flyguy81

I’d bid rsv if you could elitt rsv blocks.

SlipKid

I'd consider bidding reserve if:

We had a long call option.

Min daily pay was the same as a line holder.

There was a seniority based (gasp!) pass or fly system.

Blocks were elitt-able.

You were guaranteed to be released after your last leg on the last day.

Barring that, I am am not ever gonna bid it.

flyguy81

I live in base and 40 mi from the airport. Got a buddy who worked 2 days this month on rsv. That’s a lot of getting paid to go mountain biking.

ANGFlight81

On another note, what was the percentage of profit sharing last year? Looks like this years will be higher per discussion on the earnings call.

flyguy81

13% or so. More people on the payroll too so not sure how it’ll pan out. I’m guessing 12% or so for this year.

RJSAviator76

That right there!

I've traded my trips with a reserve a few times. Despite my seniority and Pass preference, a junior guy got to stay home while I flew because he had MTD utilization (on reserve only) than me. The way this pilot group disregards seniority and the benefits of seniority is nothing short of epic.

SlipKid

Yup.... After we finish screwing up vacation bidding, we're gonna address our "unfair" monthly line bidding system, you know, where the senior folks get ALL the weekends and holidays off!

Psycho18th

I’m new to this entire way of doing business, so sorry in advance for the newbie question.

Didn’t guys who are senior now, spend a good portion of their career when they were junior benefiting from the same things in the contract they want changed now that they are senior? Or is it just with experience, you see the inadequacy of the contract better?

SlipKid

If you're referring to the vacation vote, it's the other way around.

The senior, who have waited decades to be senior and are now in position to benefit from the existing system don't want it changed.

A certain, very vocal, junior, but close to retirement pilot has been pushing this agenda because it will benefit him, while ultimately screwing the vast majority of our list.

Ironically, the (currently) junior folks who have many years left on the property are the ones who are going to, ultimately, pay the highest price for this give back, both in QOL and vacation pay.

e6bpilot

This information is completely false. Dear lord.
The real story is that our vacation block bidding system unfairly stacks the summer weeks of vacation to the ultra senior. They then trade them out of seniority to whomever they choose. The guys who benefit from this did not wait decades as alluded to above. They upgraded fast and have been super senior for a long time. There are, however, guys who have waited a decade or more in a seat and still can’t hold a Summer week, which are gobbled up by the top 20 percent or so in the first round. Also, block bidding 4-5 weeks and trading for other premium weeks has only been a thing for a few years since the advent of computer trading plus the knowledge that you could take advantage of it like that has made it possible.
The membership of swapa has spoken, and they want it changed. There was a movement to change it a few years ago under an old swapa regime but it was, not shockingly, buried in a heap of manure.
This isn’t being led by few junior guys with an agenda. It has been repeatedly voted on by the entire pilot group.
Being senior means you get the first pick, not the whole thing. Nobody is suggesting changing anything else that seniority gets you and everyone gets how this is going to play out in their future, even the dumb junior folks that you are trying to protect from themselves.