I’m trying to slide a vacation from 18-24 to 4-10. If I don’t get it all I don’t want any and will bid reserve. My initial line says “slide vacation equal to -14 or else start next.” Else start next means go to next bid group where I am bidding reserve.

I imagine you could do the same thing only twice. Of course using + instead of minus.

Denny

Edit: Just read crewdawg’s reply and he is correct. You can only do one slide vacation request per bid group. I tried to put more than one on an earlier bid iteration and could not do it.

 

You can't have two slide vacations in the same bid group. You would need to do a slide 17 days else start next then do another bid group below that with the slide 10 days.

Keep in mind that PBS won't look at your slide during the coverage process, so it's a good idea to throw in prefer offs for the days you want off. Also, PBS must use the same bid group for the normal bid process as it used during coverage.

 

Thanks guys! Exactly what I was looking for.

 

So I want a prefer off (RANGE) prior to the slide VAC line even if those very same days I’m trying to slide over? Not saying you’re wrong, but how would this prevent a coverage award any different than just sliding the vacation? With a coverage “award”, you get forced to work those days whether you have a prefer off or not.

Coverage sucks, and it’s really becoming a thing as lean as they are running the operation now. I’ve had more coverage awards hit my bid in the last few months than ever. Same relative seniority last two years.



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It won't prevent coverage at all, I apologize if that's how I made it sound. Set conditions are automatically sent to the top of the bid group, so prefer off can not go above them. During coverage, PBS only looks at prefer off, avoids and awards. So if you really wanted those days off (where you wanted the slide to go) then it behooves you to put them in as a prefer off as well. If you're subject to coverage, PBS will ignore your slide and will try to award as many of your prefer off days as possible. It could be that just one day of coverage is what would deny the slide, but you may be able to get the other days around it off. You could do a range if you want but I just pick the individual days in the order I want. Either way will do the same unless you add an all or nothing to the range.

Below is a direct quote from the PBS reference handbook (page 84).



Yes, yes it does. The only way to avoid it is be in the top 50% of line holders and bid a line. Bid reserve and all bets are off.

 

So I was looking at the ATL320 August bid package and noticed a trip on the 5th with a coveted ATL-PVR turn of 7.44 but then a 1.59 deadhead to DTW tacked on making a 9.43 day to a 13 hour overnight.

I have to say that’s the first of a long turn with a deadhead added. Has that been common on other fleets or bases or is this a new efficiency thing?

Anyways, pretty ugly bid package to say the least.

 

MGA used to be a stand alone turn... I did GSP-ATL-MGA-ATL the other day, no deadheads. Initially blocked at 8:24, but due to what happens happening, I ended up blocking 9:19 (after a 30 minute wait in ATL for a customs gate).

Squeezing a bit too much out of the turnip...

 

I’ve noticed they started or increased adding deadheads to the end of a 4 or 5 leg day, with tight turns, probably cause they can extend your duty day longer with a deadhead on the end

 

Can you show some examples of 5 leg days with a DH after. I am sure it happens but I bet it’s very rare.

 

Will they flow main cabin PAX into 1st class if they are oversold on ocean crossings? For example if there are 10 first class seats but negative 7 main cabin would you expect that there are only three first class available for non revs