pay protected for the trip you just got pulled from, explain why you should send every available reserve before yourself???? Reserves get crapped on more than enough for nothing extra already, perhaps you should fight for a provision that IOE can only be taken from open time (that would give quite the incentive to leave lots of open time to potentilally grab for extra pay)

Simple.

It is once again letting seniority go.

A guy that has a trip pulled for IOE or bought by someone now has to sit reserve. Many of those ppl commute, and will have to incur an expense for getting their line or trip pulled. I am on reserve and I see that as unfair. I personally would hate to have to sit reserve if my trip was pulled.

Being at the top of the stack is great for reserves but for that pilot, no so much.

If you want to leave it that way, the company must provide hotels and per diem over the original trip footprint.

Just made a statement again about COLA. I agree. Cola or a 4-5% bump per year, whichever is greater.

I would love to see cost of living adjustments. For a company that does not like commuters this is a great way to make ppl move. You can get the adjustment but you have to live within four hours of 200 miles of said domicile.

A buddy at Southwest told me that the company encourages people to move within a certain distance of a base by paying moving expenses (even it you were awarded the base via their version of an AE). This way, more people can pick up open time on short notice - more profitable airline.

There is a benefit to the company for people to live in base. Why not pay a bit extra to encourage that?

You will not get an argument from me. If they want to save even more money they should offer to pay at a min the price of moving, and Realtor fees. That in my case is more than what my stock is worth. It would also make me think about moving to a different base. (Say GUM :D )

Anybody have some proposed pay rates that they think, all things considered, could be achieved?

Here are the pay rates on Jan 1, 2012:
http://images2e.snapfish.com/2323232...B%3B6346nu0mrj