FSU, whilst I didn't have anything to do with TJ before he left QF I do recall little to no sadness amongst those who did when he left.
With that in mind I'm sure that there will be not a great deal of joy in his return.
As to the issues you talk about. QF 767 pilots asked to be put on the shorthaul award for shorthaul flying some time ago- just we had to be on the old A300 pay rates.
The answer was 'no, too expensive'. Our response was 'how about 737 pay rates'. The answer was again 'no, still too expensive'.
I would happily take the changes you talk about to get the same payrate as a former A300 F/O- even at 737 F/O pay rates I'd be in front of where I am now. Alternatively, I could get more time off for the same pay as I get now.
As for the rest of it, QF have had ample opportunity to look at implementing that sort of stuff since the 767s started flying domestically.
You call these things inefficient but in reality they don't play much of a part in what we do- except for the 1 in four rule (we know it as Trip Hour Guarantee). What that essentially means is that when QF send me away and sit me on my backside inefficiently, it penalises them. Only fair isn't it?
You talk like we are on a rort. I can tell you that I would have preferred flying my pants off over the last two days instead of doing one sector to BNE yesterday and then one sector to CNS today and spending the rest of the time trying to find something to do!! Roll on the start of my degree!!
Somehow, the company reckons that it's cheapest that way! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
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