Originally Posted by
GhettoJet
The GTD is only calculated within a parameter, outside of that seniority comes into play. For the most part it is straight seniority. The reason buckets will suck is that you will no longer be able to shield reserve days by preferencing in to shorter trips. Senior reserves do this all the time and can recover 2-4 more days off a month using this strategy. Between buckets and lagging United by an extra day off a month the reserve good deal will be gone.
Yes, you will not be able to proffer shorter trips (which is one of the techniques I use to fly less, and have more DHD only days). That is a negative. Yes seniority is calculated within variance groups right now, those groups are designed to spread the flying evenly among all pilots, as soon as you get around 10 hours you get put at the back of the queue (within seniority order in that group). That part will be gone, so the most Jr pilots will fly first in their bucket always, the most senior reserve pilot will literally (that word is overused…but is applicable here) always be the last in their bucket to be used, even at the end of the month with zero hours flown. The most Jr will likely go to 80-85 hours every month and the most senior will probably fly less than half that every month.
It is not currently “for the most part straight seniority” as you claimed, but it will be under the new system. the APA even said they wanted seniority to factor in more than it does now.
Now, someone mentioned outside vs inside DOTC, not sure what the distinction will be on that, I need to re read the proposed TA.