Open time advice for probies
09-21-2017, 04:26 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,671
SNOT-S trips are allegedly trips that are going to be assigned to reserves on a short call out but instead they are offering them at straight time to the pilots in their great benevolence.
They almost always suck.
They rarely get any bids.
If they are partial trips then no, rigs do not apply.
The funny thing is, if you watch the trip, it sometimes goes from base to base, gets put up for SNOT S and then you see it again for SNOT P or VPF. The schedulers, when they aren’t in panic mode, like to play games with exporting trips and acting like they are going to tag a reserve with it so you will bid straight.
If it has an employee number in the remarks, it will more than likely go to that reserve.
They almost always suck.
They rarely get any bids.
If they are partial trips then no, rigs do not apply.
The funny thing is, if you watch the trip, it sometimes goes from base to base, gets put up for SNOT S and then you see it again for SNOT P or VPF. The schedulers, when they aren’t in panic mode, like to play games with exporting trips and acting like they are going to tag a reserve with it so you will bid straight.
If it has an employee number in the remarks, it will more than likely go to that reserve.
09-22-2017, 02:08 AM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,671
In what instance can premium pay less than straight?
The only time I have seen something similar is a JA getting paid less than premium due to it being reconstructed as a reroute win no rig the first day.
12-05-2017, 10:02 AM
#37
Gets Weekend Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,776
Digging up this thread back... Some new tips for probies.
When you see the list of bidders, that is not... RPT... NOT the order the trip will get awarded in. I saw newbies bidding straight on a trip that would have gotten awarded to them at premium because everyone else was over the cap. Or even worse, bidding straight on a DOT trip that closes in 2 days. It made absolutely ZERO sense. If someone has their board blocked, so what... still bid it at premium and let it ride, the senior board blocker may be playing shenanigans and over the cap. Don't get emotional about it.
Here's another tip.
If you haven't been successful in getting anything at straight because you'd get outbid, stop bidding straight. Bid premium. On certain days, plenty of reserves, so the trip won't likely go premium and it will be assigned to a reserve. As a first-year guy, you have a huge ace in the hole that apparently not many are aware of. Everyone knows that after the DOT/HOT trip has been awarded to a reserve pilot, you can call Scheduling and tell them you want to fly it. Not many senior people will do that. You will happily fly it at straight time, but what many people aren't aware of is that you will get paid second-year rate if you fly that trip. In CWA, look at Open Time Awards, and you're looking for trips with a label AR. No more bidding, no forcing senior guys to bid straight and beat you on a straight bid. Easiest second-year pay trip ever...
To the newcomers, welcome to Southwest! We are all happy you're here. Do us all and primarily yourself a HUGE favor though and crack open that contract and get familiar with it. On your EFB, go to MyMobile365>*NOT FLYING>Flight Ops Communication>Contract and type in first officer pay. Section 4, part D. All in there for you. If you have any questions, call SWAPA Contract Admin or you can call Scheduling and talk to Payroll. They'll clarify and answer any questions you may have.
When you see the list of bidders, that is not... RPT... NOT the order the trip will get awarded in. I saw newbies bidding straight on a trip that would have gotten awarded to them at premium because everyone else was over the cap. Or even worse, bidding straight on a DOT trip that closes in 2 days. It made absolutely ZERO sense. If someone has their board blocked, so what... still bid it at premium and let it ride, the senior board blocker may be playing shenanigans and over the cap. Don't get emotional about it.
Here's another tip.
If you haven't been successful in getting anything at straight because you'd get outbid, stop bidding straight. Bid premium. On certain days, plenty of reserves, so the trip won't likely go premium and it will be assigned to a reserve. As a first-year guy, you have a huge ace in the hole that apparently not many are aware of. Everyone knows that after the DOT/HOT trip has been awarded to a reserve pilot, you can call Scheduling and tell them you want to fly it. Not many senior people will do that. You will happily fly it at straight time, but what many people aren't aware of is that you will get paid second-year rate if you fly that trip. In CWA, look at Open Time Awards, and you're looking for trips with a label AR. No more bidding, no forcing senior guys to bid straight and beat you on a straight bid. Easiest second-year pay trip ever...
To the newcomers, welcome to Southwest! We are all happy you're here. Do us all and primarily yourself a HUGE favor though and crack open that contract and get familiar with it. On your EFB, go to MyMobile365>*NOT FLYING>Flight Ops Communication>Contract and type in first officer pay. Section 4, part D. All in there for you. If you have any questions, call SWAPA Contract Admin or you can call Scheduling and talk to Payroll. They'll clarify and answer any questions you may have.
12-05-2017, 01:53 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: American Airlines Brake Pad Replacement Technician
Posts: 476
As a first-year guy, you have a huge ace in the hole that apparently not many are aware of. Everyone knows that after the DOT/HOT trip has been awarded to a reserve pilot, you can call Scheduling and tell them you want to fly it. Not many senior people will do that. You will happily fly it at straight time, but what many people aren't aware of is that you will get paid second-year rate if you fly that trip. In CWA, look at Open Time Awards, and you're looking for trips with a label AR. No more bidding, no forcing senior guys to bid straight and beat you on a straight bid. Easiest second-year pay trip ever...
Pure SWA First Year Gold here...
12-05-2017, 08:29 PM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,671
The only way to tell is to look up the cap on the bid cover page or swapa website and look at that persons schedule. If their board is blocked, that’s a good indication that they are over the cap and think they are being sneaky. I asked a captain who admitted to this odd behavior one day why he did it and he said it was because then nobody could see if he was over the cap. Um, ok. Does anyone really change their bid because they think someone else may be under?
I just bid on trips I am willing to leave my house for and let the chips fall. I think some people put way too much strategizing into it.
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