Bidding services
04-06-2026 | 06:41 AM
#21
On Reserve
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 10
Yes. If you bid min schedule it will try to put you under ALV if it awards min schedule. Problem is company can set min schedules to zero. You can still get min schedule but have to bid a different way.
This is why you’ll see avoid trips > 0 as last bid line. It’s to void the awards pairings at end of bid that you can’t get rid of. I pick the days I want to work, then prefer off all other days. Experienced bidders have a pretty good idea of what they can and can’t hold so usually aren’t surprised by bid results. Always look at the rotations. It doesn’t help to ask for layovers in specific cities if there are no layovers there. There’s at least one layover or selecting city wouldn’t be an option, but there might only be a single layover there that month. In January, there were very few 4 day rotations departing Mondays or Tuesdays that signed in after 10am. Obviously asking for rotations departing after 2pm on Mondays or Tuesdays isn’t going to work for that month.
These are just some examples of looking at big picture.
This is why you’ll see avoid trips > 0 as last bid line. It’s to void the awards pairings at end of bid that you can’t get rid of. I pick the days I want to work, then prefer off all other days. Experienced bidders have a pretty good idea of what they can and can’t hold so usually aren’t surprised by bid results. Always look at the rotations. It doesn’t help to ask for layovers in specific cities if there are no layovers there. There’s at least one layover or selecting city wouldn’t be an option, but there might only be a single layover there that month. In January, there were very few 4 day rotations departing Mondays or Tuesdays that signed in after 10am. Obviously asking for rotations departing after 2pm on Mondays or Tuesdays isn’t going to work for that month.
These are just some examples of looking at big picture.
Edit: Appears it is Avoid Pairings Total Credit based at looking at composite reports. Answered my own question!
04-06-2026 | 02:54 PM
#23
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 245
Likes: 36
Would this work:
- award 3-5 days limit 3
- award 4 days limit 3
- award 5 days limit 1
- award (insert 4 day rotations I prefer)
- award (insert 5 day rotations I prefer)
- award (insert 3 day rotations I prefer)
Or would that limit logic not work that way?
- award 3-5 days limit 3
- award 4 days limit 3
- award 5 days limit 1
- award (insert 4 day rotations I prefer)
- award (insert 5 day rotations I prefer)
- award (insert 3 day rotations I prefer)
Or would that limit logic not work that way?
04-06-2026 | 03:56 PM
#24
Coverage Award...
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 129
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04-07-2026 | 04:03 AM
#25
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,507
Likes: 506
I'm not sure I completely understand your goals but I'll assume you know that a 3, 4 and 5 day trip will get you in the LCW. If that's the case I'd structure my bid as follows.
- award (insert 3 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- award (insert 4 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- award (insert 5 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
This method would allow you to get a 3, 4 and a 5 day that gets in the LCW, then stop. However, if you didn't get one of those trips, the subsequent lines would try to add one 3-5 trip at a time to try to get you up to the LCW. The danger is that you get awarded a 5 and a 4 day, can't get a 3 day, then get slapped with a 5 day on the subsequent lines. It's hard to give you complete advice without knowing your full desires. Are you willing to take more trips (read: 3-days) to stay closer to the window? If so, replace the 'award 3-5 days limit 1' with four attempts at 3 days, 3 attempts at 4 day and 3 attempts at 5 days. I personally never want to fly a 5 day again, so I'd actually go down to 2 and 1 days to try to snipe the bottom of the window.
As mentioned above, when you build something you're not sure of, give the bid assist folks a call, they'll help clarify things for you.
04-07-2026 | 05:39 AM
#26
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 245
Likes: 36
I'm not sure I completely understand your goals but I'll assume you know that a 3, 4 and 5 day trip will get you in the LCW. If that's the case I'd structure my bid as follows.
- award (insert 3 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- award (insert 4 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- award (insert 5 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
This method would allow you to get a 3, 4 and a 5 day that gets in the LCW, then stop. However, if you didn't get one of those trips, the subsequent lines would try to add one 3-5 trip at a time to try to get you up to the LCW. The danger is that you get awarded a 5 and a 4 day, can't get a 3 day, then get slapped with a 5 day on the subsequent lines. It's hard to give you complete advice without knowing your full desires. Are you willing to take more trips (read: 3-days) to stay closer to the window? If so, replace the 'award 3-5 days limit 1' with four attempts at 3 days, 3 attempts at 4 day and 3 attempts at 5 days. I personally never want to fly a 5 day again, so I'd actually go down to 2 and 1 days to try to snipe the bottom of the window.
As mentioned above, when you build something you're not sure of, give the bid assist folks a call, they'll help clarify things for you.
- award (insert 3 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- award (insert 4 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- award (insert 5 day rotations I prefer) limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
- award 3-5 days limit 1
- avoid if total pairing credit > 0
This method would allow you to get a 3, 4 and a 5 day that gets in the LCW, then stop. However, if you didn't get one of those trips, the subsequent lines would try to add one 3-5 trip at a time to try to get you up to the LCW. The danger is that you get awarded a 5 and a 4 day, can't get a 3 day, then get slapped with a 5 day on the subsequent lines. It's hard to give you complete advice without knowing your full desires. Are you willing to take more trips (read: 3-days) to stay closer to the window? If so, replace the 'award 3-5 days limit 1' with four attempts at 3 days, 3 attempts at 4 day and 3 attempts at 5 days. I personally never want to fly a 5 day again, so I'd actually go down to 2 and 1 days to try to snipe the bottom of the window.
As mentioned above, when you build something you're not sure of, give the bid assist folks a call, they'll help clarify things for you.
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