bobble

I’d like to revive this to double check: bidding open time (assuming in base bidding, under cap) is the priority based on projected credit or actual/month to date credit?

and if it’s actual, is it at the time of bid or at the time of the trip?

also, random reserve question from the class group chat: if crew schedule calls you a day prior to acknowledge a trip for an early morning, next day RAP (in their words, to prevent an early phone call), can they still change the pairing after acknowledgement?

WHACKMASTER

It’s based on projected credit for the month.

e6bpilot

What whack said about projected credit minus training pay and JA (actual training pay, not trip pull for training events).

Yes, they can and will absolutely change your reserve pairing after they notify you. They will then call you at RAP start and tell you about it.

The early notification really just helps them. Many times it is done to get someone to acknowledge a trip that reports prior to 2 hours after RAP start and avoid things like in close parking.

It's a sucker bet. Never answer a phone call from scheduling without knowing exactly what they are calling you about. I generally let it go to VM and then look at my board and call them right back (if I am on duty or it benefits me).

Vne469

I understand the cartels have their ELITT ways, but are there bots that snipe the vacay trading also?

e6bpilot

Everyone swears that the "cartels" are involved in shady scheduling practices, but in 8 years, I haven't cracked the code on who these cartel players are or how they do what they do. I have asked around. They don't exist. Anyone who claims they do, I have always broken under cross examination when they admit that they "heard" about something. If anyone knows who they are, I am offering a reward for their employee numbers and proof.

There will always be a couple of shady players on the margins who are parking trips, selling TTGA, or doing other weird and morally bankrupt stuff. These are the same guys who are stealing jackets and coordinator fund money out of crew rooms. Sadly, they will always exist for the same reason that I lock my car door even though I live in a nice neighborhood.

We continually restrict ourselves by fixing problems that don't exist with the "cartels". I used to be able to give away an open time pairing if I didn't want to fly it. Now I can't.

As for the bots that snipe vacation, I submit that it is a pilot with a good internet and better clicking skills than you and me. It's like ELITT...better luck next time. Open time pairing no longer exists.

RJSAviator76

Urine Trouble

Few points to add:

1) Once you have access to the SWAPA website, go download the Scheduling Handbook. It answers a litany of questions re: scheduling practices/language and is especially helpful with reserve and reserve pay.

2) Even if they assign you a trip that starts the next day at 1700L and your RAP starts at 1100L, you are still required to be available (really sucks for commuters) at the beginning of your RAP. Answering a phone call the day before a RAP start does not benefit you at all.

3) I would further add that the company does not respect your time off. They will schedule your OE three days after you’ve been in training for 60 days straight. They will JA into your day off without hesitation (company JAd 20k days in 2021). If you select “QOL” for training, it doesn’t count for the “FO Leadership Course” and they will add two days of training to your schedule AFTER your line is awarded and will not pull training for it. Do yourself a favor and don’t answer the phone if you are not contractually contactable. They aren’t doing you any favors.

at6d

Got JAd last night. Today after my deadhead home, they tried to JA me again. Fortunately, I was already gone. My captain was called before the deadhead home and fatigued out. The percentage of JAs may be down from a couple of months ago, but I’ve been hit up more this year than ever. Know your contract.

flyguy81

Guess I’ve been lucky….don’t think I’ve been JA’d at all this year. Last year though….

ZapBrannigan

I haven’t been JA’d in a few months (reserves technically can’t be JA’d unless there’s no other option due to mechanical, weather, airport closure etc) but this happened a week or two ago…

Finished four days of reserve flying with a leg to DEN, and was then scheduled to deadhead WEST back to my domicile (which is in the opposite direction from where I live…EAST).

The contract says that if, upon landing after completion of the deadhead, I would have been on duty for 9 hours, I can be released from the deadhead.
It was going to be 7 hours.
I called anyway and, as expected, they said no. So, I took the deadhead 90 minutes in the wrong direction, landed in my domicile, called scheduling to find out what they had planned and they released me.

It was in compliance with the contract, but infuriating as it cost me a half day at home. We still have a LOT of work to do for reserves in this CBA, especially for those who “choose” to commute.

(sarcasm intended as a lot of commuters frequently hear this “choice” argument made by the old timers)