I've looked through previous posts and haven't found this one.
I have vacation next month and expect to be out sick for the entire month. What's the gouge for the best way to do this?
My options as I see it are:
Bid pay only
Bid reserve and expand the footprint
Bid a line and apply usual vacation tools
My aim, naturally, is to get the most pay with the least vac and sick bank usage and just wondering if there was any crew knowledge on how to do it.
Thanks!

Just curious.. how does one EXPECT to be out sick for the entire month.... ??

Many reasons. One could be a very short term medical condition like a trial on medication controlling one issue or other. Another issue could be a surgery that takes you out or broken bone.

I expect to have surgery

Ding ding ding..... winner, winner, chicken dinner. Hope you aren't out long & good luck.

If you bid reserve you will have to "sit" at least 1 day, or at the end of the month they will charge your sick bank for all the R days you had ---- not just the days you would have been called for a trip

Thus, if you have Reserve, be sure to sit at least 1 day before your scheduled surgery...,or ensure you can make it back for at least one day at the end

One strategy to avoid any sick bank use is to go "first fly " while on reserve very early in the month prior to surgery --- building up your leveling -- then go sick for surgery

With enough leveling up front they will never "call you" while you're sick/recovering and you could use zero sick bank

Throwing vacation in there muddies
the water a bit

What's your goal re: vacation?

Use all your hours....or none?

I'm already out sick so it's not a good option to call in "well" for a day at the beginning of the month.
I plan on using all of my vacation bank and would like to minimize sick bank usage.

You will also need to notify Harvey Watt and get a return to work letter from them...learned that one the hard way at the last minute.

As for vacation vs. reserve. Whatever R days are left over after your vacation knocks them out will constitute a mini-RLG. The comments about sitting at least one of those days are correct, otherwise your RSA account will be charged for the entire mini-RLG amount. If the amount of hours are 30+ (I think) then you can request DSA be applied instead.

I recommend reading CBA 25.C.7. If you are planning to be out you probably should call the PAC and be on pay only. It would make your vacation usage easy as well to minimize sick pay debit.

Verbiage in the disability section indicates you can reduce the amount of CHs being used while out sick should you so desire 14.D.2.b

As a reminder, you should be bidding pay only if you expect to be out for the whole month....then, when you're ready to come back you need to pass that info on as well to turn the game back on.

Good luck with your treatment