Originally Posted by Scott Stoops

So how exactly does the displacement process work at CAL?

At UAL, we aren't simply reassigned to a new base or seat - we're displaced and have the ability to "bump" to any seat/fleet/domicile that we can hold, so any changes like bidding IAH 320 would be accompanied with displacements from other domiciles. This can cause a significant number of training events. As a for instance, if they bump DEN 320 Captains, all of those pilots can hold a minimum of 777/400 widebody in any domicile, 756 in any domicile and obviously 320 F/O everywhere. A 320 Cap might bump to 777 F/O in SFO, which might mean a 777 F/O bump to 756 or back 320 Cap, which might mean a bump from 756 to 320 F/O.... etc... I bet if they bump 500 pilots (200 lines + reserves) collectively from Den and ORD 320, that they'll generate 1000+ bumps into other seats/fleets/bases.

This would obviously be different for the F/O's as they can likely only hold 320 F/O, but they can go where they can hold - not necessarily IAH. Eventually, if IAH doesn't get filled up with voluntary bumps, and is the junior 320 base, then the most junior will get bumped into the only base they can hold.

The entire process could easily take 4-6+ monthly bids to flush out the final outcome. That might mean literally hundreds of transition courses. Each of those takes a month, plus IOE and we don't have the staffing at TK to do that based on the level of inactivity I've seen around the place. Maybe once it is spooled back up.

This doesn't take into account the fact that adding several hundred commuters into the IAH-DEN or IAH-ORD commute will be a scheduling nightmare. I can virtually assure you that the vast majority of DEN based LUAL pilots live here and can't/won't move. Involuntarily displacing from here at least with no access to bid the replacement 737 airframes (don't know about the ORD pilot community) will be a complete train wreck to bid, train and maintain schedule integrity.

Maybe, just maybe, someone near the top realized at least some of the complexity of displacing pilots that I've just outlined and are looking for a less onerous and more workable solution. Fool hardy to hope that they've done the analysis that a common line pilot is capable of, I know, but it might make at least a little sense to find a different tact than they seemed intent on taking.