How to actually get an IA
01-19-2026 | 04:45 PM
#171
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 732
Likes: 304
I've been called for a IA and when I got through to the scheduler about 5 minutes after calling I was told the trip was covered 1 minute earlier. The rotation never showed up on the daily trip coverage report. It just disappeared from open time. Not sure what happened to that one.
Things are weird with IA, but to say that anyone getting #2 is making a deal is just ignorant.
01-19-2026 | 04:47 PM
#172
Line Holder
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 487
Likes: 119
It happens, happened to me today, some well well senior to me got assigned the trip as my phone rang (I answered the phone, opened iCrew, and by the time it told me what rotation they were calling about it was gone). And even if they call in batches, so senior to me we aren’t even close to being in the same batch. Should not be possible.
Last edited by Puddytatt; 01-19-2026 at 05:31 PM.
01-19-2026 | 05:03 PM
#173
Can’t find crew pickup
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,075
Likes: 223
I'm sure it does happen. But does is it "almost always someone who has called scheduling before actual call went out?" Without any proof, I highly doubt it. Saying it is doesn't manifest it. Most of my friends have received IA #2 that have tried. And unless they suddenly have become untrustworthy specifically about their IA's, they didn't work a deal. Nor did I "almost all" of everyone else I would imagine.
01-19-2026 | 05:12 PM
#174
Racketeer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 13,409
Likes: 882
From: N60.4858 W149.9327
They won't call you if you're above ALV or on a golden X day.
I've been called for a IA and when I got through to the scheduler about 5 minutes after calling I was told the trip was covered 1 minute earlier. The rotation never showed up on the daily trip coverage report. It just disappeared from open time. Not sure what happened to that one.
Things are weird with IA, but to say that anyone getting #2 is making a deal is just ignorant.
I've been called for a IA and when I got through to the scheduler about 5 minutes after calling I was told the trip was covered 1 minute earlier. The rotation never showed up on the daily trip coverage report. It just disappeared from open time. Not sure what happened to that one.
Things are weird with IA, but to say that anyone getting #2 is making a deal is just ignorant.
01-19-2026 | 05:17 PM
#175
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 78
They won't call you if you're above ALV or on a golden X day.
I've been called for a IA and when I got through to the scheduler about 5 minutes after calling I was told the trip was covered 1 minute earlier. The rotation never showed up on the daily trip coverage report. It just disappeared from open time. Not sure what happened to that one.
Things are weird with IA, but to say that anyone getting #2 is making a deal is just ignorant.
I've been called for a IA and when I got through to the scheduler about 5 minutes after calling I was told the trip was covered 1 minute earlier. The rotation never showed up on the daily trip coverage report. It just disappeared from open time. Not sure what happened to that one.
Things are weird with IA, but to say that anyone getting #2 is making a deal is just ignorant.
01-19-2026 | 05:20 PM
#176
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 5,595
Likes: 356
It’s FCFS. Once trip sent for IA coverage, firsf call in wins. Unfortunately, no way to tell when IA coverage starts unless you call scheduling and ask……..if you can get someone to answer phone.
01-19-2026 | 05:31 PM
#177
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 386
Probably Dealmaking.
01-19-2026 | 05:43 PM
#179
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 732
Likes: 304
You're really wrapped around the axle on this. Scheduling calls in Inverse Assignment. Pilot calls scheduling and volunteers. That's how IA has been done for many years (apparently). ALPA doesn't object to this. DALPA has been crystal clear on what constitutes deal making, and you not getting an inverse assignment doesn't pre-suppose deal making.
Maybe this new contract will align the current practice with PWA language, but probably not. It seems to me that the company gets to decide how they are going to assign "Available qualified pilots, in position, in inverse seniority order."
It's not very clear to me exactly how scheduling addresses the leveling mechanism of IA, but DALPA has addressed it.
A#2 does not necessarily mean deal-making. No matter how many times you say it.
Maybe this new contract will align the current practice with PWA language, but probably not. It seems to me that the company gets to decide how they are going to assign "Available qualified pilots, in position, in inverse seniority order."
It's not very clear to me exactly how scheduling addresses the leveling mechanism of IA, but DALPA has addressed it.
A#2 does not necessarily mean deal-making. No matter how many times you say it.
01-19-2026 | 05:57 PM
#180
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 386
If the dialer calls someone with #1 before everyone without an IA then that is a violation. We know the dialer is limited in number and rarely or never calls more than the first amount it is capable of. Scheduling is not excluding #1s as they should for subsequent coverage. This works like a GS and if you jump the line you are culpable just as if you jumped the line for a GS, SLV or WS. The company's non compliance is not an excuse when you know you are stealing because they screwed it up. Moreover, this should result in assignment pay for being skipped and the trip being misassigned. ALPA needs to get going on that. if you were skipped on WS, SLV, or GS steps you would definitely be entitled and fight for it.
That said, QS is the proposed, and I think good, solution/compromise. And it can't come soon enough.
