Newbies... work smarter, not harder
11-06-2022, 08:22 AM
#111
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,920
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)
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)
11-06-2022, 11:41 AM
#112
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,175
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.
.
11-06-2022, 12:34 PM
#113
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,672
You mean Linetuner?
That is like Frank Abignale going to work for the feds. It's a tool for the betterment of mankind now.
I am not saying that people don't do shady stuff. They do. We just spend an inordinate amount of time and effort into restricting ourselves out of QOL and money in the name of justice. Every time someone mentions the cartels as some sort of evil force that is stealing their stuff it makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
We just need to accept that on the margins there will always exist pilots who only care about themselves. They will always find a way to cheat the system. If you are going to punish them like adults, then great, but don't restrict 10,000 people from doing something to stop 1 person from being a tool.
11-06-2022, 02:52 PM
#114
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,920
You mean Linetuner?
That is like Frank Abignale going to work for the feds. It's a tool for the betterment of mankind now.
I am not saying that people don't do shady stuff. They do. We just spend an inordinate amount of time and effort into restricting ourselves out of QOL and money in the name of justice. Every time someone mentions the cartels as some sort of evil force that is stealing their stuff it makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
We just need to accept that on the margins there will always exist pilots who only care about themselves. They will always find a way to cheat the system. If you are going to punish them like adults, then great, but don't restrict 10,000 people from doing something to stop 1 person from being a tool.
That is like Frank Abignale going to work for the feds. It's a tool for the betterment of mankind now.
I am not saying that people don't do shady stuff. They do. We just spend an inordinate amount of time and effort into restricting ourselves out of QOL and money in the name of justice. Every time someone mentions the cartels as some sort of evil force that is stealing their stuff it makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
We just need to accept that on the margins there will always exist pilots who only care about themselves. They will always find a way to cheat the system. If you are going to punish them like adults, then great, but don't restrict 10,000 people from doing something to stop 1 person from being a tool.
11-09-2022, 01:59 PM
#115
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: American Airlines Brake Pad Replacement Technician
Posts: 476
I bid straight. Because it's my contractual right! If I decide to devalue the entire pilot group, for my own short term personal enrichment that's my business.
☝️
Thoughts of literally thousands in our ranks
☝️
Thoughts of literally thousands in our ranks
11-13-2022, 02:32 AM
#116
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,175
You mean Linetuner?
That is like Frank Abignale going to work for the feds. It's a tool for the betterment of mankind now.
I am not saying that people don't do shady stuff. They do. We just spend an inordinate amount of time and effort into restricting ourselves out of QOL and money in the name of justice. Every time someone mentions the cartels as some sort of evil force that is stealing their stuff it makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
We just need to accept that on the margins there will always exist pilots who only care about themselves. They will always find a way to cheat the system. If you are going to punish them like adults, then great, but don't restrict 10,000 people from doing something to stop 1 person from being a tool.
That is like Frank Abignale going to work for the feds. It's a tool for the betterment of mankind now.
I am not saying that people don't do shady stuff. They do. We just spend an inordinate amount of time and effort into restricting ourselves out of QOL and money in the name of justice. Every time someone mentions the cartels as some sort of evil force that is stealing their stuff it makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
We just need to accept that on the margins there will always exist pilots who only care about themselves. They will always find a way to cheat the system. If you are going to punish them like adults, then great, but don't restrict 10,000 people from doing something to stop 1 person from being a tool.
You didn't hear about that?
11-27-2022, 01:35 PM
#117
Gets Weekend Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,776
OK… thread bump for newbies. I’m seeing more and more newbies bidding downright stupid on OT.
Newbies, there’s really no reason to plaster your straight bid all over every open time trip.
Reminder… if a senior pilot is over the cap or vacation, and you’re under, you’ll be awarded the trip at premium and second year pay. I highlighted which section of our contract addresses this in the first post.
