Originally Posted by
dracir1
The one thing that I noticed at F9 given our last contract...
When we gave up line bidding for PBS, we lost most of the ability to improve our lines. We can still drop (to a limited amount) and trade w/ others, but picking up trips is largely on what's available in open time (which is decreased dramatically given the efficiency of PBS). Our company doesn't offer premium much anymore (due to change in company policy) so basically, for middling seniority pilots in particular, what you are awarded from PBS is what you fly. Obtaining lots of "overrides" is mainly dependent on delays or odd-ball situations that just happen to fall the right way.
I'd be wary of forgoing pay rate for a work rule override/benefits that, given a company change in policy or philosophy, becomes rarely offered. And from what I've seen of your TA, it's not on par w/ Spirit.
Did you all do paper line bidding? From what I hear from everyone I know at Alaska they hate bidding because it's such an arduous process and the only people that want to keep it is the senior guys that don't have to go through the phone book every month as they get exactly what they want. PBS is efficient and aids many pilots to place their parameters to get what they want out of a line that works for their lives. Now with the TA reserve rules, all or nothing bids and else start new can be utilized so if you have a lot of life to plan around and if that doesn't give you a line, one can easily accept reserve and accomplish said monthly obligations.
I see you point but It's odd you spin this as a negative because it's more efficient, and your reasonings seem from someone that lives in base and is more senior than average.