Taking Time Off
02-08-2017, 05:40 AM
#11
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,090
I have found many reasons to leave my desk job and make the jump to the regionals. One benefit that will be sorely lost is paid time off for the holidays and four weeks paid vacation.
I imagine each regional has its nuances for taking time off, but how has it been for you requesting time off? Should I plan to kiss it good-bye for a while? Would it be realistic to plan a week with the family after 9-12 months?
Thank you.
I imagine each regional has its nuances for taking time off, but how has it been for you requesting time off? Should I plan to kiss it good-bye for a while? Would it be realistic to plan a week with the family after 9-12 months?
Thank you.
In general not a lot of CONTROL over schedule for the first 6-9 months, but you may get plenty of time off waiting for training or on reserve. But hard to plan around that. You should typically have 2 weeks vacation available after 12 months.
But vacation is not necessarily the only option, you can usually bid for some number of days off in a row and use that instead of or to supplement vacation. More seniority makes that easier. The downside to bidding days off is that you don't know for sure until the month prior. Actual vacation allows you to do long-term planning.
02-08-2017, 05:45 AM
#12
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,090
I have some responsibilities that require a days travel each way, what should I look for in a contract to make the situation tenable? I probably need to make a trip once every three months, 5 days total may be doable, 7 - 10 would be magic... short notice and flexibility is fine, but trips are too far to cut short. Won't be forever.
Also there's a work around since you only need travel once a quarter...bid 4-5 days off at the end of one month and then do the same at the beginning of the next month. Only limitation there is that it won't work if there's a big holiday during that timeframe (unless you're senior in base).
BTW...if your travel is for military reserve duty then you don't have to worry about the time off. They just have to give it to you, plus travel days, plus enough time to rest before and after travel.
02-08-2017, 05:50 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 302
Restoring some of the lost vacation would go a long way to repairing the abysmal quality of life.
02-08-2017, 07:00 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,559
Average of 15/30 days off. Versus many jobs which get 8/30 off. And there is zero physical labor involved. But it's abysmal?
I'm not familiar with all airlines, but I believe Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont only get one week of vacation after 12 months. Due to recent concessionary contracts, pilots get significantly less vacation today than in the past. It's pretty difficult to get time off.
Restoring some of the lost vacation would go a long way to repairing the abysmal quality of life.
Restoring some of the lost vacation would go a long way to repairing the abysmal quality of life.
02-08-2017, 09:30 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 302
Where do you work? At my job, it's tough to get more than 11 days off each month, often less. 15 days of just doesn't happen. Yes, the quality of life is abysmal. Obviously, your employer is much better. I am looking to move up to greener pastures.
02-08-2017, 12:31 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 144
I work at same company and I've been here less than 6 months, not in the most junior base, and I have 15 days off, 12 in a row, making 4 hours over guarantee. Life could definitely be much, much worse.
02-08-2017, 04:51 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Left
Posts: 1,809
I'm not familiar with all airlines, but I believe Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont only get one week of vacation after 12 months. Due to recent concessionary contracts, pilots get significantly less vacation today than in the past. It's pretty difficult to get time off.
Restoring some of the lost vacation would go a long way to repairing the abysmal quality of life.
Restoring some of the lost vacation would go a long way to repairing the abysmal quality of life.
02-09-2017, 04:44 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: Canadian Alluminum Tubing Assistant Transporter
Posts: 164
I haven't taken actual vacation time yet, but I have been able to bid days off I want and get a large chunk off to go vacation as I please. As a result I have just over 4 weeks of vacation time saved up. Just under 2 years at my regional.
02-09-2017, 06:53 AM
#20
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,090
Some folks will do this, bank the vacay and then use it or cash it in at the higher rate after they upgrade.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
