It basically uses your credit from the past 8 months plus 3 months of future credit (assumes 82 hours for future months) to figure out what you can fly the next month (credit counting towards IMAX includes flying but not premium, vacation, training, dropping a trip to be paid out for it with future vacation, and sick time, plus some others?)

So if you can start with 1 low month to trick the system into letting you fly more, and then credit for 7 months near 90, then bump the credit to 140+ for 2 months, the next 2 months will be pretty much duds since it assumes you’re crediting 82 the next 3. So the people that love to maximize will then fly premium over those off months since it doesn’t count towards IMAX.

This is all based on a 12 month rolling max of 1080.


Probably more confused now.

If the new reserve system sucks I plan to get smart on IMAX.

I don't see it sucking any more than what we have now. The only thing that makes reserve "OK" now (and apparently this isn't even an option at every base), is bidding 3-day reserve blocks so you can limit the amount of days they can screw with you. If you're giving them 4-6 days of reserve (especially 5-6 days), you're going to get abused, big time. I usually do nothing but 3-day blocks, except after 1-day off, then I'll do a 4-day block. However, a few weeks ago, I had to do a 6-day block because of a string of days off I had to bid for. Well.... with 6-days available, they used me ALL SIX DAYS. It was brutal. I got hit with the first 4-day trip I had flown in over a year, followed by two 1-dayers.

What I really don't like about our reserve system now is that junior pilots in lower groups get to preference their trips before you do. So, if you have 3-days available and you're in group 4 and there are 8 junior pilots in groups 2 and 3 (less GTD), they'll give them their preference first, say.... a turn to MCO, TPA, RSW, NAS (name your good deal turn) and you end up getting hit with the 2 or 3-day trip with MORE HOURS THAN THEM! It's total BS. I always love when this happens with pilots 3,000 numbers below me in seniority.

Under the new system, Jr pilots to you (which I don’t care about, but you mentioned) in a 2 day bucket will get the cushy 2 day trip, while you in a 3 day bucket will not be considered for it. I really like the current system and often proffer for shorter trips than my “bucket” to pad my GTD hoping not to be used later in the block. Doesn’t always work, but often does. That said, I’ll adapt to the new one…if/when we get a new one.

That would be about the only thing I would like to see changed about how the current system works.

See how much open time there is, then gather how deep in the groups will the currently known flying go. So the flying will require someone from Group 1 through 4 to be used. Then it goes by seniority with the pilots from those groups. So if the most senior person in group 4 wants that turn or 2 day, they get it or pass, etc, etc.

I've been at a bucket system at a couple airlines now and trust me what American has right now is much more predictable. Senior people are not going to like this change at all.

i agree. Bucket system sucks if your senior.

Why? Sr people will be able to pass much more under this system since there is no consideration of GTD (time flown for non AA folks) so they will always be at the bottom of their respective bucket. As opposed to now, when they will be first to go if they have flown less than Jr pilots. I think Sr will like this, everyone else…a push or loss.

Until they’re the only ones in said bucket

That’s only inside DOTC. Outside DOTC will be based on RDW first, then seniority.