Originally Posted by NuGuy

Wait, wut?

DALs vacation currently pays and credits 4:15 per day, and goes to 4:35 next year.

And all of it is pay AND credit, which means you get 100% of that time towards your obligation to your schedule. That means more time off, not just more pay, which is what vacation in all about.

AA's is 4:35 for the 24-25 vacation, which is nice to get it year sooner, but you only credit 3:40 to your schedule? Which means you have to work that much more during a vacation month. That weak credit unbelievably lasts until 26-27, and then you only get 4 hours credited. Sounds like AMR threw a bone to vacation pay, but didn't want to take the staffing hit because, gosh, vacation is all about NOT being at work.

Originally Posted by StoneQOLdCrazy

Completely untrue. Anderson started out as Frank Lorenzo's union busting lawyer. He was responsible for pushing the only contract Delta pilots have ever voted down in 2015. Bastian is a thin-skinned egomaniac who also hates unions. Just like every other airline managment group.

All this hand-wringing to defend APA. Stay at APA, leave, no one outside of APA really cares. But stop with the embarrasing rationalizations for why APA can't get it done.

Originally Posted by Easyflier301

Agree, but this speaks to the ignorance of some that think we have a much worse contract (spoiler- we don't) and then use that false logic to argue to decertify APA. Why aren't we comparing ourselves to United's reserve system that ALPA negotiated with airport standby and global reserve?

Originally Posted by Montcalm

This is exhausting. United does not have airport standby reserve.

It can only be offered on a voluntary basis, with additional pay. Something I wish we had here.

Regarding our alleged superior reserve system, it appears you missed yesterday's town hall with Sicher and are completely unaware of the impending RAS implementation. Nice work APA.

It would be wise to at least do your homework before accusing others of ignorance.

Originally Posted by Easyflier301

I listened. Watch the new AA reserve system go senior. Sounds to me like there will be much more choice, honoring of seniority, and transparency. Everyone hears what they want to hear, I guess. We will just have to wait and see.

Originally Posted by Sliceback

It's a rare event for an AA LC guy to get converted to SC. I'm scratching my head trying to think if it ever happened to me when I was bidding LC. I'm guessing it did once or twice but have no recollection of it happening.

Not having a dedicted SC/LC choice is a grind for commuters. Nor does it allow the local guys to use the SC option. Guys have strong preferences for SC vs LC at AA. That's not an option at DL.

This isn't 'carrying APA's water.' Guys can look at the facts themselves (APA 2024 Contract Comparison) and decide for themselves if AA's contract is 'vastly inferior' vs DL (UA's? all ALPA contracts????) 'vastly superior.'

Originally Posted by Sliceback

If you're a commuter a conversion to SC sucks.

What percentage commute? 30%? 40%? 50%? At AA being able to only hold SC can be a deal breaker for commuters. Being able to hold LC reserve opens up opportunities for commuters.

Originally Posted by Sliceback

That's a one deal right now. Did they change the dues to 1.55%? No, just giving up the current surplus. APA dues is roughly 1.3% (assuming in contract talks 60% of the time).

Here's the thing that I don't buy about the vaunted ALPA national leadership and guidance - they had United lead off the contract cycle. When's the last time UA had a great contract and led the pack? Maybe back in the late 1970's? If ever? Delta's MEC, a lot to do with Anderson and Bastion, have been knocking it out of the park with contracts. The UAW would always have the strongest automaker, usually GM, lead the contract talks and the others would have to fall in line. ALPA? They decided to let UA lead the pack. Who thought that was a good idea? There was nothing going on that gave UA ALPA the greatest leverage.

Until DL ALPA underperforms the pilots should hope that DL leads the next cycle. Guess who's contract expires first among the Big 3? Delta. That should allow UA to ride DL's coat tails.....again, just like AA/APA.

Originally Posted by Margaritaville

ALL DL pilots on reserve are on LC. They don't have SC lines. UP TO 6 times a month (typically 2-3 times) they can be converted to short call and apparently commuters can commute for the first 2 hours of that 9 hour SC period then get released an hour early to commute home. That's way better than our juniors who can only hold an SC line and be about 2 hours reasonably close to the airport from sign in every day.

Originally Posted by ImSoSuss

lol, no. APA still has no clue how this is going to pan out as evident by them fumbling over the question during the town hall. As part of the same system at two other airlines I can assure you that predictability will plummet significantly with the new system. I actually grew to love AA's reserve system because it became so predictable. As far as honoring seniority, the current system already does that by groups. And the last I really laughed at, do you really think anything at this company will ever be "transparent"? Our company is not interested in being transparent and our union isn't strong enough to enforce it.

Originally Posted by Easyflier301

Again...we'll see. My bet is on smart senior pilots learning the new system and using the bidding features to their advantage.

Originally Posted by Margaritaville

Hey man you're retired. Thanks for your opinion and we've got this now.

Go sailing or play some golf. Touch some grass.