Doesn't it help you out to do the schedulers a favor every once in a while? If you help them out of a jam, won't they be more inclined to do you a solid when you need one? Seems like normal human interaction to me...

 

That's what most people think, but pilots are a jaded bunch, they've been dicked for decades (like jets for jobs) and it's in the blood to be pessimistic about scheduling interaction. I've always been friendly but firm if it looks like they're calling out of order. Sometimes the advantage of answering when you don't have to is that you get a choice of trips, which for me seems to happen about every week. Luck or not?

 

I have to smile at this one!

For 99% of (AA) schedulers, you are a widget that either fits in the next hole or doesn't. They will be nice if that helps to fit you in the hole, or try to intimidate you if that helps. They have ZERO memory of what you did or did not do for them last time; if it is necessary to screw you over, they will do so without a qualm. That's their job.

I imagine the schedulers are *crying* for newbie pilots they can browbeat into going the extra mile, it's been so long since they've seen them here. They've had nothing but grouchy contract-savvy lumps to work with for so long now!

No matter what I say, you'll think "surely he's wrong; surely schedulers are caring humans" when you get hired. That's just loveable, naive human nature. I did it, too. But that first time you get screwed sideways (after you've bent over backwards several times to help out) will cure you. There IS no other cure.

Remember this, too: if you assign a particular ringtone to Scheduling, do NOT assign them, for instance, a snippet of a song you like! I'm telling you you'll learn to fear and despise whatever tone you give them. Personally, I've assigned a WWII British air raid siren to their number. I imagine that English persons during the Blitz feared and despised that noise more than I do... but not by much!

All that said, there is ONE scheduler I will help out if I can. Other MIA 76 FO's probably know who I'm talking about. She's the exception that proves the rule.

 

Exception proves the rule? Majority of my crew skd contacts are fine. Some are OK, and some are great.

It's the contract. Sometimes they push the rules. If they're wrong stick to your guns. They didn't write the contract and *****ing at them because you don't like the contract gets nowhere.

Does having a reasonable relationship with crew skd pay off? Are you decent to people because you're trying to get something out of the relationship? Or do you choose to be decent to people in the first place?

 

That's all fair to say. But having a 'reasonable relationship' is not the same as having a 'personal relationship.' And if you expect your relationship with individual schedulers to resemble the personal relationships you have in your day-to-day life, you will be disabused of that notion in short order.

 

Does she sound like one of those phone sex operators?

 

They're not calling me for a date. They want a body in the seat. We both get that.

I've gone down and introduced myself or have been asked to stop by. Do the same with dispatch. Puts a face behind the name for both of us.

 

Yes, we both get that. My advice isn't for you, it's for an FNG.

 

At every recurrent I go upstairs. I've met many schedulers and dispatchers.
Contrary to some of my posts here, AA is not a place I can recommend to anyone.
From A to Z this place is the worst of ALL the majors.
The only positive thing I can say about life at AA is on reserve, if there is more than one trip open when they call you, you'll have a choice. If there is one person below you on reserve you may pass.

We now have no profit sharing. Yes, many will say when offered the choice of wages in ink vs. questionable profit sharing, go for the ink.

This place keeps taking and taking.

Just finished the book retirement heist. There's several pages on USAir, and AMR (AA and through American Beacon) are making bank (stealing) from us.

Before you apply to AA, do your research and call an AA pilot. Or ask here. This goes way beyond treating you like a number. Way beyond.

Note to all young pilots. When I was a young 25 yr old commuter pilot I started a 401K. No matter where you choose to work, start one immediately!

 

As a new guy, I did a number of favors for CS. Then, I'd call to see if they could help me with a trip trade, or a day off due to a family issue, or any one of a number of things called normal human life.

They didn't tell me to eff off, but the result was the same. Thus, I don't do them favors any more. They've done none for me.

True story: I was reserve MD-11, on a Golden Day off. I was scheduled to be on call at midnight. At 1830, the phone rang. It was CS, calling, I assumed, for a trip the next day.

"We need you to cover the all-nighter to Santiago Chile tonight. It leaves at 2000."

"But I'm on a golden. You can't do that."

"Here's your choices. You can cover this trip now, or we will re-schedule it for 0101, with a sign in of 0001. And you will fly it then. You can go now, or delay 225 people 5+ hours. What'll it be?"

I took the trip. I was going to fly it anyhow, so why screw over the pax? If we had been in one of our many horrendous contract negotiations, I would have let them reschedule the trip.