flydiamond

this and we’re already working far harder than other pilots on those day trips. 2-4 legs (versus a single transcon), constant mx and other operational issues here that simply do not exist at other airlines (eg uncontrolled airports, circle to land in the mountains), etc. anything less than other narrow body operators in all areas of the contract is a non starter. Not to mention higher paying widebody rates are not an option here and our upgrade times are longer.

tailendcharlie

The co. would love you to believe that industry standard work rules like 5 hr. min. day, no single isolated days off, and immovable reserve shift times will cripple the business model & force everyone onto 4-day trips. Unless I’m mistaken the EXCO is not falling for this and will negotiate the best contract possible & continue to let management determine their business strategy.

And for all you dreaming of a merger - you do realize that would spell the end of the smaller bases & day trips, right?

tom11011

Depends who with. If it was SC, then MSP simply becomes our largest base.

captnate702

I agree with a couple of your points, but I do think that no isolated days off would be difficult for some markets (LAS). I’m sure there are some industry standard work rules that would hurt the day trip model, but management cannot be trusted because everything hurts the model in their mind.

There is no excuse for the reserve abuse in some of our bases: it has to be fixed in this contract. The prior regime sold reserves out in our current contract and everything I’m hearing is that reserves will be protected. We have pilots on the NC who sit reserve regularly unlike last time.

The FL reserve situation is terrible. Shame on management for jerking pilots all over the state in a LL or rental car. And shame on the prior regime for ignoring reserves. No way that happens again.

Imo, besides the cluster that is pbs and is it’s own animal, the most important work rules have to be for reserves and with FL reserves specifically in mind.

tom11011

The "model" is going to have to suffer a little bit, there's no other way. The model is not codified into the contract.

captnate702

No doubt its not in the contract. The part of the model that I care about (and every other pilot I know) are the day trips - that is why I am here. I would like to see that part of the business model protected in the contract. If you want the pilot to value the business model and bargain around the business model, then you better be willing to put the part of the model that benefits us into the contract.

I don't think there is any desire by management to change the model - the only reason we can run even a semi-passable operation is because of our simple scheduling model.

I want some assurances in our contract that the part of the model that we, the pilots care about and directly impacts us is protected in the contract.

tom11011

I want day trips to stay too but not at the expense of certain things, scheduling and reserve are disasters. Frontier and Spirit are moving more and more towards day trips so it can be done.

Vettekid

Except that it would take away the incentive for them to continue that model. Like I said, I'm happy to give up money in favor of QOL that comes with being home at night. And I want few company to succeed, I want them to be crazy profitable... and to share that with me, of course. But I'm willing to trade off for what I want, there comes a point where my time is more valuable than more money.

Vettekid

Agree on reserves and certainly on getting jerked all over Florida (as i understand it, I'm still awaiting my start date)

Greyhound89

Bold move jumping right into the conversation without having even started yet. I like the tenacity, I hope we get the chance to fly together in the near future.

The unfortunate thing with allegiant is people with opinions like your own are somewhat reluctant to publicly speak up. This company er, pilot group, for whatever god forsaken reason, loves to eat it’s own. For a group that preaches unity, they sure do squash anything that doesn’t directly align with AR’s weekly mix of koolaid. Any thoughts outside of their “efforts” are quickly going to warn you the label of “management troll”.

Here’s the reality of the situation, AR is realistically what stands between us and a new contract. Now I’m going to get jumped all over for this, but hear me out. What gain does AR have by signing a new contract tomorrow? He’s pay protected AND paid by the union. He financially benefits more than anyone by sitting in negotiations as long as he can. I think if by this afternoon we do not hear from him that we will have something out for a vote by next month, it’s a clear indication he’s the sole stoppage. He’s chosen his hill to die on and it’s at our expense.