Yeah, it's kind of ridiculous, but not really surprising. Spam 'em with grievances, I guess, for whatever good it'll do. In the scheme of things, slow FLICA processing isn't the end of the world, though.

Edit: 1,000th post.

 

On with the standing bid awards that just came out, I counted only 5 175 upgrades, not the 8 that were supposed to be awarded. Where are the other three? What am I missing?

 

10 was on the notice. My guess is sim availability with the huge new hire class in Jan.

 

*huge new hire class full of people who accepted money/iPads not agreed upon by the pilot group or union, who will not be riding on my jumpseat

 

It's not their fault they were given iPads. Sounds like your MEC needs to step up and grow a pair.

 

Yeah, jumpseat denials always solve a lot of problems.

 

Lol you would've taken the money and iPad as a new hire too. This is our "union's" problem.

 

If your AC was inoperable--and unable to satisfactorily maintain temperature to your desired range--then the hotel does not qualify as suitable accomodations under 117.

Guys--if your AC doesn't work to your desire, if the power goes out, or if the hotel is noisy enough it wakes you up w/o an 8-hour block of undisturbed rest, you are violating a FAR by staying there and reporting to work/flying the next day.

It drives me insane how so many of these glad-happy yes-men IAH newbie Captains/FOs will literally sleep in a barn if only the company asks them to, in accomodations that clearly violate 117 and showing up to work after clearly not getting appropriate rest.

Would you accept an approach to an ILS when the ATIS states a visibility less than the required value (outside the FAF)??? Would you takeoff with an open write-up/EICAS fault displayed and unaddressed without calling maintenance/grounding the plane??? Would you accept an assignment that violates 117 FDP limits???

If something in your hotel (like no electricity/air conditioning that does not maintain temperature/etc.) violates 117 definitions of suitable accomodations, you are violating a FAR--no different than if you violate any other FAR.

Call Crew Tracking and be firm and direct--"my a/c isn't working, this hotel doesn't meet the requirements of FAR 117, I am not staying here find me another hotel." I have done this 3-4 times--you just have to be firm, direct, and to the point.

Do not ask--demand another hotel and tell them you'll have to file an ASAP if they insist on marking you "in rest" in a hotel without an operative, functioning climate control system.

It's time to end the downward spiral of crappier hotels--have more respect for yourself and what you do, guys. You're insulting the victims of Colgan 3407 and other crashes by staying in dumps without functional air conditioning.

 

Okay okay--I'm not actually going to deny FNGs jumpseats for usurping our contract/sidestepping our union. They're going to get a stern lecture though.

I have spoken to some DFW/IAD Captains who seem fairly serious about denying jumpseats. They'll probably just get in trouble with mgmt over it, and then they'll stop doing it. And no one will probably actually do it.

And no--I most certainly would not have accepted the iPad reimbursement or additional $1,000/month. My old man was a diehard union guy, and I even got pulled out of school once to attend a strike--if he found out I was taking money no one else was getting, without agreement of the union, he probably would've flown to PHX and smacked me across the head, even as a crotchety old man.

 

I've ridden the jumpseat numerous times and had people riding when I'm flying.
Not ONCE has anyone ever asked pointed questions like you're suggesting you would.
When riding, I was one time asked to show my medical; otherwise it's been casual questions like "do you like the company" etc and then onto sports or whatever.
I love how people get all TOUGH with the jumpseat- when they're at their keyboard.
Nobody's going to be preparing for flight and a jumpseater comes along and they stop everything to ask, "is that iPad paid for by you or the company?"
Get F-ing real.