FangsF15

Good point out, but also sometimes they go through. Several people I know got an APD to work on Christmas Day (though that’s not typical)…

tennisguru

The APD/IVD holiday blackout dates only apply if coverage is not positive. If, when PCS gets to your request, there is positive reserve coverage on the day(s) you are trying to drop, then the APD or IVD will be awarded 100% of the time. Sometimes around a holiday coverage is even or barely negative, and during the PCS run it will briefly pop positive and award someone their APD/IVD. This gives the appearance of being granted with negative coverage when actually positive coverage allowed the drop. My guess is this is what happens 99% of the time when someone gets an APD/IVD approved over a holiday blackout period. The PCS process is completely automated with no manual input from scheduling, so the company doesn't just decide one day to grant someone an APD when every day is -15.

This is also the sneaky way a junior pilot can "jump" a senior pilot when trying to drop when coverage is barely positive, since IVD's process ahead of APD's, which process ahead of PD's. Each type of drop is independent of the others and all in seniority order, so the plug in a category will get an IVD approved before the most senior pilot gets his PD processed.

MJP27

This is not correct. Please reference 23.I.10.a

They "may" deny your IVD/APD regardless of reserve coverage.

m3113n1a1

That doesn't make sense because they can't deny a PD with positive reserve coverage. So the moral of the story is submit both at the same time?

crewdawg

Separate from the APD holiday discussion, just a note that I thought of as I was reading this thread (not necessarily directed at you M31). Reserve coverage rules were discussed earlier, so a quick pointer that PD's can break reserve rules (ie...drop the middle day of 3 day block) on NBs. For WB's it says such PD's "MAY" be awarded if you're dropping below the 4 days on...in 3 years on a WB, I never had one honored, even with positive coverage. While no categories currently have a MSL, if it does have one, you can't PD to go below the MSL either. I think the 350 was the last fleet we had MSL, and it was 9 days. So you could bid reserve blocks less than 9 days, but if you were awarded a block 9 days or more, you couldn't PD to go below that. At least that's the way it was explained to me as I never had to deal with it.

A friend of a friend found out about these rules the hard way. On the 717, he would drop the middle day of reserve blocks all the time. Wanting to make more cash, he jumped up to the 7ER thinking he'd continue the game and that is when he found out about this language...ouch.



PWA 23.I.9

tennisguru

Functionally I am correct. An APD/IVD will process if coverage is positive. I’ve done this over holiday blackout periods a handful of times. Again, PCS is entirely automated. Scheduling can’t go in and cherry pick a few random people to award APDs to and deny others. The company MIGHT be able to tell the automation to deny all APD/IVD requests regardless of positive coverage, but as was said above that doesn’t make any sense since people can still PD at will over any day of the year with positive coverage so the end staffing result will be the same.

sailingfun

Exactly my point. To be fair however banking credit can cost you when a airline is displacing not growing.

MJP27

I have had an APD denied in the exact scenario you describe. I've also had it approved. So, I know they can deny it if they so desire. I'm glad it's worked out every time for you. I haven't had 100% success rate.

tennisguru

How positive was the coverage?

MJP27

lol. Unfortunately my memory isn't that great and it didn't happen recently. However, coverage was positive. Can't remember what the reasons report said exactly either.