Guys.. there are a few issues here-
First of all, why the he11 is 21-AA there in section 21?! Shouldn't it be a sub part of the deadhead section?
Even I misread that thing back when I tried to read the whole contract back in 2012.

But, as BMEP wrote- how is it implemented? I have never seen anything written to explain how it works.

YES, you should never be forced to take a Economy seat. Matter of fact, I don't believe you can be forced. But not everyone is aware of everything in the contract.. or maybe they have forgotten that part, etc..

Looking at our Union Page, I see a MASTER DYK File. But no where does it explain the deadheading issue as stated in this thread.

As was mentioned earlier.. maybe 21-AA was put in the contract for those few occasions where it's the last part of your trip and you're trying to get home.
But again, having a Did You Know about Deadheading (with examples) would have been the right way to go.

Lots of pilots are swapping equipment, seats and bases and are running into situations that they never knew/understood before.
It's about Communications and Education.

Just my .02$
Motch

I had this happen twice.

The gate agent got me a different seat (in front of the emergency exit row on the guppy).

Problem was....THAT was an economy seat too!

They changed my seat to another "non-compliant" seat.

I got the 21AA (supposedly) for next time.

Similar issue with me. How did you "get", the 21-aa for next time? Is it something like a travel reward through the United app?

Would make sense, but no.

Contact your CP Office and they will put you on the double secret (not kidding) list that crew scheduling can access for "next time."

The whole this is goofy, IMHO. Except for a pilot getting home for a critical, critical, critical family event I can't see why anybody would be on that list.

These are the good times, relatively speaking. If folks aren't prepared to follow the contract now things ain't gonna get better later.

Easiest way is phone call to the FODM.

So, if I decline to travel in a non-compliant seat, and this causes me to arrive back in base so late that I am not legal to report for my next pairing, what happens to that next trip? Does 20-F apply, or is considered a missed trip?

You're being forced to violate the contract in order to prevent pay loss? Think about that for a minute.

There is a difference between commuting to work in regular economy vs crew movement in a contractually compliant seat.

I’ll agree the lack of a codified process makes the whole thing “goofy.” All I’ve got is an IOU from the CPO that I’m on the “21 AA” list. As far as actually exercising the privilege, we’ll see how it works out. However, it is part of the contract. Why is a commuter on a DH deviation to get home at the end of a trip by whatever means necessary rightfully exercising the contract, while a pilot exercising “21AA” to get home isn’t? If we can’t respect each other’s right to use the contract to their advantage in the good times, it doesn’t bode well for how we’ll hang together when we need to.

I think you misunderstand my question. Not commuting to work. Last day reassignment into a DH that arrives too late to be legal for the next pairing. Multiple pairings within the same work block.

I couldn't find anything in the UPA that covered the situation. But I am also sure there is a lot in the UPA I have missed.

I think we are talking past each other a bit here. I mostly agree with you.

But just to be clear, the step prior to 21AA is attempting to get a contractually complaint seat in the first place.