Originally Posted by
Hubble15
Not a commuter, and I've only used the IVR JS system a few times. Interested to learn the rationale behind preferring FCFS to the hybrid system? I think the old-school pure seniority system is BS. Pilots losing commutes at the gate due to a seniority # duel is bad for pilots and the company.
I personally like FCFS, but then I'm pretty junior. It seems reasonable to move to a hybrid system where a senior guy who is flying when the system opens still has a chance to get the JS, but slackers who couldn't be bothered can't bump us at the gate. What am I missing?
What are you missing? The attitude of "you'll be senior one day, son". Probably from guys that got screwed back then with the B scale!
I am probably the most negative guy out here when it comes to the IVR system/FCFS vs seniority. I *had* to double commute for four years and now I am *enjoying* a single flight a day to and from my home airport. It is my choice (I won't bore you with my personal sobering story whether it's really a choice) and yes, commuting sucks.
A brief history about the IVR/FCFS system: That was probably the only thing that LUS and LAWA could agree on (besides the fact that they HATED each other), it was fair to almost everyone (except procrastinators and in some situations guys on reserve) even the jumpseater was weight protected aka the company in the worst case had to bump a revenue passenger.
It took some real man of genius aka TW to completely f up this system. Everybody backed this system when it was first introduced to LAA, but TW made a stink about it. It got so bad in the APA henhouse that the company told APA that they would keep the current system, but the js weight protection was no more!
Another brilliant move by APA was the elimination of the last leg trip swap. Let's say you were on your last leg back to base, but you'd miss your commute home because you get in too late. If there was a pilot rated in the same ac and seat, (s)he could fly the last leg of the sequence for you. You still got paid, and the commuting pilot flew for free. Obviously, you both had to agree.
Some real geniuses from a different f world shook their heads in dismay and anger because they didn't see the sense of flying for free. Now it is gone. Whether something makes sense to you or not doesn't matter anymore, APA will make decisions for you.
There had been discussions about change of union. My personal view is to vote those idiots out. A new union with the same db is not gonna change anything.