Open time with furloughs

[WabiSabi]

They will call their daddy to tell your dad what you did. As long as you are kicking them in the junk. Snatch off their Paris hilton EuroTrash one piece lens sunglasses and smash them too.

I am seriously sick of seeing metros in the right seat wearing eurotrash girl shades.

I'm not a fan of those either but, what do you expect? Should everyone wear those goofy Ray Ban Aviators and have a Marine haircut? I'm sure an nearly equal number can't stand that look. Point being, to each their own....no one can make everyone happy nor should one try. If a pilot is not violating a uniform policy, then just let it go man. There are much bigger fish to fry.

 

[WSurf]

I can't speak for other airlines but at my airline the company has the ability to junior man and draft pilots to cover the open trips after reserves have been exhausted - including worked into their days off. This means that the open trip WILL get covered no matter what.

How many times can they junior Man pilosts? My airline its 2 in a month and only 3 for a year. However 'only' is a bad word, 3 for a year is too much anyway!!!

 

[WSurf]

I hear what you're saying, but will add this - If and when scheduling calls you on your day off, tell them you just had a beer or took some medication or are just plain unfit for duty.

What????? If and when scheduling calls you don't have to tell them sh$t. You just don't answer the phone on your days off! The only time you have to answer the phone is on reserve. At no point are you responsible for anything that goes on at the airline while you off.

 

[Sig]

You just don't answer the phone on your days off! The only time you have to answer the phone is on reserve. At no point are you responsible for anything that goes on at the airline while you off.

Ya know how many "this ain't fair" phone calls I get because the pilot answered when crew sked went fishing for suckers? We don't even get "released" for rest via phone call... You're absolutely right, W. We are never beholden to the (at least our) airline unless we're in an on call window for reserve.

 

[PA31Driver]

It's funny how many people will stand around in the crew room pounding their chest about this but then you see them in the computer room 5 minutes later looking for something to pick up.

Isn't that the truth!

 

[Alchemy]

Simple, don't do it. Personally I don't pick up open time even when we don't have fuloughees, except for advertised trips (which isn't even really open time I guess).

Never expect to make more than guarantee, budget accordingly.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

I used to pick up open time constantly... then many of my fellow pilots were furloughed, I quit doing it. A scheduler actually noticed I wasn't picking any up and asked why. My answer, because there are furloughs and when I am kicked out next month too I'd be pissed if anyone still here picked any up keeping me from getting recalled.
14 months later I finally was recalled.

 

[Grinder10]

Who wants to work extra anyway?

 

[dispatchguy]

No pickey uppee of the open time-ee.

Yes, as a previous poster said, they will somehow cover the trip, BUT, they may not be able to cover the whole trip, and just break it apart - and sooner or later, some OT will be left in open time.

When someone is on furlough - NO OPEN TIME.

If they need to be the bad guy to cover it; let them.

 

[WateryGrave]

It makes you a FVcking whore plain and simple.

 

[WSurf]

Who wants to work extra anyway?

Bingo! It's usually those that hate there wives, kids and don't have a life.

If I knew they would use me 2-3 days a month, hell I would bid reserve every month.

 

[Metro752]

bump!!!

 

[turbinesurgeon]

I used to pick up open time constantly... then many of my fellow pilots were furloughed, I quit doing it. A scheduler actually noticed I wasn't picking any up and asked why. My answer, because there are furloughs and when I am kicked out next month too I'd be pissed if anyone still here picked any up keeping me from getting recalled.
14 months later I finally was recalled.

I was at XJ then and I remember the general attitude was to not pick up open time. I also remeber a few flights in DTW canceling for lack of crew. I believe the stradigy worked. Sometimes I think I should have taken that recall.

 

[joe_pilot]

What????? If and when scheduling calls you don't have to tell them sh$t. You just don't answer the phone on your days off! The only time you have to answer the phone is on reserve. At no point are you responsible for anything that goes on at the airline while you off.

Yup. I was leaving the obvious out. My advice was just if you are dumb enough to answer the phone when they call. Or maybe your wife or GF picked up the phone because they want you the hell out of the house so their BF can come over.

For the record, I never answer the phone when they call unless I have had a few.

-JP

 

[turbinesurgeon]

I can't speak for other airlines but at my airline the company has the ability to junior man and draft pilots to cover the open trips after reserves have been exhausted - including worked into their days off. This means that the open trip WILL get covered no matter what.

While I can certainly understand the emotional reaction to picking up open trips while there are fellow pilots on furlough, the reality is that even with refusing to pick up trips they WILL be covered and WILL be flown as scheduled. My understanding is that some airlines do not have this ability to draft (force) pilots to fly uncovered trips and therefore pilots not picking up trips would have the desired effect.

Now if the union says "Do not pick up trips" I would be glad to comply with that, but don't blame other pilots for a situation that management is totally to blame for and has caused. If you don't want to fly extra that's fine, I support that, but don't look down your nose at other pilots trying to provide for their families.

This guy works at my airline and its this reason why I created this thread. I think you should have a clear understanding on how your peers think of this issue.

 

[SplitBar]

I was at XJ then and I remember the general attitude was to not pick up open time. I also remeber a few flights in DTW canceling for lack of crew. I believe the stradigy worked. Sometimes I think I should have taken that recall.

Where did you end up going? I think all that have been recalled can easily hold Jet Captain.

 

[ReverseSensing]

Where did you end up going? I think all that have been recalled can easily hold Jet Captain.

*groan* He doesn't want to hear that.

At our airline, not even 20+ year jet captains will be able to hold jet captain by the end of next year.

Turbine, I feel your pain. The attitude of some of our co-workers about picking up open time once we begin furloughing is disconcerting. For what it's worth -- which ain't much -- I agree with you.

 

[turbinesurgeon]

*groan* He doesn't want to hear that.

At our airline, not even 20+ year jet captains will be able to hold jet captain by the end of next year.

Turbine, I feel your pain. The attitude of some of our co-workers about picking up open time once we begin furloughing is disconcerting. For what it's worth -- which ain't much -- I agree with you.

Some of the things that I have heard from our own union members has been more upsetting than our own managment. Since a lot of airlines will be furloughing I thought it would be good to see where everyone stands.

Who is in charge of the "Blanket Party Comittee"?

 

[mamba20]

Your just as bad if not worse then a scab if you pick up open time during furloughs.

 

[Soverytired]

Your just as bad if not worse then a scab if you pick up open time during furloughs.

Language and words are much like a currency: when you overuse them, they lose value.

"Scab" has a very specific meaning and simply does not apply in this case. Do you really think every pilot at American Airlines who's flown 1 minute of extra flying since 9/11 (pilots on furlough ever since then) is "worse than a scab?" Should you carry a list around with their names on it? Deny them the jumpseat, and say bad things about them to their face and to their back?

Why not follow the lead and the example of your pilot leadership in this instance, whomever they might be? And I'm all about transparency: negotiate with the company to let everyone know exactly who is gobbling up all the "extra flying", override pay, and so forth.