Originally Posted by Gone Flying

not always. Knew a guy who lived in NYC but got the 717 on the drop (post covid). Took him over 18 months before he was not commuting. FWIW.


also as hiring has slowed, the movement from base to base has slowed down too. Not nearly as easy to say someone commuting is doing so because they want to.

Originally Posted by Herkflyr

I don't think that there should be out of base swaps, for all the previously mentioned reasons. However I do think that there should be the ability for a pilot to try and get rid of a trip via the Swapboard, and after a reasonable amount of time where that pickup is limited to in base (72 hours perhaps) it should be allowed to be picked up by out of base pilots.

It is all about giving pilots who are trying to get rid of trips more ability to do so. I am ATL-based. There have been several occasions where I have tried to get rid of a trip via PCS PD, as well as trying to give it away on the Swapboard, and I was ultimately unsuccessful. It would have been nice to have allowed a FL commuter who commutes to NY the ability to pick up my trip (after of course only allowing ATL guys first choice for a few days). And who knows? I suspect that at least on a few occasions that I would have been successful, and the NYC commuter is able to pick up an ATL trip--did I mention that he would only be able to do so after ATL guys had a few days first crack at it, and none wanted it?

"But my base purity!"

Did I mention that this concept would only come into play after the in base pilots had a few days first dibs?

"But my base purity! And better that you can't drop your trip at all, than pilots from other bases be able to help you out--even though they would only be able to do so after your in base pilots decided none of them wanted it."

Any objections? And why?

Originally Posted by BlueSkies

Here's what I've seen happening. Flights are so full that people nonrev less often, but when they do decide to nonrev they drop an S2. And why not? If you're only nonrevving 3-4x a year there's almost no reason not to. Adding 2 more just makes the problem worse.

To the poster (RAH RAH REE?) that says they use lots of Buddy Passes I think you are in the minority, especially among pilots. We all know the reasons why usage is so low. Yes, for that int'l trip they sometimes work but that's not the norm. I haven't given one out in many years.

I think giving buddy slots for FCFL is a good idea, just hampered by how expensive our FCFL program is. As someone already pointed out, a ticket bought 2 weeks out on FCFL is often pricier than a full fare months out. And because of the nature of our jobs/schedule timeline we usually can't buy tickets months out.

I was REALLY hoping there would be some kind of limited number of confirmed passes per year rolled out, or maybe a true discount program for tickets. I honestly don't understand the FCFL program. They are leaving a lot of money on the table by charging so much. If they provided a real discount then I think a lot more employees would actually buy FCFL tickets. As it stands now, most would rather roll the dice on nonrevving when the alternative is buying a ticket that is barely, if at all, any cheaper (taking into account time of purchase, etc). I know I would buy a lot more FCFL tickets if I felt like I was actually getting a good discount. Instead I just don't travel as much anymore because we don't want the uncertainty of nonrevving with a family and don't want to pay close-in ticket prices.

Oh and let's talk more about UAL. Holy cow! I got jammed up trying to fly back from LHR a bit ago and saw a UAL I could make. While on my phone I was able to easily list and pay. I then got text messages telling me where the gate was and where I was on the list...and about 30-40 mins out as an OAL nonrev got cleared! And I even got a text telling me! I didn't have to hover in the gate listening for my name to be softly called/hawk travelnet/watch the gate screens. I couldn't believe how much nicer the experience was.

Originally Posted by notEnuf

The PWA gives a 12 month provision. There is also all bases available on the B737 and A320. I understand it may take a little longer to get an award and convert but we have monthly bids now, greatly increasing the number of opportunities. I still fly with new hires just off OE that never flew out of thier originally assigned base.

Originally Posted by notEnuf

Other than the "oops" reward passes I don't think we will ever get positive space passes. Non-rev is exactly that... non revenue travel, the company makes no money on the seat. FCFL is not a non-rev seat but a ticket discount. Sure, every employee would love a free or deaply discounted ticket, but... If Delta is going to remove seats from inventory they are forgoing revenue. Excess seats that go unsold have no opportunity cost so they are free.

Originally Posted by FangsF15

You are both right. In most cases, especially now that bids are monthly (instead if irregularly 3-4, or even 5 months), you can bid out 'quickly', especially for a simple base change. But even then, there are no guarantees. Besides, you can't bid to change equipment until your last 12 months of NH seat lock. So, by the time you can be awarded, wait for training, train, and actually convert, even now it's easily taking 14-15 months or more, even for the "12 month provision".

Originally Posted by waldo135

What if Delta offered the seats to employees at a HUGE discount (say 75% off), but only 24 hours out. Excess seats go away, and we could go to the airport knowing we have a seat.

Originally Posted by LeineLodge

This little side tangent began with somebody using a reserve commuter as one justification for doing away with seniority for nonreving.

There may be some good arguments for tweaking the current system, particularly making an S2 cutoff point. A newhire being “forced” to commute for 14 or 15 months isn’t one of them.

Anyone else commuting to reserve made some sort of choice to do so.

Originally Posted by tennisguru

The only way to fly an out of base trips is via OOB WS/GS for same/next/second day coverage.