I'm working at a hub turn where I fly about five hours of block. That is followed by a deadhead. I plan on going to the hotel for a few hours sleep and then deviating home. The commercial flight is about four hours. If I'm reading the contract correctly, I can get a first class ticket based on total block hours in the duty period since I'm not taking a full rest. When I tried to book it with corporate travel, the lady kept telling me that I was not able to book 1st class. Can someone clarify this for me? Thanks.

You should get it for DUTY time, not block time. Hub turn followed by a less than 8 hour rest quals for FC every time regardless of block time

Relevant section is 8.A.4.b.ii a deadhead is included in a single duty period exceeding 11:30 (lead in verbiage is A class of service higher than coach shall be authorized if: )


While it may be possible, I can't think of a single occasion where a hub turn followed by a few hours of sleep at the hotel followed by a DH home didn't exceed 11:30. And there's very few occasions where a FC ticket wouldn't have been authorized on a single departure back end DH for me either.

Just book it on reservation system on PFC.

[QUOTE=kronan;1795217]Relevant section is 8.A.4.b.ii a deadhead is included in a single duty period exceeding 11:30 (lead in verbiage is A class of service higher than coach shall be authorized if: )


The contract section is the only thing that matters here. If you are entitled to FC per the contract then you are allowed to book it. I have used this particular provision on back-end DH's more times than I can count.
While the people in Global travel are nice and certainly work hard for the crew force they do not have supervisory authority over a pilot, in that they cannot tell me what I can and cannot book. I would politely tell them to book the ticket and if there are any issues I would be happy to entertain a call from my fleet manager.

Does your pairing have you dhing at the end of the duty period, or laying over prior to the dh?

The reason that I ask is that the 11:30 duty applies only to a scheduled dh at the end of the duty period, not deviating same duty period on your own.

4.Class of Service for Commercial Deadhead Travel
Requirements regarding class of service shall apply when the deadhead is scheduled. The Company shall not be in violation of this Section due to operational changes or conditions imposed by passenger carriers after the deadhead is scheduled (e.g., increased or reduced block time). Regardless of whether such changes occur, a pilot’s deviation allowance is based on the class of service authorized in the original schedule. a.Deadhead travel shall be booked in coach class unless a higher class of service is authorized.
b.A class of service higher than coach shall be authorized if: i. a deadhead exceeds 5 scheduled block hours; or
ii. a deadhead is included in a single duty period exceeding 11:30;

You are confusing bank and booking. You are correct the bank does not increase but b. i. and ii. are what determines what class of service is authorized. In the OPs example First is authorized, the bank is a separate problem.

You are right. My bad.

1st overnite, I think you are right, but corporate travel is really confused about this and I've heard of other cases where they refuse to book it.

However, if your entire duty day, from scheduled show, until the time your deviation deadhead schedules you to land at home (plus 30 min), is over 11+30 (without a full 8 hour rest period), you are entitled to book first class for duty day. If you tell them, "First class for duty day," they will book it and not give you a hard time.

A related question. I'm doing a front end deviation, and using the FEDEX online system to select a flight. I specify Coach (Y) Class in my search. All airlines return Coach Class fares except United. That airline returns First Class fares for some reason. Also, those United First Class fares are as cheap, if not cheaper, than the other airlines Coach Class fares. Any idea why the system does this? I seem to remember something about United offering us free upgrades to First Class. Don't want to book a deviation ticket that will come back and bite me at expense report time.