Want to make that 2nd year pay the easy way? Look under Open Time Awards and look for code AR…. Those are trips assigned to reserves that were run through Open Time process which is the trigger to pay second year rate.
Another option… wanna bid straight on something and live in domicile, bid reserve blocks you see in Open Time. If you get used, at least anything you fly will at least be rigged… if you don’t fly, you’ll get 6 TFP per day at 2nd year.
Welcome to Southwest! Now work smarter, not harder.
Newbies, there’s really no reason to plaster your straight bid all over every open time trip.
Reminder… if a senior pilot is over the cap or vacation, and you’re under, you’ll be awarded the trip at premium and second year pay. I highlighted which section of our contract addresses this in the first post.
Want to make that 2nd year pay the easy way? Look under Open Time Awards and look for code AR…. Those are trips assigned to reserves that were run through Open Time process which is the trigger to pay second year rate.
Another option… wanna bid straight on something and live in domicile, bid reserve blocks you see in Open Time. If you get used, at least anything you fly will at least be rigged… if you don’t fly, you’ll get 6 TFP per day at 2nd year.
Welcome to Southwest! Now work smarter, not harder.
11-27-2022, 01:58 PM
#118
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,672
OK… thread bump for newbies. I’m seeing more and more newbies bidding downright stupid on OT.
Newbies, there’s really no reason to plaster your straight bid all over every open time trip.
Reminder… if a senior pilot is over the cap or vacation, and you’re under, you’ll be awarded the trip at premium and second year pay. I highlighted which section of our contract addresses this in the first post.
Want to make that 2nd year pay the easy way? Look under Open Time Awards and look for code AR…. Those are trips assigned to reserves that were run through Open Time process which is the trigger to pay second year rate.
Another option… wanna bid straight on something and live in domicile, bid reserve blocks you see in Open Time. If you get used, at least anything you fly will at least be rigged… if you don’t fly, you’ll get 6 TFP per day at 2nd year.
Welcome to Southwest! Now work smarter, not harder.
Newbies, there’s really no reason to plaster your straight bid all over every open time trip.
Reminder… if a senior pilot is over the cap or vacation, and you’re under, you’ll be awarded the trip at premium and second year pay. I highlighted which section of our contract addresses this in the first post.
Want to make that 2nd year pay the easy way? Look under Open Time Awards and look for code AR…. Those are trips assigned to reserves that were run through Open Time process which is the trigger to pay second year rate.
Another option… wanna bid straight on something and live in domicile, bid reserve blocks you see in Open Time. If you get used, at least anything you fly will at least be rigged… if you don’t fly, you’ll get 6 TFP per day at 2nd year.
Welcome to Southwest! Now work smarter, not harder.
Agree on your techniques for maximizing success...however:
Crew scheduling has been max assigning reserves out of open time for the last couple of weeks. The weather has been unusually spectacular system-wide, so it hasn't blown up in their faces yet.
You and I have both seen the lists of bidders. Some trips go 10-15 deep with plenty of guys that are senior and/or below the cap. It's been ugly.
As the independent contractors that we are, we tend to do what is maximizing our own self interest without really caring about how that effects others. This goes with newbies bidding on open time as well. If I were in their shoes and saw some of the bid lists that we have been seeing recently, I would bid straight too. Can't blame them at all.
This is just a sign of the times. Our manning is getting to a level where scheduling has gone back to their "standard ops" during lulls in the schedule. I would expect that to continue.
11-27-2022, 02:25 PM
#119
At your mom's house
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: cpt 737
Posts: 2,798
I agree that we all need to do what's best but new hires are being told they need to bid straight. I've run into several who didnt know they could bid premium and get 2nd yr rate.
you can lead a horse to water....
you can lead a horse to water....
11-27-2022, 02:50 PM
#120
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,672
Oh yeah, for sure that fallacy needs to be corrected. A new hire under the cap will outbid the most senior FO in the system over the cap (in your own base, out of base bids are subject to system seniority). I never understood that when I was a probie and worked way harder than I needed to.
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