Bennies at NJA

[jrav8tor]

Hey AA717 and Batsky,

Could you elaborate a little more about this points/credit deal or point me in the right direction where I can read up on it?

I not quite sure I am getting it.

Thanks,

JR

 

[Diesel]

jrav8tr-

Unlike the airlines we collect all hotel and airline points.

On an average year i collect 500,000 + hilton points. Plus i collect a bunch of delta points to keep me gold.

I use my hilton amex or hilton visa card for checkin at the hotel. that's double points along with the airline double dip miles and the hotel points.

500,000 got me 1 month of trecking around europe with my wife staying at the finest hiltons, and conrads that europe had to offer.

The airline miles allow me to upgrade to buisness on international trips.

Plus being gold medallion makes sure i get upgraded to first while riding around on the airlines.

 

[old*art]

Diesel good news/bad news - you can kiss the Delta Gold good bye with 7/7. With Delta's new rules it is not physically possible. Unless you are on the flex of course ......

 

[batsky2000]

How do you figure that, I made platinum on 7/7, you only need to fly 75000 miles, 50,000 for gold, very easy to do if you fly 2 legs at each end each tour

 

[widespreadpanic]

A Few Questions:

1) Do you fly on all the airlines? Your choice of airline? or Does the company choose what is cheapest?

2) Is there any vacation during year 1?

Thanks
WP

 

[old*art]

I am proud for you. Maybe with international pickups, but much harder with domestic. Work 26 weeks, three off for vacation, company recurrent and two sim trips only leaves twenty weeks to get +/- 45,000. Throw in the fact the company does not always put me on Delta any more, and I have not made it since leaving the 17 day schedule. But to not have to fly international any more ? - PRICELESS !!!!!

 

[old*art]

Two weeks vacation first year - three after five - with the company picking the airline by need/price with a no fly list.

 

[flywest]

As I understand it the vacation is prorated your first year, and it is after you have completed the first full year that you get to bid for two weeks of vacation. For example, those hired in April of this year got 3 days of vacation to using during the current vacation bid cycle (July 05-June06). Once we reach July 2006 they will have the two weeks of vac.

Flywest

 

[wolfpackpilot]

Maybe with international pickups, but much harder with domestic.

Old*fart,

The entire year I only took the airlines to/from Europe twice. They really, really try to keep from having to do that. I know some folks get it more than that, but on average it doesnt happen as much as you think.

Truth be told, I'd rather sit in my plane and fly across the pond than ride in the back on the airlines...

It's gotten that bad.

 

[gunfyter]

I guess its different on the BBJ

 

[Diesel]

actually out of the NE i airline all the time.

Thank goodness we use Delta quite a bit. I've got no problem making gold every year. Even on old 17day sched but with taking a bunch of time off.

 

[FLYLOW22]

I don't go there either.

Where DO you go??

Yur in your uniform right now at your computer at home aren't you!!!!

 

[old*art]

Wolfpack - front or back, across the pond or just across the border, the thought of having to face a fat US customs agent and the paperwork on return makes it not worth the effort for me. Of course look at my handle lol.

 

[wolfpackpilot]

the thought of having to face a fat US customs agent and the paperwork on return makes it not worth the effort for me.

HA-HA...

You are dead on. Sounds like the voice of experience to me.

Last Fall I cleared in BGR, and had a dark haired very thin late 20's young lady get out of the Suburban, I was shocked.


Come to think of it, that was a long day and I think we saw a school of mermaids at 60N30W also.

Take care..

 

[jrav8tor]

Diesel and all others,

Thanks for the replies! I like the idea of having all the airline and hotel points. Non-revving on the airlines lately is a joke. Can barely get on to go to work (commuter). Looking to upgrade my QOL by not flying standby all the time!

So what's this deal about getting money back on your check if you don't use your benefits such as medical/dental, etc? I think Batsky brought this up, anyone care to explain?

Thanks!

JR

 

[Majik]

So what's this deal about getting money back on your check if you don't use your benefits such as medical/dental, etc? I think Batsky brought this up, anyone care to explain?

Thanks!

JR

I think he was talking about Flexible Spending Accounts - a program where you may choose an amount of money to be withheld from your paycheck (pretax) and placed in an account to pay for things like child care or braces (the percentage that your dental plan doesn't cover), etc.

 

[Qwertyuiop]

One thing to add is that, you do get credits to use for benefits, what you have left you get back in your check, for myself, I have Medical/Dental/short term/Long term/Supplemental life , and some other stuff and I still get back $26 per pay period

So what you don't use you get back in cash

"credits to use for benefits", "you get back in cash". That's not a benefit that NJA gets. I don't know what he's talking about. It's not the Flexible Spending Account. With the FSA you get pre-tax money withheld from your pay and put into an account, but if you don't use it by the end of the year, you lose it.

 

[batsky2000]

I guess that only NJI gets that for now, I thought that since we all use the same benefits site, we all got that deal, the way it works is that we get $280 credits towards benefits, you get a choice of 3 medical plans( just different levels of the same plan), one costs more than the other based on if you want a high or low or no deductable, plus a slew of other benefits, what you don't use, you get back as cash in each check, for me that ends up being $26 in each check, so I pay nothing for my benefits plus I get cash back and I have everything Med,Dental,Supp Life,etc....

From reading the new CBA, you guys at NJA will be getting rid of the Union plans and everyone will be on the company plans, so you will probly be getting the same deal

Page 161, 24.1 "Effective January 1, 2006, all pilots will be covered by Group Medical,Dental, Vision plans provided to non-bargaining employees"

"credits to use for benefits", "you get back in cash". That's not a benefit that NJA gets. I don't know what he's talking about. It's not the Flexible Spending Account. With the FSA you get pre-tax money withheld from your pay and put into an account, but if you don't use it by the end of the year, you lose it.

 

[jrav8tor]

Majik, Batsky, and Qwerty,

thanks for the replies. That makes since now, most FSA won't refund your money, however, it's a wonderful program if you can budget your expenses correctly.

Thanks again for all the help!

JR