Z you kill me!

 

Will we be using the "ticketmaster" approach to trip trades, requiring human inputs?

Sounds like more trouble than it is worth, but if what MX727 states is true and Uncle Sam is annoyed with Uncle Fred, then we all need to play nice in the sandbox, eh?

 

Before this last company advertised system improvement, I would encounter the dreaded Server Busy message when trying to find out my bid award, during the 5-6pm period preceding the Frenzy, and at odd times during the mid-afternoon MEM launch window. We're not talking constantly getting the message, but still even once signifies the system is at least momentarily overloaded.

DOS attacks are bad for everyone because it clogs the lines as well as the servers.

FedEx can identify us and what we are doing at any moment on the website. They know who's constantly logged-on and stressing the servers by banging away at OpenTime every couple of minutes. That's why I went with the LogIn, peek, and LogOut method. That way folks aren't constantly on-line, and not everyone peeks at the same time.

The problem being created by ourselves is probably from people constantly refreshing the OT screen. So, I'm afraid that invoking a Captcha security box will only encourage more people to be constantly on-line to avoid the box versus using a peek-a-boo approach. Not to mention some of those things are just flat unreadable by anybody.

To really level the playing field and mitigate the "own worst enemy" syndrome, I would rather the company simply tell us how often it is server-safe/reasonable to check OT. And base that calculation on say 50% of the crew force checking OT within a set time period (15, 30, 60 minutes or more?) during a normal daily peak period. They could also develop an RSS solution or other timed interval push of OT to an email address that folks could opt-into; but, that would cost $$. The real question is which would be cheaper and serve the overall strategic interest in the long run??

 

I know this probably is against the rules of engagement on this board , but what if everyone could contribute an idea for improving our open time system and discuss the merits? (Naw... It's much more fun wasting time typing messages back and forth complaining about everything

Our Open Time system has at least two major problems:

1) The monthly Open Time feeding frenzy on Thursday night

and

2) Inability to pick up open time trips without either using a bot or spending you life hunched over the keyboard.

Let's talk about solutions to the above:

1) On each monthly Open Time Thursday, a large percentage of the crew force is out there working and cannot participate in the initial Open Time frenzy at all. This huge hole needs to be plugged!! Totally UNSAT!!!

Some carriers allow the pilot group to look over the Open Time list and presubmit preferences (alot like secondary prefs) and process them in Seniority order before the feeding frenzy begins. Now to placate all the people that will jump up and shout "No more seniority based advantages thank you very much!", why not entertain the idea that the during the "First Pick" process, you would be limited in CH's or maybe number of trips picked up/traded or some combination of the above. Discuss your best ideas!!

2) Would it be appropriate to require most trips that go into general open time to remain for a period of hours, allowing the crew force to submit requests that are processed in seniority order, with similar restrictions as above (ie: once you have been "awarded" one seniority based selection, you can't use your seniority again that bid month). Of course, there are time limitations for trips that show very soon, etc.

Come on guys/girls - we can put our heads together and come up with alot of better ideas than what we're stuck using now!! Those of you that have the benefit of previous carrier experience, please chime in with the best from other outfits. Ask your buds at other carriers how they handel OT more fairly and effeciently.

I don't know about you, but I think depending on the latest, greatest computer to manage my work life and/or spending more time with my fingers on the keyboard is no way to go through life!

I'm just trying to offer some discussion points to improve the process. Let the spears fly......

 

A denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the means to carry out, motives for, and targets of a DoS attack may vary, it generally consists of the concerted, malevolent efforts of a person or persons to prevent an Internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at all, temporarily or indefinitely. Perpetrators of DoS attacks typically target sites or services hosted on high-profile web servers such as banks, credit card payment gateways, and even DNS root servers.

One common method of attack involves saturating the target (victim) machine with external communications requests, such that it cannot respond to legitimate traffic, or responds so slowly as to be rendered effectively unavailable. In general terms, DoS attacks are implemented by either forcing the targeted computer(s) to reset, or consume its resources so that it can no longer provide its intended service or obstructing the communication media between the intended users and the victim so that they can no longer communicate adequately.

I could definitely see the company instituting a digital signature reply in VIPS for trip trades.

 

There is no way to solve this that will not require the company to upgrade the servers. Everything we do now is on the website. You can't put everything that we need on the website and then not fully support the users.

A security word window will force everyone to get phones like the iphone or instinct unless you want to sit in front of your comp all day. I am for any change that continues to allow OT access with a mobile device.

Here's what you do, the company buys bidX, Sets up options for email and text messaging, and then makes this the only way to bid or trade OT...a fully featured standard. As long as the OT system remains an accessible database, the smart guys will continue to have auto traders and other things that offer an unfair advantage. Time stamping is fair if we are all playing on a level field.

 

Solution--I am not a techie but I have seen trading at other airlines and have stayed at a holiday inn express.

I believe other airlines have their trip trading systems separated from other crewmember website functions like checking the weather, notams, and getting FCIFs. The world doesn't stop when trip trading gets busy or malfunctions. I bet they have backup servers too.

The real issue is our IT department. Airlines, who make very little money for their revenue, if any, have more sophisticated setups than we do. Why?

We should have BETTER trip trading. We should be able to offer a trip on our line for trade or pickup into the open time listing. Put a asterick, change the color or whatever to ID them as from a crewmember and not the company. This would avoid TONS of trip drop/pickup requests the schedulers have to answer.

Speaking of scheduling - Why is it better for schedulers to have to execute each and every trade? If the trades supposedly get screened by the computer to determine legality, eligibility and time stamp, why include the human?

I'll tell you why - So they can override these checks when they want to. Not a conspiracy theory....fact.

 

DOS attacks? No way.

Perhaps on the Shipping, Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management from FedEx site but not on the pilot website. Not a site with a secure log on like ours. Has to be a bad rumor.

 

Waaaaa !!! Why not buy me out ??

Seriously, increased use of effective technology is the front line of productivity enhancement. Think about it, how many businesses have made your their customer service agent/cashier by using self-service kiosks?

I blame the economy and other factors for this situation (and for JJ -- DW too). In lean times, folks realize that to succeed they need to do things a little smarter, and in many cases, that involves using specialized computer technology. I developed my program to increase my own personal productivity.

This general situation will get worse not better, so I agree that now is the time to find strategic solutions for the future, not arbitrary limits for the present. I can't believe that Quality Management principles do not apply to our area of operations.

I believe the most strategically minded solution would be to separate the Trade/Bid system from the pure Ops stuff either by website or server. I also like the idea of disapproved drops being marked and added to the OpenTime mix, just have to add a decision box (submit to OT if disapproved). And I already made a suggestion about using an opt-in RSS/push approach to making OT listings available with less stress on the system.

 

I know it sounds hard to believe, but if you remember, they shut down VIPS last week for a short time. As soon as they turned it back on, it was hit by the same "attacks." It was explained that this was not a trivial number and even FedEx IT was shocked by that response. Obviously, since numbers and passwords are required, they could even see that it was the same people.

I've exhausted my ability to relate what was explained to us, as the rest got technical and I wasn't taking notes. Suffice it to say, I believe what I was told.

Oh, the corporate site gets hit all the time.