How to actually get an IA
01-18-2026 | 05:10 AM
#111
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I’m arriving to this thread a couple of days late but I wanted to share my IA experience. First time I tried to get one was about 2 weeks ago. I got a call with a half dozen IA’s available. I call scheduling and wait on hold for 33 minutes. Finally speak to someone and find out the trip I wanted was already filled. I hang up and don’t think anything of it. 10 minutes later I get another phone call for IA and the trip I wanted was again available. After another 15 minutes on hold I gave up and hung up. So extremely frustrating. How does that happen?
Also frustrating is that the first time I called I was offered a number of other pairings that were in IA since the one I wanted was gone. I have to imagine that’s how many of these IA’s are covered out of order.
Also frustrating is that the first time I called I was offered a number of other pairings that were in IA since the one I wanted was gone. I have to imagine that’s how many of these IA’s are covered out of order.
01-18-2026 | 08:49 AM
#112
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Joined: Jul 2008
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If you're on the hunt for a properly assigned IA, there is a tight rope to walk. Union guidance is to only call and accept an IA for a rotation you were called for. However, unless you were watching open time and already know the trip that is going out as IA, you have to wait 30-60 seconds listening to the robocall before hearing the actual rotation number being offered. At which point if you call, you might already be several numbers deep in the queue vs those who were anticipating the call (who are also not necessarily dealmakers.)
01-18-2026 | 09:03 AM
#113
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If you're on the hunt for a properly assigned IA, there is a tight rope to walk. Union guidance is to only call and accept an IA for a rotation you were called for. However, unless you were watching open time and already know the trip that is going out as IA, you have to wait 30-60 seconds listening to the robocall before hearing the actual rotation number being offered. At which point if you call, you might already be several numbers deep in the queue vs those who were anticipating the call (who are also not necessarily dealmakers.)
01-18-2026 | 09:51 AM
#114
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Joined: Sep 2025
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So the key is to talk to scheduler after IA coverage started but before calls start going out. If you wait for call (what I have always done), you will never get one because it will be assigned to someone else either before you get call or while on hold. It’s a terrible precedent that isn’t good for anyone but at least I know how to play the game now.
01-18-2026 | 11:21 AM
#115
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Joined: Jan 2020
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So the key is to talk to scheduler after IA coverage started but before calls start going out. If you wait for call (what I have always done), you will never get one because it will be assigned to someone else either before you get call or while on hold. It’s a terrible precedent that isn’t good for anyone but at least I know how to play the game now.
Or…..maybe just enjoy your time off for a month or two and not worry about premium flying until QS is here.
01-18-2026 | 11:41 AM
#116
Back on Reserve
Joined: Dec 2012
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There's nothing in the contract that requires the company to use ARCOS, right?
What would happen if CS sent someone to do an old-school jetbridge IA? Or what if CS assigned a single 'analyst' to take one trip and do the old-school call tree. Bottom of the list, first one to answer is truly ASSIGNED the trip. It'd be legal and would SUCK for the unfortunate junior.
What would it do to the current situation?
What would happen if CS sent someone to do an old-school jetbridge IA? Or what if CS assigned a single 'analyst' to take one trip and do the old-school call tree. Bottom of the list, first one to answer is truly ASSIGNED the trip. It'd be legal and would SUCK for the unfortunate junior.
What would it do to the current situation?
01-18-2026 | 12:09 PM
#117
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: N60.4858 W149.9327
Last edited by notEnuf; 01-18-2026 at 12:45 PM.
01-18-2026 | 01:39 PM
#118
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: MD88
There's nothing in the contract that requires the company to use ARCOS, right?
What would happen if CS sent someone to do an old-school jetbridge IA? Or what if CS assigned a single 'analyst' to take one trip and do the old-school call tree. Bottom of the list, first one to answer is truly ASSIGNED the trip. It'd be legal and would SUCK for the unfortunate junior.
What would it do to the current situation?
What would happen if CS sent someone to do an old-school jetbridge IA? Or what if CS assigned a single 'analyst' to take one trip and do the old-school call tree. Bottom of the list, first one to answer is truly ASSIGNED the trip. It'd be legal and would SUCK for the unfortunate junior.
What would it do to the current situation?
01-18-2026 | 01:47 PM
#119
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Maybe, but there are no consequences, there’s no way to prove it, and that’s how the game is being played. Are you suggesting no one pick up IA’s or just me?
01-18-2026 | 02:06 PM
#120
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Anything else for getting an IA is deal making.
If that means never getting the IA, so be it.
