Pref bidding and an associated concept called 'demand staffing' were used by TWA in our last few years. It worked very well due to the fact that the union ran the system and controlled the parameters with pilot input. Given AA's employee relations, past and current, I don't have any faith at all it would be a good thing because the company would run the system. When in full swing , pref bidding reduces the total head count required to man the airline, thereby reducing pilot costs. Instituting such a system when there are still people on furlough status would just delay further those pilots recall.


EXTW