So CO is going to PBS? Good luck! We have had it for quite a while and yes, the learning curve is steep but it will be well worth it unless you are understaffed. Then, look out! PBS does this little thing called cramming where the program takes trips away from more senior pilot to build out max credit lines to the junior pilots in order to allocate all the required flying. If you are senior but your trip will fit better on a more junior pilots line then presto! Trip no longer yours, Kemosabe. You will never know that it was taken from you because this is all done during the PBS run but it will be evident once the lines are published.

PBS does work well if you do have adequate staffing. Also, if the pairings are productive then your lines will be good. Another advantage is the ability to bid for or against certain pairings or even cities. When I was on the Airbus I always had 1000 points (the max) against EWR, PHL, CLE or MEX. Never flew there. I could bid for YVR, SEA, PDX and any other cool overnight I wanted. Now I just shuffle between which island I want to fly to. Also, if you need certain days off during the month PBS is more effective than paper line bidding. You do spend a lot of anxious time waiting the day or so between when the bid closes and you get your line.