Even if the company's not out to get you on something like this, the FAA probably is.

And what do you think will happen if you call in ORD to let your company know that you are "feeling a cold coming," and will be calling sick in SEA when you get back for the next leg, but that you are "ok" for this leg........ and then an accident happens? You can bet the FAA will track this phone call down, and it will be reported at the NTSB hearings. What do you think the victims family members will say? What do you think that will do to your family, when you are dead and can't speak/defend yourself?

Yup, My thoughts exactly. You are sick. You are sick. Either call in sick right away, or tough it out.

I am not parinoid at ALL, but I am not going to step on my "crank".

You can not un-ring a bell, FACT.

My log book write ups consist of the light/warnings that came on and CW (complied with) QRH page xx.xx.x and FOM page xx.xx.x.

Period, you want more get the CVR/Data recorder.

Especially considering in this world where a media writes that the FO sent a text in EWR, and then later that aircraft crashed. That is fact, in regards to the Colgan crew. What do you think they'll do if they find out you were coming down sick? The media will tear you apart (which will really hurt your family, because you'd be dead), the victims, their families, the FAA and NTSB will all come down hard on you.

Yeah, and then I will have to get a flu shot along with filling out 45 PRIA pages, get my college transcript... all to get kicked out because I didn't dot my I, on my pre interview packet.

That's what I was thinking. Granted, it's an extreme case, but ACARs messages are recorded/saved.

Along the lines of what you said regarding Colgan, long after the crash and the general media started to forgot about it, some outlets made note of the FACT that the FO talked about being sick, but was worried about pay/punitive action, etc on the CVR.

In a bizarre coincidence, my company changed their sick call policy to where a Dr.'s note on a sick call WON'T count towards the allotted "occurrences" in a rolling 12 month period.

There's a fine line between cya and being a selfish paranoid person... Learn to walk the line :) personally I've only done this once and I woke up not feeling too hot but I was fine for the flight home. That's exactly what I told scheduler. If I do get a violation or into an incident/accident, what is so hard about defending your judgement? Of course cover yourself in handy wipes for the sake of ther crew members. I'm not company guy at all, but I do care about not messing up passengers' plans/connections/other offline pilots commuting home, etc...

Exactly, skyx. I'm all for the Union taking care of us, but if we don't take care of the passengers, we won't have jobs.

Don't say a word until you actually call out sick.

If you're sick, you are sick. Call in sick. Then, stay in the hotel, or non-rev home, or go get a room, but DO NOT jumpseat.

If you call with a head's up you're opening yourself up to a world of hurt from multiple angles, as already explained above. I know my company will pull you off when you call in to "give them a head's up" which is actually in your best interest since it is clear-cut and dry. If you think you can make it a leg, you make it a leg. If you can't, you can't. The company has reserves. You won't be the first to call out mid-trip. It sucks, but it happens. Don't make a habit of it.