Originally Posted by cadetdrivr

For LCAL pilots new to this system, pay attention to the power of unadvertised vacancies, particularly as it involves covering attrition as senior pilots retire and the resulting importance of "standing" bids.

Example: UAL Posts a small vacancy bid with only 40 777 CA positions (~10% of next year's attrition)

Is this a bid with 40 vacancies? Nope.

In an imaginary "stovepipe" scenario this will result in 40 CAs bidding off the 767 which results in 40 CAs bidding off the 737 which results in 40 777 FOs bidding 737 CA and so on....

A small bid for large equipment can result in several hundred subsequent bid awards and training events in bases, equipment, and seats that were never part of the advertised bid.

Thus, one should always have a "standing bid" for the BES one really wants and never have anything in the computer that is not 100% desired because you just might get it even if you didn't think the bid would affect you.