FDXLAG

Nope in your scenario I can see doing make up sick. But to answer your question, yes I would take the month off.

KnightFlyer

That's what the Dis bank is for. You earned that sick time too.

Flyinhigh

I had this happen this month. Had a single departure line for 77 CH and got sick about 2 days before the trip. Sick Bank only had about 6 hours left in it. Called PAC with doctor's excuse in hand. Didn't get any hassle; they just moved hours from DSA to cover the BLG for the month. Offered again to fax doctor's excuse. Only response was "Get well soon." System worked very well.
Last year I had used about 50 hours of my regular sick bank. DSA was around 650. Picked up a couple of easy trips in MUS on days off. At the end of the year the DSA went to 686 and the excess money went to my 401(K).
For those who would try to run other's lives and tell you what you should and should not do; what you choose to do on your days off is none of my business and what I choose to do on my days off is my business. As long as it is legal by the CBA then it is what it is!!

FDXLAG

Not sure where you get anyone is trying to run anyone elses life. This is a forum where we exchange opinions. Knock your self out for all the make up sick you want. Overtime at straight pay is a ALPA given right to all FDX pilots, this is just another version. Alder just implied that we were morally reprehensible if we used our sick banks when we werent sick when the issue was whether MUS is a smart financial decision. Two different subjects. You have your opinion I have mine. My point was you could have just as easily done regular makeup for those MUS easy trips and put the money in the 401K yourself or made a boat payment.

MaydayMark

I'm not a very big fan of flying extra days at regular pay but ... I can think of a scenario where MUS could be worth it?

Let's say , for example purposes, that a new hire pilot gets hired at 30 years old. It would take him almost 10 years to max out his SCK bank (with minimal sick leave, I almost never get sick).

As stated previously, SCK hours over 686 (I think?) gets deposited in your 401k. I haven't done the math but 20 years (hopefully not 25 years) worth of sick leave invested in the Stock Market compounded annually could be worth a TON of money!!!! That "might" make it worth doing MUS?

Discuss ...

Adlerdriver

Lag, that's a pretty liberal interpretation of my comment.

To be accurate, we were discussing MUS. Then the topic drifted into retiring with unused sick leave.

Someone attempted to equate unused sick time upon retirement to working for free which prompted my response.

Pakagecheck

FH,
I wasn't reading your way either. My impression was on whether it would make financial sense to do it or not, not that it made you a bad person, or trying to run your life. I personally don't do it because IMPO with normal sick leave usage, then DSA then bridge to LTD, if my family can't live comfortably on that, we/they are F'n up. However, it is available for those that want to. The main reason I am not against it is as long as the company deposits the unused sick into a pilot's 401k, I think we need it. We would have a large group that would fly sick just so he or she wouldn't lose that amount being deposited into his or her retirement account. Nothing worse than being locked in a metal tube for hours on end with someone hacking up a lung and snotting on everything.

Pakage

FDXLAG

Agreed, I got your post confused with some of the other posts that implied some people take advantage of the FDX sick policy. But I would say doing MUS to get your bank up to 686 (or what ever the number is) and then retiring with 686, then by definition, your MUS hours were working for free.

For the record same footprint MUS does make some sense to me. I have done a week of it when I flunked calling in well (picked up the trip that was canceled). But given the option of MUS or regular MU, to me, there is no contest.

Flyinhigh

This is why pilots are not good financial planners. If I do regular make up, the money goes into my paycheck on the 15th of the following month. It is subject to all of the deductions that regular pay is subjected to: FICA, Medicare, Federal/State Income, ALPA dues, etc. If I do MUS and my DSA is over 686, the TOTAL amount goes into my 401(K). Someday (around age 70 1/2 when RMDs kick in)) I will pay taxes on it, but the entire amount goes into the 401 to work for X number of years. Again, it is a choice.

FDXLAG

This is why financial planners arent good pilots. Or you can increase your 401K deduction over the next couple pay periods to make up the difference.