FangsF15

If I had to guess, I'd say on the Mock Bid they simply award every single "vacancy", regardless of any backfills, with no restrictions. Since nearly every bid they are pulling a lever or two for an "optimal solution", this can have more or less impact.

I know someone who wanted to bid to LAX. No vacancies were listed on the AE, and in fact they said they would not backfill as they were shifting flying to other bases (which should never stop you from putting in a bid regardless). On the Mock award, there were multiple awards to that base/equipment. Howerver, on the final, there were zero (IAW the original AE announcement). Almost like a cruel tease.

So what does this mean? As noted already, you have to take the Mock with a grain of salt. There will be some times and circumstances where you really do have to ignore an awared. Sleuthing out a likely final outcome from the mock is a fools errand. But I still think its nice to geet a peek (especially if you are middle of the awarded pack or suddently realizeing a bid is within reach), and I would like to see it continue to be used. If anything, I like Buck's take - do more, not less of them.

blue vortex

This is this is disclaimer on every sample (mock) award. It is even highlighted in red on the document. I don't know why pilots can't read this and understand that it is just a sample, not an official award. But just like some really great European hotels we've had in the past, if enough people make frivolous complaints maybe we can get rid of it.

THIS IS ONLY A SAMPLE OF AN AWARD BASED ON BIDS IN THE SYSTEM AS OF (date) AND AWARDING ALL POSTED POSITIONS
AWARD RESULTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON FINAL BIDS IN SYSTEM; ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE MADE TO THE NUMBER OF AWARDED POSITIONS

crewdawg

We have pilots who find a schedule, not their final schedule, via backdoor methods, who freak out when their final schedules isn't the same. So it shouldn't be any surprise that some a surprised by the mock bid not being similar to the final bid. But this is one of the reasons I never really cared that we didn't have a mock bid. Most of my UAL buddies completely discount theirs for the same reasons. I'm guessing it won't be long before some drop in fake bids just to mess with it...sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if people do that.

FL370esq

Wasn't there something put out a while ago by BS/Crew Resources that said a mock bid was merely an AE run reflecting the postings with no adjustments (i.e., no limiting awards for training, # of contingencies, etc...?). It may not be perfect but you certainly get a much more reasonable picture than "# of pilots senior to you" on the AE page in iCrew.

Buck Rogers

Let me suggest an example of why a mock bid/snapshot can be advantageous. What if the company put out a vacancy of 100 737 capt in ATL. You would currently be about 85%, so you think, "Yea, I'll put in for it, it should make me a regular line holder". The mock comes out and there are only 18 takers for the slots. So, now you go, "Well yea, there is my name but there are 72 unfilled positions". So, are you gonna be a regular line holder? Could you put in a criteria of regular line holder only? Sure, but what does that really mean?

Does anyone really know precisely what those criteria mean? I've read a lot of posters who were disgruntled after getting a bid due to these nuances.

The mock possibly provides just one extra /different glimpse. Personally, I think it's better than no glimpse, but then again, I didn't have to take anxiety meds prior to Christmas day wondering what my presents under the tree were.

hockeypilot44

I’ve been a narrow-body fo for a decade and a half. Bidding captain soon. I’ve been watching monthly bid awards in the category I want to go to. I look at the pilots at my seniority and see what trips and days off they get each month. It’s finally gotten to the point that they have schedules I can live with. Next month, I can hold December 24th-31st off in the category I want to bid to. It’s time. That’s my method. Anything else is speculation.

crewdawg

One could also put in a ~40% bid which will likely ensure that they'll not be subject to coverage if they so choose. A great thing to watch would be what percentage in seat keeps you above the 50% of line holders mark. I don't plan on willingly going below that mark ever again.

PilotBases

Totally get that, but the final number on many NB A slots is lower than the target they originally put out, which for the last few has been close to accurate.

I’m just more surprised they’re not backfilling NB A considering how short staffed quite a few are, as CXT said.

m3113n1a1

I can't tell if maybe they're trying to prioritize FO training or if they're planning on having a big NB A bid soon. But either way I think it's safe to say that barring some major slowdown, we'll continue to see greenslips on NB A well into the future.

PilotBases

I know I seem to be the oddity, but I'd rather just have staffing so I can move stuff without having to be a schedule ninja