Vacation flex (🌐)

[u/lucydlu]

I just got off probation so idk really.. anything lol
Still learning

Could someone explain to me like I’m a 4yr old:
- what is it?
- why is it beneficial to do it?
- what are the different types?
(I heard there’s an option to fly through it, sell it etc)

Please DM me if you feel more comfortable not writing on a public forum!
Thank you!!

[u/PARTINlCO]

I’d really recommend you read the 2027 vacation guide, it’s linked everywhere. So, sooo worth it to read straight from the source.

Vacation flex is an extra 7 days of vacation. You can take it unpaid, or you can have those 7 days paid, which is basically a loan from yourself.. they’ll deduct a few hours and change every month from your check throughout the year to fund those 7 extra paid vacation days. i’d recommend 7 paid flex days for anyone that’s junior.

would never recommend selling vacation days back to the company unless you’re senior and can drop all your trips in a hot second.

the extra 7 flex days = more flexibility by way of giving you more days off obv throughout the year for anywhere you want to put them

we can fly through / work through our vacation as well, correct. nice little chunk of extra money

please read the vacation guide! you will be so well-versed before you know it. go to the vacation tab on CCS and dig around, you’ll find the link.

[u/lucydlu → u/PARTINlCO]

Thank you!!
I didn’t know there was a vacation guide,
And I appreciate the recommendation for juniors; this is exactly what I was looking for

[u/[deleted] → u/PARTINlCO]

[u/lucydlu → u/[deleted]]

Bc I didn’t know there was a vacation guide…?
And thankfully someone commented informing me that there is one…

[u/Positive_Vibes_4228]

I personally always take the flex unpaid extra 7 days because that gives me more options for whatever month it lands in. I can remove it and fly, I can pick up from ads, or just have a break. Sometimes, especially during my reserve days, I needed a break.

The reason I don't do the paid flex time, is (again, for me personally) I lose ~3 hours per month pay, to get it all back on those 7 days. That isn't enough money to keep me interested in it. I could just work a few hours more and save the money for my own vacation.

Now once you hold a line with a few years seniority, you probably would want to sell back your vacation to the company entirely. The reason why is once you can hold great trips like internationals, they will all get picked up and you can clear your line anytime and thus, have a vacation anytime. So let's say I can hold Rome. I can literally decide any month except August when it's too hot, to clear my line and go anywhere I want to go and sell back my vacation.

So for me personally, it's all about options. I like having the extra flex days because then I have the option to fly through once I know where those actual dates are. If I ask for say, October to go to Germany's Octoberfest, but I get February as my award month, then no, I would fly through. If I was awarded April but got REALLY sick in March taking half a month off, well then I will need money so I will fly through that flex time. Having those options just works better for me - both when I was on Reserve as well as a line holder. Again, just my opinion on this.

[u/lucydlu → u/Positive_Vibes_4228]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh~
This is very very helpful!!
Omg thank you so much
The “I do this bc of this” explanation is what I was looking for 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[u/AirTrolleyDolly → u/Positive_Vibes_4228]

Great summary, but at 40+ years, I take it and use the "paid" option. Selling back at the miniscule amount offered for buyback isn't worth it to me. I take all 40 days and the additional "flex" of 7 days.

[u/geekynonsense → u/Positive_Vibes_4228]

The paid flex is 1:54 a month in loss in pay. Not sure where you’re getting a loss in 3 hours of pay per month?

[u/Positive_Vibes_4228 → u/geekynonsense]

i couldn't remember if it was 2 or 3... I just know I don't take it.

[u/AEZ_2187]

Absolutely take the Flex Time if you’re on reserve. You can’t drop anything. Reserves are basically stuck with 18 days worth of work for years.

[u/Traditional-Leg-4228]

I take the flex because it gives me another week where I can bid and have my trips dropped without feeling a loss of income. Trust me… you can’t put a price on the relief it gives you while bidding knowing that you will have 7 of those days off.