Bellcrank. Simple question? Setting aside your irrelevant point about getting "20 days off a month", one only needs to ask: did the pilot in question have a reasonable expectation, based on our system of requests, to be awarded the trip he was complaining he didn't receive? If so, and he didn't receive it, then he (and the rest of us) have a valid reason to complain. In case its never occurred to you, we have one of the most dysfunctional systems of request in the industry. My friend who flies for American gets 21 days off a month, AND every single request every month that he desires. We are lucky to get our first request, then the rest of the month is rubbish. And that is for the rest of your career. At the very least our first request should be sacrosanct. Don't fall into the "we should be grateful for the crumbs we get" mindset, ok? (and no, I am not going to tell him he "is doing a good job" when all evidence to date demonstrates that our system is broken).