WHACKMASTER

It won’t give the majority of FOs the ability to upgrade but will nix all the premium and have us “enjoying” getting paid close to min guarantee.

I’m fine with them over-hiring, as long as our pay rates come up drastically to compensate for that new staffing reality.

Champeen07

Historically how often are JAs handed out the day after Christmas? If a newbie had a trip that ended Christmas night and was starting a family vacation the next day, would it be smarter to trade for a reserve block over those days to avoid a JA? Or are those days typically covered because people don't like to call out near the holiday? Any insight?

flyguy81

You can only be JA’d if you want to be. Bonus 2 day? Call in sick. Bonus overnight after return to base? Sounds fatiguing.

I’d be pretty upset over the thought of missing a family vacation during Xmas break…IMSAFE.

They typically overstaff Rsv’s over a holiday though to cover anything that might happen so I’d say odds are low of getting JA’d but…you never know. I know I wouldn’t be doing it though…

ZapBrannigan

I have admittedly done that when the trip offered was incompatible with commute. Learned my lesson and I'm much more specific with my trade requests. Thankful to the people who have been willing to trade their trips for my reserve and save me a hotel stay.

SWAG POINTS

Hey new pilots. Dallas TTGA has a pilot paying cash to take his trips. $400 cash to take 2-days in January. Before you bid straight why not take one of those? Posting note says “will pay $400 to take this trip”.

Crockrocket95

Or the "hey ill take your 3 day RSV block for this 4 day"
...non commutable
...AM turned PM
...high avoidance guy...

RJSAviator76

So here's another reminder that I had mentioned earlier but apparently new hires aren't getting it, or no one talked to them.

Instead of shotgunning your straight bids across every subrigged 2-day trip, have you thought about bidding straight on that 2 day reserve block in open time instead? If you're NOT used, it'll pay 12 TFP at second year rate. If you are used, anything you fly on that reserve block will pay you fully rigged value at 2nd year pay. So instead of bidding that 2-day trip at straight for 10.3, you'd fly it for 13 as a reserve pilot. If you get reassigned while on that reserve block you picked up from OT, any triggers that trigger premium pay will all be paying at 2nd year rate.

So, if your motivation is you need to fly that trip because layover/family/home, etc please ignore this and bid straight with purpose. However, if your goal is to make money, then stop picking up grossly sub rigged junk at straight. If you're inclined to do that, consider picking up that reserve block instead. Again, work smarter, not harder.

e6bpilot

This is good advice for non commuters, especially as we go into the lean months.

tm602

PHX only seems to have 3 or 4 days available in there when they do pop up. Kinda makes it impossible as they make everything else illegal. Then again, I’m already RSV so anything is kind of hard to find a fit for.

RJSAviator76

If they aren't picked up, then they roll over to the next day with a day less of reserve. Basically if no one picked up a 4-day block, the following day it'd be listed as a 3-day block, and then a 2-day block the next day... They don't put single days in OT.