Gunter

You really want to shake things up, FDXLAG...

Just like our bottom lines are filled with a collection of odds and ends, VTOs are currently meant to catch what is not picked up by monthly makeup. They often include reserve days. The schedulers want as many trips as possible to be picked up before they build the VTOs. Makes it easier for them and reduces open time.

Just because someone scored some good deals on VTO at one time, does not mean they werre meant to be that way.

To me, it makes sense. Monthly makeup is voluntary and folks don't have to pick up anything if they don't want to. They are an unknown and may or may not pick anything out of open time. The VTOs get what the schedulers give them. They should get the last pick. The company would like open time to be bare at release so they have an incentive to offer the makeup folks the first pick.

I know your argument is how much should they pick up over BLG. The company cares about cleaning out open time, not about who is over BLG.

BTW, the company has already changed the optimizer on the 727 to offer more flying lines. Fewer DHs, more weekend layovers and longer layovers. All at company expense. Commuters may grumble...

FDXLAG

Maybe, but if you read the thread backwards I think the Gist became: How do we make improvements on the next contract to help the entire crew force. Certainly you agree that bringing the mean and the mode closer (talking BLG) would be better for the crew force. Our objective is not how do we help the schedulers empty out open time.

Encouraging guys to bid carry over by letting them have first crack at the good trips is not good for the crew force.

As an example: I already have my March schedule planned. R-24 to conflict my first week carryover trip. Cherry Pick a sweet West Coast trip the 2nd or third week. My leveling will be high because of my first week carryover. Pay about 120 hours for a little over 2 weeks TAFB. Throw in some vacation and I can either bump the hours up or decrease the TAFB.

Busboy

Hey Chainsaw,

I already said my "myopic, self-centered and wrong "post was a joke. A bit of sarcasm aimed at all those posts in late December talking about hosing the senior guys in the next contract. Did you continue reading this thread?

AGAIN, THIS SMILEY DENOTES SARCASM!!

Chainsaw

Busboy, my apologies. I'll run down to the local junior college and enroll in a smilies identification course shortly. Sadly, your sarcastic posts are difficult to differentiate from some of the other moronic serious comments. Some of these clowns actually believe what they are typing (MajorWong).

Lindy

FWIW...

I did bid as many trips to "build up to guarantee".


One issue that many of you may not be aware is that if you put trips on ONE line, then you must be able to fly all those trips. You cannot ask for three trips in the same/similar footprint. A VTO request will permit you to put 3 trips on one line and ask for ANY of those trips.

You are only permitted six lines in the View/Add Window to ask for trips.

Therefore, even though there were several trips on the same days, I had to put them on separate lines. Then I had to throw in other trips that would not conflict with the trips one those lines.

Unfortunately, I was awarded a line that had trips the first week of the month and then the 1-7 issue. That knocked out 6 days of availability.

I am just suggesting that before an individual can build a line to 90 hours in a four week month, individuals below BLG due to legality issues have an opportunity to build to BLG, that's it. Then everyone who conflicted training with Reserve to have "super seniroity" or that 90 hour month build their trips.

MajorKong

Chainsaw - Why don't you take some of your own advise - Stop your mewling and moaning about the Age 65 issue. Maybe its time to change your "position" below your avatar.

HoursHore

Actually you can. If you hit continue rather than submit it will bring up another page.

I have learned to enter every possible permutation of the trips I want, in case some go and others are there.

FDXLAG

Wouldn't it be nice if you could differentiate between hard request and soft request for trips? IE, I really want that DH to FLL but the O&B to GFK doesn't invalidate the line if it is not available.

nightfreight

I'm not sure what the big complaint about reserve carryover conflicts and secondary lines. If carryover reserve is so good, then bid it. It usually goes junior so it's available for most.

As someone said, secondary lines are a crap shoot. I've had very little luck with these and I choose either to bid reserve or bid a bottom dweller line. I know some guys that do bid secondary lines every month are usually pleased...

At least reserve carryover is available to about 90% of us and is not just a deal for the super senior.

That said, I agree that it would be an easy thing to leave the window open for another 24 hours to see what trips are actually left and give those that choose to play secondary line roulette better visibility. It would definitely lessen the time it takes to bid...

HoursHore

That's why you have to enter the trips individually at the end. If you want 3 Trips, you have to enter 7 lines to ensure that you get at least some of them if one or 2 is gone.

1,2,3
1,2
2,3
1,3
1
2
3

Thats the only way in the CIC window to ensure you get some of your bid, if available