Does FedEx use Preference Bidding?
 

And if so how is it? In my previous airline we used strictly paper, and the lines where (for the most part) seven on, seven off. Reserve was mostly 8 on 6 off. With PBS can you enter in parameters that would frag your schedule, or are their contractual protections on what it can build for you? How about days off, if it builds you a schedule below guarantee, does it/can it stick work days in on your days off?
I am interested in you experience with the system, as I have never used PBS. It seems on some airlines it works great, on others it is a nightmare.
Thanks

PBS=bad for pilots, good for saving money
 

No PBS at FedEx! It will be interesting when we have a majority of carriers whose crewmembers have only known PBS vs. line bidding. They won't even realize the ramifications of losing vacation & training conflictions! If there was a way to keep the effects of confliction and still get the day-to-day scheduling benefits of PBS, then no company would spend the money to install and use the PBS software. The only reason to spend on it is to reduce the number of pilots needed to staff the airline - it's as simple as that!

pbs
 

Doesn't fedex use pbs for custom lines?

Pilot7576

For normal bidding, FedEx uses schedules built by a computer, reviewed by the union and adjusted as needed by a negotiation process. For those that bid "Custom lines" (known at FedEx as VTOs for line holders or Custom lines for those just activated) , then you can say that a PBS type system is used. But the VTO lines are only built using trips that were either disputed by the union; dropped for vacation or training; or not used in the line building process.

I have friends at Northwest (Delta) and they almost unanimously agreed that PBS benefits those with seniority in each seat. If you are in the middle, there's a chance that some of your desires would be fulfilled. If you are at the bottom, a nightmare.

Don't even mention PBS and FedEx in the same sentence. That would be the death of our world class vacation system.

I didn't think the company could use a disputed pairing when building a VTO, unless the crewmember specifically requested that pairing number in their VTO request.

They can't.

PBS might work at FedEx if we could use it ONLY on VTO lines in some sort of real-time or near-real time trip selection system.

I always thought it would be good if the VTO line holders were awarded their trips in sequential order AND those trips were removed from open time as they are selected in real time. This would allow junior guys to see what's available in the leftovers. Again, I don't know how it would work and I would ONLY believe it would work with VTO. But it is 2011 and I'm sure there is some sort of real-time technology and/or method that might make it feasible.

If you really think about it, the current system of drop/add and conflict resolution is a hybrid/bastard child of PBS. You knock a trip out for training, you get your pick of trips (in seniority order) AND you know what you got soon after the window closes.

Have you used PBS before ? Just curious how anything that conflicts, drops/adds and awards in seniority can be compared to a PBS system.

PBS did none of the above when I was at Cactus ...

No, I've never used a PBS system before but I have acquaintances that use it or have used it. I am no longer in contact with either of those guys. My comparison above to a PBS type system was not a good one. My point was that, after the conflict resolution/drop/add window, those trips are removed from open time and awarded and you know as a conflict guy within a few days what your next month schedule looks like. If you're a VTO line holder, you no longer have those trips to choose from and can no longer waste a secondary line choice on a trip(s) that's already been awarded.

All I'm saying is that in 2011, there should be some way/method/technology where the #1 VTO line holder can go in to open time and pick his trip(s) for the upcoming month and as long as they are legal and don't exceed some BLG constraints, that trip(s) belongs to him AND (this is my BIG point) those trips are removed from the 'bucket' of trips that the other VTO holders have to choose from. Then the #2 guy goes in, picks his trips, etc, etc.... It's a close approximation to real-time trip trading.

I've got no idea how this would/could work and it would be the ONLY way I would consider a PBS type system specifically for VTO lines.