Airline coordinator gets previously approved PTO revoked by new boss due to staff shortage, hands in his resignation the next day: 'Maybe this time he finds someone to cover my flights'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 3, 2025 8:00 AM EST

With the holidays quickly approaching, many employees are hoping to take their remaining PTO to spend the holiday season with their families. Unfortunately for this airline coordinator, his manager almost got in the way of that valuable time.

The most infuriating aspect of this workplace conflict is that the airline coordinator submitted his PTO request months in advance and even got it approved by management. However, that was before there were many changes in upper management, and his former supervisor was replaced. Still, that PTO request was pre-approved and should have been honored, regardless of how short-staffed they might have been. According to the author, there were plenty of other options this new manager could have pursued before insisting that this guy could not take his well-deserved vacation.

Thankfully, it sounds like ever since those structural shifts in upper management were made, the airline coordinator knew that it was only a matter of time before he needed to leave this toxic work environment so he could at the very least make it out alive.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement

  • When the author decided that his next step would be to hand in his resignation, he was mentally and financially prepared for this moment. That, of course, allowed him the ability to stand up for himself without risking too much. This new manager better be careful. If he continued to lose more members of his already short-staffed team, there are going to be some major disruptions in travel coordination at this airline.

  • "New manager trying to retroactively reject my PTO"

    So i currently work as a turn around coordinator at an airline service provider. In September i set a request for PTO for the 14th of December to the 20th (five 8 hour
    via lilbuu_buu
  • days + 2 off days). It got approved about a week later. At the time they were 9 people at my position and a different manager. Fast forward and now they are 3 people. long story short new manager came in and made wholesale changes, fired some
    via lilbuu_buu
  • people and some people quit even had multiple people come in and leave during that span. I think you can see where this is going.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • So December 13 I come into work and my manager approaches me and tells me my PTO has been. rejected. I stare at him for like 5 seconds in disbelief and just say that's problematic. He says he can't find anyone to cover my flights.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • (He knew since October and he also has the ability to do the job as well) I tell him that plans have been made and it can't be canceled. He tells me if I don't show up it could be punishment
    via lilbuu_buu
  • including suspension and termination. I stare at disbelief again and say would you be able to find someone to do my flights if that happens? Normally I'm not a confrontational person but it was obvious he was trying to threaten me.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • So read it over I wanted to add some background on what kind of person my manager is. He is a very stubborn man and likes to assert his power in a very domineering way. I mostly stay to myself and only speak to him when necessary
    via lilbuu_buu
  • and keep my mistakes to a minimum. One time on my off day one of my coworkers said they overheard him talking with another supervisor and he said he enjoys firing people. Some of the ramp agent guys also heard it and
    via lilbuu_buu
  • confronted him and asked what he meant and he backtracked and said he means he wants to keep people safe. The coworker left the job saying she feared her job security.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • His intimidation tactic was not gonna work I already paid for a hotel a rental car and plane tickets and are all past refund dates. The most annoying part is I'm 100%
    via lilbuu_buu
  • sure he knows my flight is in the morning so he knows I won't have time to go to hr to confirm if my PTO is actually canceled. I told him I can see what I can do and he left it at that. But I have already decided that it was my last day.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • Doesn't matter if it was approved or not I'm just gonna give my airport badge to hr when I get back. Maybe this time he finds someone to cover my flights.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • A second pilot in uniform pushes control panel buttons on a dashboard.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Green_Mix_3412 · 14 hr. ago that. If it isn't in Writing it did the happen. sounds like the only thing you have in writing is the approval.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • Ups_papito 14 hr. ago checks your states department of labor rules regarding PTO...
    via lilbuu_buu
  • if it's a requirement to deny in writing a certain amount of days he's I and can't terminate you.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • Suspension isn't a threat he's already understaffed we plus it will be a vacation!
    via lilbuu_buu
  • lilbuu_buu OP. 14 hr. ago Yea his empty threats don't faze me
    via lilbuu_buu
  • Hippy_Lynne 13 hr. ago . edited 8 hr. ago 1. Do not turn in your badge. If you force them to fire you it will make it a lot harder for them to get out of paying your unemployment.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • 2. Total up what you would lose in deposits etc if you canceled your trip at this late date. Immediately send your boss an email
    via lilbuu_buu
  • and tell him that the company would be liable for this loss. If you do not have an agreement from him in writing to pay that full amount, you will take your PTO.
    via lilbuu_buu
  • Legally he can recind your PTO with no notice (in some states.) But he would still be liable for any expenses you have if you had to cancel your trip that late. If you have
    via lilbuu_buu
  • an HR department I would CC them on that email. My guess is they're going to take one look at it, call him, and tell him that you're taking PTO and he needs to figure out coverage himself.
    via lilbuu_buu

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

employment issues employee work i quit PTO airline overworked-employees Horrible Bosses airplane
Scroll Down For The Next Article