I'm not quite sure I'm understanding you. I'm trying to explain to you (or anyone interested) the amount of risk we are exposed to with our LTD that is nowhere near industry standard. You keep refuting pure fact and trying to discredit me. Why, I'm not sure. What's your motivation. I'm just a guy on the internet that very much wants to retire a Spirit pilot but the contract short comings, LTD specifically, are getting more apparent as seniority numbers at other carriers are being claimed everyday. The only way to know what you should be asking for is to know what you already have and sadly many pilots here do not. But you keep defending the LTD as if you wrote the policy. Why?

 

I'm not defending the LTD policy or the CBA . They both suck. The point I'm making is that you are misrepresenting the limitations of the policy. I suspect you were misled by Gonsen who is worthless along with the rest of the MEC and NC. Because of their patern of poor judgment and lack of skill we are trailing the industry in much more than LTD.

Is that clearer now?

 

Sorry to interrupt the LTD discussion, but, does anyone know the written test bonus questions? All the gouges reference the previous gouge but I can't find the actual questions.

Thank!

 

I'm not misrepresenting the limitations of the policy. You have guys on this thread that are currently on our LTD plan that are verifying what I'm saying. Why would anyone on the R&I committee give anything other than facts? They have nothing to gain or lose by giving misinformation. My info came from TW anyway.

So what you are saying is that if you don't have a job that replaces 80% of your predisability wages then you are going to keep getting paid until 65?

What I'm saying is that if you went on LTD because you lost your medical but if after 24 months you are not "disabled" by disease or injury then you are "able" to go get trained/educated to obtain said "reasonable occupation". They (insurance company) don't care if you have that reasonable occupation, it's all about if you are able enough to be educated to get it.

Point being that you can be "able" to be educated to obtain a "reasonable occupation" but not qualify for a first class medical. What that gets you is indefinite unpaid medical leave from the Spirit seniority list and no LTD payment after 24 months. So that leaves me with 30 years of lost wages if I can never obtain a first class again.

 

I'm just asking. Do not go nuclear. What percentage of our pilot group is affected by this portion of our contract in the end? A gain is a gain but, this seems a bit weird to pound the pulpit on this issue. Trust me. I get that we will probably end up giving the 4 days off away for no out of base trip trades but, what do other airlines have as far as LTD? Do you plan on using LTD in the end or what? Once again I am just asking.

 

I believe industry standard LTD is at least 50% of current wages until retirement age. This benefit is not offset by any future earnings from another career and is payed as long as you are unable to hold a first class medical. I am 32 and fully understand the potential financial implications of a robust LTD plan. If anything, this should be more important to the younger guys than the older guys, considering how many years of lost earnings you are looking at if you lose your medical.

It worries me that only a very small portion of our pilot group seems to be concerned with this issue. LTD/STD should be one of our top priorities going into contract negotiations.

 

IMO every pilot on the seniority is affected by this portion of the contract because of the risk we assume without adequate coverage.

The regional I came from had an LTD plan that paid as soon as you ran out if sick and vacation time. If you didn't have any saved up it paid right away. It paid 60% of 80hrs x your last active pay rate. It paid tax free because premiums were paid after taxes unlike your health insurance. The company paid the majority of the premium and the pilot paid a small share. The benefit paid until age 65 as long as you couldn't use or obtain a first class medical. Any other income did not count against your benefit payments as long as you weren't using a first class medical. You could litterally get any job and get a full salary and also keep getting your LTD benefit until age 65 because you were unable to get a first class medical.

I had a health scare last year where I lost my medical for a few weeks but was luckily able to requalify for it. I am a healthy 30 something non smoker and nowhere near over weight. This health issue was nothing that I could have prevented by lifestyle choices and I was perfectly healthy to do anything in life aside from fly airplanes professionally. Maybe this issue didn't get me but it made me realize how fragile and easily lost out medical certificates are. My family has a lot of time and money invested in this career as well as future earning potential. That's a lot of risk to assume by being underinsured. Hopefully none of us have a health issue where we can't get out medical back but I don't want to risk my families future on hope. It could also be as simple as the FAA making a sweeping change in certification requirements. Can you say sleep apnea? It wasn't my issue and I have a bmi of 25 but you get what I'm saying.

 

Not to drift away from LTD but are you really willing to give up 4 days off? Why?????? There should be no concessions in this next contract. I will NEVER vote to get rid of the 4 days off. EVER. And neither should anyone else its a QOL issue. It seems the big problem we have is that they hired too many regional guys who are trying to make this place crappy like the regional they came from, all because they paid a little better, instead of trying to make it better like a legacy.

 

I have to assume he was joking considering what the get for it was.

To continue:
Not valuing LTD at the top of the priority list is like not valuing SCOPE. Sure there would never be a merger, acquisition, or attempt to outsource our jobs. You'll never lose your medical either, right?. The rest of the contract has no value if you don't work here anymore.

 

Dude, you are thick. This damn policy totally sucks but it isn't a l loss of licence policy. They can't force you to go to law or medical school but is does indeed pay till 65. Now I'm done with you.