Bid question for a new guy. I'm right on the edge of a regular vs a reserve line. When I brought up PBS I saw my name listed on the main page (never a good thing...) with reference to the following in the PWA: 23.D.10.b. Which states:

10. A pilot who cannot be awarded a regular line within his LCW will be awarded a reserve line.
Exception: A pilot who is within a number (such number to be the projected number of regular lines in such pilot’s category) of the most senior pilots in a category and who cannot be awarded a regular line within his LCW may:
a. request and be awarded an RLL.
b. elect to be awarded a blank regular line if he does not request an RLL.

I'm listed as the b category. So I'm guessing that I bid a regular line and if they can't get me a line that fits in the LCW I can just go rouge and just pick up white slips in open time and on the swap board?

If so it leads me to my next question...how do I elect to do this? I looked around on PBS and don't see an option there. I'm all about time off and quality of life right now, so having an open schedule would be quite nice.

Any input or insight would be appreciated.

If PBS cannot award you a regular line, then you will be awarded a reserve line. You have to call and talk to a scheduling supervisor to get them to give you a blank line. I had this happen several months ago due to a vacation. I asked for the blank line and easily filled up with weekends off. It worked great.

Funny I had 1 resolution pass in DTW, and 2 in NYC, and I was unable to be at any of those meetings.

+1.....being unblockable was a great deal....a little unnerving seeing a credit of 0 for the month, but its easy to fill up. Put in a blanket white slip and you'll get a call daily for flying.

Exactly. Here's an example...

Back in 2006/2007, the idea of expanding our brokerage link to include other investment options besides just mutual funds became an item of apparent interest to many in the pilot group. I put together a resolution for C44 to get ALPA to go back to the company and try to negotiate this. Since I had a conflict with the meeting, I found another pilot to present the resolution at the meeting. It passed. I also coordinated with pilots in SLC and CVG to get the same resolution presented and passed there.

Now I'm not trying to take credit for getting the expanded brokerage link. There were several moving parts that had to come together to get that done. Our timing was right for it too. But had the C44 meeting shot down my resolution simply because I wasn't there to present it... who knows?... maybe we wouldn't have the expanded brokerage link today, which has been extremely valuable and instrumental in allowing some of us to rebuild our retirement savings after the loss of the pension.

Thanks. As a previous stock broker I am shocked to learn how financially illiterate [most] pilots are. Thank you for allowing me to continue to have at least some control over my own portfolio.

EVERY time!. Karma. [Ok, with the exception of the occasional JS vs first class seat...)

Not saying you are wrong, but who are you referring to as "the company?"

We are bidding for sept. That referenced your August award. It's just info now.

Ummm...Delta Air Lines?...did I win?