Pretty sure it will, and you’ll be left with the system generated “award pairings”.

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Lightbulb. Now I understand the strategy, thank you

I've read the PBS guide but I'm still not sure I understand the difference between CSSN and Else Start Next. I thought they accomplished the same thing, but obviously there must be some difference between the two?

The way I understand it:

CSSN is its own bid line where you tell it to move to the next bid group if your line hasn’t hit the LCW with the Avoids and Awards you have in so it doesn’t hit the Award Pairings line


Else Start Next is a qualifier for a single bid line of (almost) any kind that kills the bid group if you don’t get that one thing.

Ok, thanks, that makes sense.

Else Start Next Bid Group (ESN) applies to a single bid line and can be used for a Set Condition, Avoid or Prefer Off. It tells PBS that if it can't honor that particular line to move to the next bid group. You can use ESN on one or more lines in a bid group.

Clear Schedule and Start Next Bid Group (CSSN) does two things:
1) EVERY Set Condition, Avoid and Prefer Off in the bid group must be honored or PBS goes to the next bid group. This means there is no such thing as Denial mode in a bid group with a CSSN. Essentially, PBS treats every Set Condition, Avoid and Prefer Off in the bid group as if it has an ESN on it.
2) PBS can only use the specific Award statements you give it in the bid group. It will not use the system-generated Award Pairings statement in the bid group.

It is very easy to shoot yourself in the foot with the CSSN command.

It’s also about the only way to avoid the award pairing line, unless I’m mistaken in something.

Yes, CSSN will always prevent PBS from using the system-generated Award Pairings line.

You can prevent PBS from using the system-generated Award Pairings line in other instances as well. Take the following bid:

Prefer Off ...
Avoid ...
Avoid ...
Award Pairings If X
Award Pairings If Y
Award Pairings If Z
Avoid Pairings If Pairing Credit > 0:00
Award Pairings

If PBS can get you in the Line Construction Window (LCW) after using "Award Pairings If Z" then the Avoid line below it (which filters out all pairings) will prevent PBS from using the system-generated Award Pairings line at the end. PBS will not deny the "Avoid Pairings If Pairing Credit > 0:00" if you are in the LCW by that point. This is one technique pilots can use to prevent PBS from adding additional credit when you are in the LCW but below the Threshold. There is a PBS Notepad that goes into more detail on the Threshold and this technique:
https://dal.alpa.org/Portals/1/Docum...epad-19-06.pdf

There are other techniques you can use to do this depending on your seniority and preferences.

CSSN can get the job done but it has a number of pitfalls. It just takes one Set Condition, Avoid or Prefer Off in a bid group with a CSSN to derail the whole bid group. A frequent culprit is when a pilot uses Set Condition Min Credit or Max Credit with a CSSN. It's an easy way for the bid group to fail since you have no idea if Min Credit or Max Credit bidding will be limited (and how much) in your category. Another common failure point is not including enough Awards in the bid group. One miscalculation on the credit total or an FAR violation that is hard to determine can also cause the bid group to fail.

IVD/APD question. Does it have to be 25 percent coverage every day of the footprint of the trip? Or just the day I put it on?

Everyday

filler