aa73

glad to help!

drinksonme

aa73,

Can you explain to me the BOD logic on their resolution (request) for a hybrid. The biggest argument from legacy AA pilots was that they liked the seniority system because they could pick up trips last minute and know they could commute (knowing they were senior from their city). Yet APA's proposal completely castrated that argument. By making the last 3 days FCFS, pilots arguing in favor of a seniority would lose that guarantee of knowing they will get the seat last minute, and thus lose pay by not being able to pick up trips last minute (their biggest cocern with IVR). By making the first 4 seniority, they virtually did nothing but allow for senior pilots to guarantee travel, but nothing to protect commuters looking to pick up trips. To me, it would have been more logical (yeah I know it's APA) to have the first 4 FCFS, then go to seniority. That way commuters can plan and seniors can utilize the shoulder tap at the last minute. The proposal, pushed by super senior (senior protector) BOD members, makes zero sense. Not that I am surprised. But under the current resolution picking up trips becomes less of a guarantee....going competely against what senior commuters wanted. Why even fight the IVR then? So the most senior can make personal travel plans? Really????

inline five

Keep in mind most of the LAA aircraft only have a single jumpseat. It's frustrating for me as I commute online on a leg where it's either 170 or 190 equipment. A single jumpseat.

Two jumpseats make a huge world of a difference with our system.

On a side note, I was told an AWAC (USX) jumpseater has prioirity on a PSA aircraft (WO) over me if they check in first. The CA was asked and that is what they stated. I think that's bull****. A PSA guy has priority over AWAC or Republic when jumpseating on mainline, but I don't have prioirty over an Express guy when jumping on PSA? ***?!?

Things like this are areas the APA should concentrate on. We should have priority over all Express guys on Express/Eagle flights (minus owned metal, although I disagree with that) yet it's first come first serve. This would give a much bigger boost to commuting guys especially will all the regional flying now.

Proposed jumpseat priority; LAA/LUS pilot
Priority on WO: WO pilot, mainline pilot, USX/Eagle pilot, offline pilot
Priority on Express/Eagle: Express/Eagle pilot own metal, mainline pilot, WO pilot, Express/Eagle pilot not own metal, offline pilot

So for example, with Republic on a USX/Eagle branded flight, we should go in front of an AWAC guy, or a SkyWest or Delta guy. But we don't, even on our own code!

On a PSA, PDT, or Envoy flight, a USX/Eagle pilot (Republic, AWAC, TSA) would go in front of us if they checked in first right now. Total crap. Changing the priority would do more for commuters and senior folks alike than any sort of seniority based IVR. Also, what does IVR stand for anyway? I never found that out.

aa73

You're making several assumptions as to how the hybrid system is going to go down. Nobody knows for sure. I know there were discussions amongst the APA mentioning the system you described but there is nothing set in stone yet. I don't know what the hybrid will look like, if or when it will be implemented. In the meantime we are concentrating many of our efforts on smoothly implementing the IVR, answering questions and beta testing...that's the first priority right now. What I can tell you is that many (not all) AA pilots believe that seniority is the way to go with the j/s, and APA has a duty to represent their concerns as well as everyone else's. Any union would do that. That's why we have to entertain the idea of a hybrid system. You can't just waltz your way into a merger and insist that your way is the best way and we're going with that. There has to be compromise. Hence the hybrid system..and honestly, nobody knows what it will look like.

Thedude

This is another situation where ancestor worship has to go.
The majority of the guys that are pushing J/S by seniority are on their way out in the next few years and they are very vocal minority. They want to saddle us with something that they don't use frequently but perceive it as some sort of "land grab".

Once you use the reservation system for j/s, you will be hooked and wonder why it wasn't that way before.

PRS Guitars

Again, good to hear. This will vastly improve my commute options (and everyone's...LAA & LUS) as I can now go through ORD or DFW as a safe option rather than just the few direct flights to PHL and connections through CLT.

drinksonme

Ah....yeah I not making any assumptions. This is the resolution announcement (sorry copy past)

posted on June 23, 2015 18:05
APA INFORMATION HOTLINE

This is APA Communications Director Gregg Overman with the APA Information Hotline for Tuesday, June 23.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING: After a morning caucus, the APA board of directors convened at 1 p.m. at APA headquarters for a special meeting. In accordance with the published meeting agenda, today's session primarily consisted of unfinished business from last month's regularly scheduled spring meeting. Among actions taken today in addressing unfinished business:

The board voted to approve R2015-19, "Passenger Service System (PSS) and Jumpseat Reservation Protocols," which acknowledges that "the unity of the membership would best be served by finding a solution that retains the best elements of both the Legacy AA and Legacy US systems." The resolution states that "it shall be the policy of the APA to pursue a jumpseat reservation system that allows pilots to reserve a jumpseat in seniority order up until 3 days prior to scheduled departure time."


No, I do not know how this will all shake out but that was not my point or question. But this is more than a "discussion". It's an APA resolution.

drinksonme

................

aa73

I know there was a resolution guys. Come on. Again, it is not set in stone. Key word, "pursue", not "commit to." That leaves plenty of options in which the end result may or may not look like what's exactly in the resolution, and plenty of pilots love to speculate. Then it has to be voted on by the BOD, who will probably be split. I'll reiterate by saying that nobody quite knows what the end result will be. In the meantime, let's focus on the IVR and a smooth transition to that.