Share Your Typical AA Schedule
12-03-2019, 05:15 AM
#83
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Position: 6th place
Posts: 1,826
Originally Posted by HardLemonade
Don't skip the flow like those 200+ lifers did. BUT, come over with eyes wide open. QOL will suck in the beginning. As will your income during the first year.
In 9 years at Eagle/Envoy I never worked a holiday. Why? Because I was able to bid exact lines, hard lines or RSV lines that had the days off I needed. Over here at AA we have PBS. You have next to zero control over days off. Or much of anything else. You make a wish list of days which you would like off. And the PBS computer goes in and arbitrarily gives you some or none of them. Most likely none.
It's about as useful as Anne Frank's drum kit. Example, I had zero expectation of getting Christmas off. But, I needed the 21st off for a family event. That was the one day I requested from PBS. What did I get? A 5 day block smack in the middle of the 21st, followed by ONE day off and then a 6 day block over Christmas. And why? Who knows. PBS does PBS things.
Pay? After taxes and insurance it's about $2800 per paycheck.. subtract expenses for the inevitable commute. Crash Pads range from $300 to $500 depending on the city and how many rats you want to share a living space with. Plus the costs of Uber. If you are a commuter on RSV, which you will be, forget about picking up OT. Your only hope for extra cabbage is something called OG which is not offered very often. Even when it is, it'll cut into your already few days at home.
Again, flow. Long term things will be much better at AA than at the regionals. But be prepared for the first year suck. If you live within driving distance of NY, MIA, PHL, or LAX life will be slightly better as you won't need to commute. Otherwise, get the lube ready.
In 9 years at Eagle/Envoy I never worked a holiday. Why? Because I was able to bid exact lines, hard lines or RSV lines that had the days off I needed. Over here at AA we have PBS. You have next to zero control over days off. Or much of anything else. You make a wish list of days which you would like off. And the PBS computer goes in and arbitrarily gives you some or none of them. Most likely none.
It's about as useful as Anne Frank's drum kit. Example, I had zero expectation of getting Christmas off. But, I needed the 21st off for a family event. That was the one day I requested from PBS. What did I get? A 5 day block smack in the middle of the 21st, followed by ONE day off and then a 6 day block over Christmas. And why? Who knows. PBS does PBS things.
Pay? After taxes and insurance it's about $2800 per paycheck.. subtract expenses for the inevitable commute. Crash Pads range from $300 to $500 depending on the city and how many rats you want to share a living space with. Plus the costs of Uber. If you are a commuter on RSV, which you will be, forget about picking up OT. Your only hope for extra cabbage is something called OG which is not offered very often. Even when it is, it'll cut into your already few days at home.
Again, flow. Long term things will be much better at AA than at the regionals. But be prepared for the first year suck. If you live within driving distance of NY, MIA, PHL, or LAX life will be slightly better as you won't need to commute. Otherwise, get the lube ready.
PBS is baller to me. You didn’t get those days off because you’re junior, not because of PBS.
12-03-2019, 06:01 AM
#84
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Posts: 589
Originally Posted by HardLemonade
Don't skip the flow like those 200+ lifers did. BUT, come over with eyes wide open. QOL will suck in the beginning. As will your income during the first year.
In 9 years at Eagle/Envoy I never worked a holiday. Why? Because I was able to bid exact lines, hard lines or RSV lines that had the days off I needed. Over here at AA we have PBS. You have next to zero control over days off. Or much of anything else. You make a wish list of days which you would like off. And the PBS computer goes in and arbitrarily gives you some or none of them. Most likely none.
It's about as useful as Anne Frank's drum kit. Example, I had zero expectation of getting Christmas off. But, I needed the 21st off for a family event. That was the one day I requested from PBS. What did I get? A 5 day block smack in the middle of the 21st, followed by ONE day off and then a 6 day block over Christmas. And why? Who knows. PBS does PBS things.
In 9 years at Eagle/Envoy I never worked a holiday. Why? Because I was able to bid exact lines, hard lines or RSV lines that had the days off I needed. Over here at AA we have PBS. You have next to zero control over days off. Or much of anything else. You make a wish list of days which you would like off. And the PBS computer goes in and arbitrarily gives you some or none of them. Most likely none.
