some points to remember.

1. im very sorry to hear about the impending downgrades/furloughs-- hopefully the captain recommendation program will kick in again that TC and i began-- it was extremely successful-- we assisted in about 90% of the furloughees getting interviews and they got hired elsewhere by using ur contacts and giving recommendation letters to them when they went to the interview--- talk to to your Union reps about it-- they should remember or they can get in touch with me and i can help out again-- I'd be happy to do it again. Skywest ( everyone wanted to go there) was the hardest, but maybe we have some contacts over there now, CHQ was the best-- they even offered $$ to the recommending pilot for prospective applicants

2. just remember if you get another job, you cannot take your sick time and you vacation with you ( captains this is way more $$$ than f.o's) dont forget about how you resign w/regards to sick time vs bonus money. for some if you have alot of sick time and are getting another job, it pays to call in sick b/.c the sick time resignation bonus of 600 is a joke especially for capts-- hmmm call in sick for a 20-25 hr 4 day at 70 a hr or get the 600. all im telling you is dont leave anything "on the table".

3. i wont say dont pick up open time b/c thats illegal job action, so all i will say is Enjoy your time off from work , whther it be with or visiting family, doing your favorite hobby, home improvements etc. whatever jst go out an enjoy your time off.

4. if you get furloughed, take unemployment, get another bizjet type rating, and drink heavily and see about getting some travel benes whilst furloughed -- to help go to interviews or just travel-- -work with the union on that.

SKIPPY, waiting.....for my notice too

Can you file for unemployment on a voluntary furlough

no. just that if you want to volunteer you can, and that they ARE thinking about further action.

What exactly is a LOA and it's benefits, the contract just says how to get it but not what it is. Is it just lawyer talk for voluntary furlough?

well i just flew with one of the guys that got the downgrade call....what can i say that hasn't been said already..Good luck to all of us.

This voluntary leave memo......well i think they're just trying to see how many of us bite....the more that bite, the less chance there will be of mass furlough.......as for bennies...you loose your flight bennies and pay longevity, but keep your sen. no.,....... but, apparently if you talk to the boss you can work a 'deal' to keep your flight bennies....now that would be an interesting conversation.

You should not loose longevity, it should just stop for the term of the leave.
That believe how it is worded in the contract

What idiots...they expect anyone to take LOA without flight bennies??? What's the point of that? Watch basic cable and drink BPR all day?

I wonder how far back they will go. 70-80 FOs? The memo alludes to the fact that they are going to downgrade more Capts. If this is correct, the math seems to indicate that anyone north of the June - July 07 new hire classes is toast. And those who were hired around then are back on reserve for a long time.

Ditto on the flight bennies...They're dumber than a doorknob if they think they can yank those on an LOA :rolleyes:

how do LOAs work? is it like volunteering to be furloughed or what?