Originally Posted by shoelu

Eating can sometimes be a challenge considering turn times average 30 minutes or less. Many folks pack food with them, but more commonly the CA or FO will take orders from the crew, then make a food run between turns.

Drops and swaps are instantaneous and done on the computer or smart phone. There is a pilot to pilot function where you can place a trip to be given away in entirety or any portion of that trip. Any pilot from any domicile can pick up that trip if he is FAR legal to do so. This is why 1 and 2 day trips are easy to get rid of, someone can easily fit them into their schedule and remain legal. You can also place it for trade only with another pilot, stating what you are looking to trade for and placing it with a PIN number.

All open time is placed in ELITT, and can be traded at will with the company. There is a tabulation that counts days of flying traded in the system. If someone trades in a 3 day for a 4 day then the system goes to plus 1 and that means that someone else can now trade a 3 day down to a 2 day etc. Normally the system is always at zero on the FO side, but often the CA side may be in positive numbers allowing you to trade down and reduce your days of flying allowing you to hunt for Premium pay.

Premium open time is a complicated system. Most uncovered flying is given to reserves. Our reserves are unlike most legacy carriers. Reserves actually fly 80-90% of the time. If reserve coverage is low all uncovered fling goes into Open Time system. That system is broken into many categoreis: DOT (Daily Open Time) HOT (Hourly Open Time) FCFS (First Come First Served) Etc. Pilots bid on open time with a computer or smart phone. POT is awarded in seniority order except for FCFS which is free for all with no regard to seniority. You can sign up to receive text messages as to what is currently available, and bid on trips via text. You can also bid for trips as straight time, or only if it drops into the premium pay category. Standing bids can be made and trips that meet your parameters can automatically be placed on your line without you having to do anything.

The system works for us, but definitely will not work for everyone. You have to remember that every pilot is qualified to fly any trip in the system. We do not have many of the factors to contend with that a multi-fleet, international/domestic carrier deals with. The system is definitely set up to reward pilots for picking up open time, which allows management to staff more lean. However, that also means that they don't ever hesitate putting a trip out at premium pay in order to make sure it is covered. Many folks live the premium pay life almost exclusively and can either work very little to reach respectable pay or work a lot for huge pay checks.