Originally Posted by
scambo1
Pre A/E questions for Ferd
Thinking of MDing off the 777 to either msp or dtw 755. Where does one have to sit in category to be guaranteed the long Asia trips? The reason I ask is they are not daily.
I'd be:
DTW 32 in category
msp 51 in category
I know the categories are a little fat right now, but I was wondering how the company was handling greenslips / inverse assignments in them too.
-For example you are in the middle of your asia trip and get sick do they reroute someone who is already over there (kind of like NRT reserve) or do they put it in open time and let folks bid for it.
-example 2: A guy sicks out 24 hrs prior to a 10 day asia - will they put the trip in open time or burn a short call guy.
Its a pretty big pay difference, but one commute has value and 777 guys are always in jeopardy of reserve.
Oh yeah, exactly what is it you like about Saipan?
And feel free to give the long winded saipan tour guide version to the questions above...answer other unasked ones too por favor.
Thanks Scambo
Scambo,
Sorry for the delay, I just found this. I guess the easy answer is the Asia flying is mostly commuters for the reasons you mentioned. Not junior senior. But there are exceptions, the #2 mostly Asia FO from MSP lives in MSP.
I haven't been based in DTW for several years, but those guys are mostly commuters and you would be competing with more guys wanting those trips there even though you would be more senior. In MSP I'm #36 and normally about the #3 to #5 Asia bidder. So looks like you would be able to hold the MSP trips with no problems.
There are no reserves out there, but they do hold onto you till your scheduled DH home. In other words they make sure your replacement is in town before you get to leave, ie I never call to get released when I'm done (most flights get back to NRT before the DH back to the states, think hub times) I don't give them the satisfaction of telling me no
. For this reason, I don't bid the carry in/carry out trips (avoid carry out in the bid). Under the old NWA PWA they had to beg you to fly "high time" so you had options. With a carry out trip, they still have time to use you and then do something with the next trip. I don't know what the Delta PWA says.
I like Saipan for the beautiful island, the history (big WWII battle field) and everyplace I like to eat and drink is within walking distance. Not so much Guam. Plus, it's the closest place and it used to have the longest layovers (but not now, maybe it will go back if we get the increased service back).
If a guy calls in sick just before the trip, I've seen them do all sorts of things. Put the whole thing on the open board if its early in the month, cut it in half if towards the middle/end. I've also talked to guys who got called a few hours prior to a 12 day off reserve.......but I think that's rare. Mostly I think they have to cut it up, sure it makes the bean counters crazy with the DH cost.
Other Saipan stuff I'll leave to PMs
Ferd
PS May be all a moot point if the 737s come out with or without a Guam base.