It's about as useful as Anne Frank's drum kit. Example, I had zero expectation of getting Christmas off. But, I needed the 21st off for a family event. That was the one day I requested from PBS. What did I get? A 5 day block smack in the middle of the 21st, followed by ONE day off and then a 6 day block over Christmas. And why? Who knows. PBS does PBS things.
12-05-2019, 06:41 PM
#85
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2013
Position: B737
Posts: 1,204
I'm on the Bus out of DFW, Domestic. About 32% seniority.
December, I have 1x 3-day trip (red-eye), 2x 4-day trips, and 1 5-day trip. Working the first three weekends. I have off 25-31 December. I solved in the second layer of PBS and got mostly what I wanted. Been here for almost 6 years. Last 4-5 months I've been solving in the top two PBS layers.
Of course it depends on what seat/base you're in, but typically, 80-100% seniority, you're going to probably be on reserve. If you get a line, it'll probably be a line with weekends and/or red-eyes. Around 80% mark, you can probably hold some or all weekends off if on reserve.
70-80% is kinda the "bubble"...if you bid "avoid reserve" you have a decent chance of getting a line, but it'll probably be fairly crappy with weekends at work. But in most cases I was able to trade things around to make it fairly livable.
50-70% you're a junior line holder. Probably working some or most weekends, solving in middle layers. You'll probably have to use the trip trading systems to make your schedule better, and you should expect to work holidays (you might get lucky, but expect it and you won't be disappointed).
30-50% you're a middle line holder, and can probably hold some or a lot of what you ask for. Towards the 50% mark, bid generic line constraints (days off, etc) and you'll probably get a decent schedule. Towards the 30% mark, you can bid actual trips and probably get some or most of what you ask for.
Top 30%...you can probably solve in the top couple PBS layers and bid specific trips. You can probably avoid working most holidays if you bid smart.
Hope that gives you a general idea...
December, I have 1x 3-day trip (red-eye), 2x 4-day trips, and 1 5-day trip. Working the first three weekends. I have off 25-31 December. I solved in the second layer of PBS and got mostly what I wanted. Been here for almost 6 years. Last 4-5 months I've been solving in the top two PBS layers.
Of course it depends on what seat/base you're in, but typically, 80-100% seniority, you're going to probably be on reserve. If you get a line, it'll probably be a line with weekends and/or red-eyes. Around 80% mark, you can probably hold some or all weekends off if on reserve.
70-80% is kinda the "bubble"...if you bid "avoid reserve" you have a decent chance of getting a line, but it'll probably be fairly crappy with weekends at work. But in most cases I was able to trade things around to make it fairly livable.
50-70% you're a junior line holder. Probably working some or most weekends, solving in middle layers. You'll probably have to use the trip trading systems to make your schedule better, and you should expect to work holidays (you might get lucky, but expect it and you won't be disappointed).
30-50% you're a middle line holder, and can probably hold some or a lot of what you ask for. Towards the 50% mark, bid generic line constraints (days off, etc) and you'll probably get a decent schedule. Towards the 30% mark, you can bid actual trips and probably get some or most of what you ask for.
Top 30%...you can probably solve in the top couple PBS layers and bid specific trips. You can probably avoid working most holidays if you bid smart.
Hope that gives you a general idea...
12-05-2019, 08:37 PM
#89
In a land of unicorns
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Position: Whale FO
Posts: 6,469
Originally Posted by Name User
I was under the impression bidding specific trips will get you them before someone senior who bids generically.
In other words, isn't it better to bid specific trips and then on later layers bid looser requirements?
In other words, isn't it better to bid specific trips and then on later layers bid looser requirements?
12-06-2019, 06:53 AM
#90
Banned
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Narrow/Left Wide/Right
Posts: 3,655
Originally Posted by Name User
I was under the impression bidding specific trips will get you them before someone senior who bids generically.
In other words, isn't it better to bid specific trips and then on later layers bid looser requirements?
In other words, isn't it better to bid specific trips and then on later layers bid looser requirements?
If one particular trip fills a senior pilots bid and there are no other options then the junior pilot will not have the option to snag that particular trip.
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