Airline Pilot Central Forums - Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?

Airline Pilot Central Forums (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/)

- Delta (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/delta/)

- - Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/delta/36912-any-latest-greatest-about-delta.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Shore (Post 1662637)

From talking with reps who were involved with PBS at Delta, it wasn't anywhere near 15% for us -- more like 5%. Giving up the cap and going to ALV with no real limit was the big productivity player for us.

That's a cop out. It is all related, and it all adds up. PBS was a big productivity concession, and I truly believe that we never got fully compensated for it. I have said this before and I will say it again. I want to see numbers comparing pre-PBS pilot requirements and payroll beside those even before the merger. Reserve requirements were able to be tightened... many more things other than the few you mentioned.. We will never see those comparisons because ALPA knows it would be eye watering.

I am not saying that I want to go back to LOT bidding, but to say it was a minor concession is disingenuous. The really fortunate thing was that we had DEX as a test bed and we really learned what an abortion PBS can be if not properly structured.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuGuy (Post 1662631)

PBS is a HUGE gain in productivity.

Can't speak for DAL, but from talking with friends at other airlines who were involved in looking at the PBS, the numbers are pretty big.

Overall, PBS provides a %15 increase in productivity (IE same work with less pilots). Just the month-month transition alone is worth 7-8 percent. The rest comes from eliminating the conflict from vacations, training, mil leave and so on.

%15 increase in productivity is HUGE. That is a FAT number to the bean counters at any airline which is why they trip over themselves to push it.

What that means in real terms is if you are at the bottom %15 of your category, you face the real possibility of displacement. If you were looking to upgrade or move to a higher paying piece of equipment, you are SOL.

If you are going to engage a company for PBS, this has to be taken into account. Sure, PBS offers some pretty decent bid satisfaction by the nature of the way the system works, but the loss of "touching trips", if a contract contains it, can really wreck "good deals".

So you have to decide what kind of pay rate makes up for the loss of potential. That number can get pretty fat.

This issue is related to, although not the same, as pay banding. Depending on the size of the bands, you REALLY need to make the pay rate worth it, which would have to include a raise for the guys at the top of the band.

Nu

Nu,

PBS in itself does not increase productivity. PBS is basically a computer program that turns our contract and work rules into a schedule.

I remember "trips touching" and Line of Time bidding - but that was specific to those contracts.

I will agree that PBS enables efficiencies but it is mainly the contract that drives efficiencies. For example:

You could have Line of Time bidding that would not award a line if it conflicted with your vacation. You could also have a PBS that for the most part puts vacation on after a line is awarded - thus dropping "trips touching." A lot of this is contract driven and to some extent enabled by PBS.

PBS is just a tool not inherently good or bad. It does make it easier for the company to increase productivity but in my opinion that is mostly a function of our contract and less a function of PBS.

Scoop

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1662462)

Here's something you won't hear about on CNN.

Nor this: Hillary Clinton's Health Issues

[QUOTE=

What that means in real terms is if you are at the bottom %15 of your category, you face the real possibility of displacement. If you were looking to upgrade or move to a higher paying piece of equipment, you are SOL.

Nu[/QUOTE]

The percentage, 5, 15 or whatever you want to claim, is far worse than you credited, since it is cumulative across categories and seats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoop (Post 1662466)

Yes.

And although not related to the IT troubles the PBS Bid assist is also pathetic - I have never ever had anyone answer in less than 10 minutes hold time - usually it is 20+ minutes.

This happens every month so why don't we beef it up? :mad:

Scoop

I've used it a few times and have never waited more than 2 mins. Yesterday (between 6 and 7pm) I got an answer right away with no hold.

Why are we suddenly talking about PBS? Nothing has changed, what's popped this to the top of the Delta topics today?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunshipGuy (Post 1662717)

I've used it a few times and have never waited more than 2 mins. Yesterday (between 6 and 7pm) I got an answer right away with no hold.

I guess I should have called then - just this morning I gave up at 18 minutes. :cool:

Scoop

Wife stuck in MSP. Any cheap hotels near airport with shuttle? Thx.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivingTheDream (Post 1662748)

Wife stuck in MSP. Any cheap hotels near airport with shuttle? Thx.

LaQuinta 952-881-7311 $53ish out the door. Food options very close to the hotel. Tell them your Delta.

Courtyard Marriot 651-452-2000 $60 out the door. No real food options other than a bistro in the lobby. Worth the extra few bucks on the room. Tell them your the "Delta Project" rate. Courtyard fills up quickly however.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadkill (Post 1662719)

Why are we suddenly talking about PBS? Nothing has changed, what's popped this to the top of the Delta topics today?

I assume it has to do with frustrations with the malfunctions of NavTech access the last couple of days.