New Hires Can Travel with WJ, But Not AC

[RFN]

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[teacher]

Pretty standard in the industry, people. Nothing new here. BTW, you should know the rules before you start the job.

Actually it is new. You used to be able to use your passes to only commute as a new hire for the first 6 months. Now apparantly you can't even do that.

[Lost in Saigon]

This whole problem stems from the fact that Air Canada charges it's own pilots who ride in the flight deck. Other carriers' pilots can take advantage of the jump seat program and not pay a penny.

[Stu Pidasso]

This whole problem stems from the fact that Air Canada charges it's own pilots who ride in the flight deck. Other carriers' pilots can take advantage of the jump seat program and not pay a penny.

Not any more, it was a great scheme, unfortunately it got derailed. AC Pilots PAID to ride a Westjet J/S from Calgary to Saskatoon - a Westjet Pilot rode an Air Canada J/S for FREE from Vancouver to Sydney Australia.

Now all J/S eligible Pilots pay to ride on Air Canada.

[Lost in Saigon]

Now all J/S eligible Pilots pay to ride on Air Canada.

How much do they pay?

[wiseguy]

I think it's linked to a probationary period. There's usually a time period where the union is not obliged to protect you. If you show up intoxicated, for example, during your probationary period the union can step back, put their hands up and say, "sorry buddy". Years ago I worked for a company that had a 3 month probationary period and they weren't obligated to protect you during that period. Not ideal but what the heck. Supply and demand. No one's putting a gun to your head.

[Company Itin]

I didn't notice if anyone corrected earlier, but its not just Pilots that have lost passes. Its ALL AC employees. This is from a friend that just started there. Apparently it comes from other employee groups getting hired, jetting off to Austrailia (amongst other places I'm sure) and then quitting.

I agree, this may have been done before (with no passes for 6 months), but hopefully the company realizes, that Pilots are not as transient as Ramp/CSAs, etc. If a pilot gets hired at AC they are there for life (or untill layed off... j/k). Just because it was this way in the past doesn't mean its good today. People used to be able to smoke on planes in the past. I'm sure there would be an outcry if they tried to bring it back. I doubt it would be passed off as "Well, we used to be able to so..."

CI

[CanadianEh]

Knowing AC management, one of their main motives for doing this is so the unions can negotiate their travel benefits from day one back. Then it will be viewed as a "big win" by the employees when/if the benefit is reinstated, but basically they are just getting back what they once had. The thing that's stupid is that the travel benefits are for stand by, so basically they would rather let the seat go empty than have one of their own employees on the flight??? That's just sad.

[whiteguy]

Knowing AC management, one of their main motives for doing this is so the unions can negotiate their travel benefits from day one back. Then it will be viewed as a "big win" by the employees when/if the benefit is reinstated, but basically they are just getting back what they once had. The thing that's stupid is that the travel benefits are for stand by, so basically they would rather let the seat go empty than have one of their own employees on the flight??? That's just sad.

Technically travel benefits aren't negotiated but I'm sure there could be some deals made. They're not going to make separate deals with separate unions but the rumor is ACPA wanted priority over other employees. Not sure if it's true or not but I'm sure that would cause an uproar.

The latest is that service charges are coming back to. Not sure when, I'm guessing once all contracts are negotiated.

[Jastapilot]

This whole problem stems from the fact that Air Canada charges it's own pilots who ride in the flight deck. Other carriers' pilots can take advantage of the jump seat program and not pay a penny.

Not any more, it was a great scheme, unfortunately it got derailed. AC Pilots PAID to ride a Westjet J/S from Calgary to Saskatoon - a Westjet Pilot rode an Air Canada J/S for FREE from Vancouver to Sydney Australia.

Now all J/S eligible Pilots pay to ride on Air Canada.

You're kidding right? Blaming Westjet for this? You DO know the only limit Westjet put on it's jumpseaters was available seats. Yet guys were getting bumped from AC/Jazz free flights because 1 other pilot was in the j/s on a half-empty airplane. I know the system I'd rather have...

[bcflyer]

This whole problem stems from the fact that Air Canada charges it's own pilots who ride in the flight deck. Other carriers' pilots can take advantage of the jump seat program and not pay a penny.

Not any more, it was a great scheme, unfortunately it got derailed. AC Pilots PAID to ride a Westjet J/S from Calgary to Saskatoon - a Westjet Pilot rode an Air Canada J/S for FREE from Vancouver to Sydney Australia.

Now all J/S eligible Pilots pay to ride on Air Canada.

You're kidding right? Blaming Westjet for this? You DO know the only limit Westjet put on it's jumpseaters was available seats. Yet guys were getting bumped from AC/Jazz free flights because 1 other pilot was in the j/s on a half-empty airplane. I know the system I'd rather have...

I'd rather have the free seat. Stu's post simply explained why there is now a charge. Westjet was charging AC pilots while they rode for free on us. Period. Remember when WJ guys were commuting on AC rather that their own airline because it was cheaper? Who else is to blame that you now have to pay? The number of seats available is irrelevant.