The contract has all kinds of safe guards and provisions for vacancy bids. There are almost no protections for laterals. One would think that the same safeguards would be applied, but that is not the case.

It greatly depends on now short the base is you are coming from as to how fast the company will activate the lateral. If they are short at your current base, they'll keep you there longer based on the needs of the service.

There have been several cases of waiting up to 6 months past the bid activation date for a lateral to be activated. If it takes an unreasonable time, talk to your council reps, then have a talk with your chief pilot with representation. This has usually done the trick, but they have to give manpower planning a kick in the butt to get it done.