Bidding categories while on seat lock
 

My question...can I bid out of category while in seat lock, assuming DAL will make my conversion effective when my seat lock is up? Or do you have to be completely without seat lock to even place the bid? I'm aware that "new categories" and "existing category w/ new base" don't preclude those with seat locks from bidding.

While admittedly naive, I'm looking at upcoming AE bids. My guess is that the 350 in May and the CSeries in the Fall will be shiny and irresistible to those that suffer from the syndrome. I'm eyeing the leftovers(don't judge me).

You can bid them but you won't be awarded anything unless your seat lock is over by the 1st conversion. Usually DAL decides the conversion month is the month after the AE closes -- so basically unless your seat lock is up by May 2017, unless you are bidding a 1st time captain, a new base on the same equipment, or a new category you won't be awarded anything.

The conversion window has to be completely past the expiration of your seat lock. Exceptions as you noted above.

Example - conversion dates 1 June 2017 to 1 Dec 2017. If your seat lock expires in May you are good to go. If your seat lock expires 2 June you are out of luck.

When crew resources publishes the AE it will have an earliest conversion date listed. As an example the Feb AE had an earliest conversion date of 2 Mar 17. As long as your seat lock is over by that date you are good to go.

Having said that the company can waive seat locks if it's in their own interest so there is no harm in submitting a bid. Bid what you want, want what you bid.

I think "C." (Picture below) Is addressing this exact situation.... if the earliest conversion date of the window falls before your seat lock is up (even if you would have to be trained which could take at least a month), I think that makes you ineligible (not including new category etc.)

I mention that because I am a march newhire and this 365 day conversion window would actually allow me to attend training and be converted at the back half of the window which will be after my March anniversary date.

However because the window will likely start in June 17, that is well within my one year newhire seat lock.

I just got here so I'm not going anywhere for a while anyway but there were questions in my indoc class after our CR inbrief about people starting in March 2017 and being able to bid an aircraft change in this May AE, and then convert in April or May 2018 before the window closes (assuming it is one year June 17 to June 18 ish).

The way I read it we would not be eligible.

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Good info, thanks for all the replies. Looks like I'll be watching from the sidelines. Should be interesting to see how things shake out.

To add to a new category: you are eligible to be awarded during seat lock to a new category for the first 2 AE's that include the new category. Didn't think I was eligible for it because I didn't get it on opening AE, but then was awarded it the next round even though my seat lock expired 3 whole days after the first conversion date.

Close...take a look at 22.A.16.

You can be awarded an AE (despite the existence of a category freeze) if the AE is to a new or re-established category. 22.A.16 (and 2.A.175) tells us a category is considered a new category for 60 days from the date of first conversion, not for the first 2 AEs.

Everyone junior or in a closing category should have a displacement bid in as well.....

Anyone in a closing category should only have a displacement bid in. The AE and VD selections should be cleared.