waflyboy

This is a good way to approximate. The most junior lineholding FO in LAX was hired 12/17... so you can start there.

Time to lineholder will probably go up a little as we shore up our FO shortage.... assuming we're hiring and training fast enough. It will probably also go up if (when) block hours decrease in the fall. Mid-to-top end attrition will cause it to go down. I expect that Crew Planning can change bid optimization parameters that could impact the time as well. (ie change average line value and number of reserves) Trip efficiency and CDOs might also have an impact.

A moving target for sure, but as long as everybody above you keeps their Airline Apps updated, anyone hired in the last 6 months should have a decent ride.

PanchoBarnes

Happy 4th of July ya filthy hat wearing animals

VIRotate

Just talked to a new hire 4 days out OE a few days ago. Said he had a “sweet build up line” for July if that means anything. He was LAX based. I’d say 1 month of reserve and the next month will be build up line. Plan on 2-3 months of build up before you hold a line.

Happy 4th. Wear that hat to show your CPZ pride!

Stan Dingbye

Ok, you inspired me to do some digging, here’s what I came up with:

LAX jr line holder hired 1/18/18
SEA jr line holder hired 1/25/18
PHX jr line holder hired 1/25/18
Seniority numbers ranging between 590-600

So, looks like right now it’s taking 5-6 months from hire date to hold a line? And training taking around 3 months, so a couple of months of build up/ reserve?


Unrelated (well, kinda related), do we get company rate at commuter hotel after our 4 stays per month are up? If so, what’s the rate?

Mostly I’m trying to figure out the economics of crash pad vs. commuter/ self pay hotels.

Serenity

That just means he couldn't bid for July in PBS back on June 10th, so training scheduling built him a mixed line of trips and reserve days in July. They will also try to give you requested days off if they can accommodate it. He will be down to regular reserve in August.

VIRotate

After almost a year on reserve, I am very familiar with build up lines. Usually it goes Reserve -> Build-up line -> Line. At least that is how it was during my tenure as a reservist.

I meant if that means anything to figure out how long it will take to hold a line. I dreamed of a build up line during my wonderful months in the MSP crashpad.

max gross

Coming out of training they will give you a build up line until the next bid period, even when senior guys can only hold reserve.

BobbyLeeSwagger

3 months for training, a couple weeks for IOE, then you get a build up line from the IOE dept. (unless all your IOE paperwork is submitted and processed right when the bidding window happens). Looking at one solid month of reserve then a chance at a build up line after that.

The changing target lines in each bid packet and how your list will move will be a factor.

FALL 16 HIRES --EARMUFFS--

When you first start you have 3 sources of attrition to your list which makes movement pretty fast at first

1. Folks senior to you changing bases away from yours and NHs moving in to replace

2. FOs getting hired

3. FOs upgrading

You should move through the first 30% of the list extra quick, I would imagine we would have long call back for FOs this fall, that will also help a lot because there will usually be some who will bid down to LCR if they commute. That will open up another line too. My advice since you asked (lol) is to learn how to bid well as soon as you're out of training

yrbroom

Careful you don't trigger anyone

How do you suggest is the best way to learn? Trial and error? Or bugging all my captains?

BobbyLeeSwagger

Read the PBS guide for starters, start reading section 25 of the CBA, and then yes, ask your captains for bidding tips or to check your bid on a layover (maybe buy them coffee?), if you have a specific question you can reach out to our PBS committee for help. You can submit questions on cpz.alpa.org to various committees.