MSP7ERB

It all boils down to green slips. I'm on the 330 and moving to NB-A would only be a 6%-15% raise depending what plane I went to. I'm easily out earning any NB-A who doesn't fly green slips. I've never worked so little. It feels like a part time job and I constantly hear about it from my girlfriend about how I never work

Trip7

I guessing you are on the Reserve GS strategy.

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Hillbilly

This is the only one I could find. In the "No/Low cost QOL items I'd like" thread.

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/d...ml#post2888574

Herkflyr

Well heck I can't find it either. Here is what I was trying to say.

1. When bidding your schedule in PBS, it is human/pilot nature to assume that if you are senior enough to get a day off bidding a regular line, then therefore you by default will also get that same day off as a reserve. That is NOT (!!!) true.

2. Regular bid group processing and Reserve bid group processing are two entirely separate events, and the results in one are in no way binding on the other. The only restriction in terms of honoring seniority, days off, etc, is that PBS must respect seniority within that Regular or Reserve bid group processing--the two do not have to "talk" to each other.

3. Therefore, it is entirely possible--and very likely--that a pilot who bids reserve on purpose can get unstacked/trip coveraged over a day that many guys junior to him did not, but who bid regular lines. This exact thing happened to me last December over Christmas and New Year's Eve (December worked out well after all was said and done, but I was unpleasantly surprised initially). I am about 55% in my category by the way (ATL 320A).

4. After choosing to bid a regular line in January, I once again bid a reserve line in February, and hoped to get Super Bowl Sunday off. Having learned my lesson, I remembered this time to construct my bid as "Prefer Off xx, yy, zz Else Start Next Bid Group." Sure enough, I was unable to get a reserve line with Super Bowl Sunday off (Feb 3). However, with the Else Start Next qualifier in there, PBS went to the next bid group, and I was awarded a regular line with Feb 3 off. Sure enough, there were quite a few guys senior to me that bid a reserve line and were trip coveraged on that day!

5. So if you wish to have a reserve line, but are concerned about possible trip coverage results, construct your bids as follows.

Start Reserve

1. Prefer Off xx, yy, zz Else Start Next Bid Group.

Start Pairings.

1. Prefer Off xx, yy, zz
2. Etc


If you still get unstacked either way, well then hey, you are just junior! And as always, if you do get a reserve line and find yourself unpleasantly trip coveraged, don't forget all the X-day moves available through PCS. In my December story, even though I was unable to move Dec 23 and 24, I was able to move Dec 30 and 31.

Herkflyr

That was it! Of course I only noticed after I posted another similar thing. I'm out. I have stuff to do. Take care.

Jodaaddy

Only the top 50% of line holders (NOT 50% in category) are contractually immune from unstacking. Not so much with reserve...only the top 15% of reserve lines in a category with at least 20 reserves are immune.

If you have decent seniority, you should use this to your advantage and bid a line if you want certain days off and don’t gamble with reserve (or use an ESN)

fishforfun

What % are you on the 330?

MSP7ERB

Very junior. I bid reserve. It's all 3 and 6 day trips so if you get creative you can avoid work. There has been ample GS opportunities for all but that will probably slow down until next spring.

DWC CAP10 USAF

Thank to Hillbilly for having better google-fu search skills than me.

And thanks for Herkflyr for the original info and for re-typing due to my sub par google-fu skills.

m3113n1a1

I'm a senior NB-B thinking about making a move to junior 330B or junior NB-A. I'd be commuting to either. My goals are make the most money, and have the most time off--in that order. I don't really care about the type of flying. It seems like as a junior WB I'd get a couple more days off than a NB captain, but I'd make more money as a captain. Is 330B really that good?!