Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 197
Distraction; Fatigue
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Weather; Company Policy; Human Factors
I was flying the last day of a three-day. That last day involved four legs. Three of those airports involved approaches to minimums as a bonus; LGA in the pouring rain. That day; I experienced the worst weather; I've seen this entire year. Approaches to low visibility; turbulence; holding and high winds were abundant.We reported in at XA20. We finished at XO10. That is a 13 hour and 50 minute Duty Day. It was a very long day. On the first flight of the morning; after we barely got into [the airport]; we then had to swap aircraft; ground time. We flew [the next leg]; shot the approach; landed and then learned of our three-hour delay to LGA. My First Officer stated to me 'I don't think I'm going to make it if we get that late'. I actually felt fine at that time and hoped we could continue past LGA. We were concerned that we would in fact be too tired; exhausted; whipped; beat or sorry 'fatigued'; to complete final leg of the trip LGA-ZZZ. I called Crew Scheduling as we were concerned about NOT being able to complete the trip past LGA. A Scheduler (unknown) had put max block in time under the remarks section of our schedule of XO50. This time was totally false; wrong; I find it ridiculous; that we get false information from folks sitting in front of a computer in an office; while we hang out in a terminal counting duty time on our fingers. By the way; I find the paperwork given to us at block-out with Tables giving worthless information and presented in a horrible format; as Company will push every Crew they can to the federal limit. Why waste time with all these tables when Scheduling will 'sell' the federal limit? Back to my ASAP event; I told the Scheduler on the phone I was concerned about the trend of our day and asked him about this bogus 'MAX BI XO50' on our board. He was great and corrected it he stated our max block in time was XM20; and XO50 if we accepted extension. It should have been correct the first time. Pilots should have correct information.Landing in LGA. During that flight; holding to a near divert then an approach to minimums in pouring rain. We arrived at the gate in LGA; took a deep breath and both of us were not sure if we were fit to fly; tired; whipped; exhausted; beat or sorry 'fatigued' for the next leg. We were 10:36 hours into our duty day. I walked off to get coffee for both of us. I returned and we talked about the next leg to ZZZ; through weather; if wheels up time could be met; any delays and arrival time could be met. We were bombarded with no less than three calls from Scheduling; which I did not answer as I didn't want any additional pressures added to us. The aircraft was loading up fast with Passengers; nothing was said to us by the Agent. In fact; I think he knew nothing of how close we were to timing out. The flight was not going unless we accepted the extension. Operational pressures.We tried to manage our expectations of get home-itis; finish the task; getting home; or letting down 143 Passengers. I wanted to make the right decision and limit influence from anybody outside of the First Officer and me. After we talked a few minutes we both decided that we could accept our extensions and fly the final leg to ZZZ. I picked up the phone and called scheduling back; as they had left three messages on my phone. It's almost as if they thought we would sneak away. I started talking to a Scheduler who answered the phone. I asked if they had been looking for us. This Scheduler informed me of a JA (Junior Available) trip that I have been assigned for the next day. I am suddenly; shocked; blindsided; sad; mad and in disbelief. I informed the Scheduler that we hadn't even made it back into ZZZ yet. Due to the weather in between LGA-ZZZ; who knows? I basically argued with her over a trip assigned to me; for the next day. Unbelievable. The flight was going to be challenging enough; I did not need the Company adding distractions to me. The FAA has an 'I'm Safe' self-check. Company doesn't agree. You are either sick or fatigued and make sure you say the correct term. Company has Green; Yellow and Red with the goal of staying in the Green and how to notice the effects/symptoms of leaving the Green. In this case Company had just added a bunch of stress to my life and pushed me into the Yellow. Only after arguing with me over; my new scheduler shifted gears and wanted to talk about our ZULU BI (Block In) time. I informed her that we understand. We are asked if we are going to push the button to extend our day. I don't remember what I said; maybe yeah or we will. She stated; 'I'll show you notified for your trip tomorrow'. I say 'No; I'm not notified and I will call you in ZZZ; and I would talk to a Supervisor; I have a flight to fly'. I hung up the phone and was extremely upset; so much that my flying partner noticed it; he brought my focus back to the task at hand; and asked if I was ok; he told me to take my time and asked if I thought I could fly the leg. Then the Agent came into cockpit and told me Scheduling was on the phone in the jet way; really! Just someone else trying to tell us about ZULU BI time or pushing the button; I said; 'I've already talked to them!' We took off and flew to ZZZ. I tried to limit the effects of the distractions that had just been introduced unnecessarily by my Company. I tried my best; but I can't help but think about my disappointment and Family the entire flight time; this is not safe.In hindsight; I should have walked off the aircraft in LGA. It would have been because the distraction introduced onto me by the Company Schedulers. Looking back; I thought I could block it out of my mind; but I was unable to. It's not worth making a mistake I can't take back. Although; I am extremely upset about being forced to work on my days off; I'm more upset on the timing of the JA assignment (before; I was to finish a 13h 50m day). I find; bad math (BI Time); multiple calls from Scheduling; fast loading of the aircraft and JA assignment all added pressures by my Company that I don't appreciate; one bit. I felt once I was assigned JA trip; any decision I made would be under a microscope and I might end up being Monday-Morning Quarterbacked by someone. It will not happen again to this Pilot!Scheduling could have JA'd me on my arrival into ZZZ. I'd still be angry but it wouldn't be as distracting as flying a leg after receiving bad news. My Passengers deserve my full attention and my Company needs to practice what they preach.
B737 Captain laments a grueling duty day; in bad weather; during which he is badgered by scheduling to accept a duty day extension and a trip assignment on his day off as the junior Captain available.