Oh dear, you believed me. Crap.

Well, to answer question 1 from DALPA:
Q-6. I am not sure I understand how to use the bid qualifiers. Can you explain how they work?

A-6. You may specify a minimum position by entering either a number or percentage. For example, by entering a “Low Nbr” of 80, you would only be awarded a category if you would be number 80 or higher in the category. If you entered a Low % of 80, you would only be awarded the position if you would be in the top 80 percent of the category.

And question 2 from DALPA:
Q-7. What information is actually available on the “Count Pilots Holding A Preference For A Specific Category” page?

A-7. This page only counts pilots senior to you that have an AE bid preference in for that specific category. It does not look at VD or MD bids into that category, and it also does not indicate whether pilots senior to you have used bid qualifiers (number, percentage, or regular line only) with their AE bid preferences. Further, it also does not recognize whether a pilot senior to you is a pre-merger Northwest pilot or pre-merger Delta pilot bidding for a category that is only available to him if there are insufficient bidders to that category. (See question # 2 above).

Anotherwords new, when it comes to bid qualifiers don't be concerned about what you see because you don't know what they've bid really and more importantly you don't know what someone might have put on a MD or VD from that site. What we're finding is that option to see what senior pilots have bid works "okay" or "good" when we have an AE with vacancies and hiring. With surpluses abounding on the DC9, 767s, 765s and a whole fleet swap between bases then that thing is rather worthless. You don't know how many guys are bidding "choice 2) DC9 A ">" 50% 3) 330 B 80%..." you can't tell.

I did however find this question interesting:
Q-8. It looks like I may be mandatorily displaced (MD) as a result of this Advanced Entitlement Bid, and I am interested in bidding one of the new categories (DTW 777 A/B, MSP M88 A/B, NYC 765 A/B, and SLC 320 A/B). Do I have to bid an AE to be awarded one of these positions or can I use my MD to get the award?

A-8. If mandatorily displaced, you can be awarded one of these categories if your seniority will allow you to hold the position. You need not place an AE bid to get the award. These new category vacancies will be awarded in seniority order regardless of the award type (AE, VD, or MD).

There seems to be a misunderstanding about a new category and MDs as in you can't MD yourself into a new category but the way I read that above you can. So new, if you can MD then you don't know what the cascading effect of 744 B pilots being MD'd and then MD'd others til someone MD's into the 9 A spot above you. Not to say that is happening, just saying that "count pilots above you" thing isn't considering that and therefore can be tossed on this AE.

And one I ran into the other day with a DALN pilot was about the 777 DTW in that its not a fenced aircraft if its a new category. I'm 90% positive that a 744 and 777 are fenced until the fences are dropped regardless of there being new categories like DTW 777 or say 747 NYC. But I'm already past my bed time and won't look it up, but I think I am right about it. I can't stay up tonight and wait for 80, he doesn't usually show up until midnight.

New, keep that seat warm next to you, you're about to get a guy who doesn't know how to handle the lack of a magenta line but no worries, I'm fine with descents, I'm a VS kind of guy.

 

I can't see where he got that idea - here's what the SLI award said:

4. For the period of five (5) years beginning with the first bid period after the issuance of the Single Operating Certificate (SOC), no pre-merger Northwest pilot may be awarded or displaced to a vacancy on a B777 aircraft or category and no pre-merger Delta pilot may be awarded or displaced to a B787 or B747 vacancy.

and the explanation of the conditions and restrictions says:

Paragraph 4 (Position Fences): This paragraph contains the description of what is commonly referred to as a “fence.” The Panel stated on page 26 of the Award that it decided only to apply a fence to “premium flying” and defined that term as all flying performed on the NWA 747/787 and the DAL 777. The language states that position vacancies on these aircraft must be awarded to pilots from the appropriate pre-merger pilot group. During the processing of vacancies and surpluses and the award of AE/MD/VDs in accordance with Section 22 of the PWA, all positions on these aircraft must remain “within” the pre-merger pilot group unless an insufficient number of pilots in that group have bids for, or are eligible for, an award (we will discuss insufficient bidders in Paragraph 7). This paragraph applies until the first bid period that occurs five years after the issuance of an SOC to the Company.

 

He is so wrong about that. In fact, I don't think the fences have even started yet. SOC + 5 years. He can bid it and get it after every other S-DAL pilot.


Oh, forgot. Radar vectors my man, headings and radar vectors.


Oh, wait. I do believe you about the bidding your position at the % that you think is your minimum preference. Does it matter if it is AE or VD?

 

Sorry if it has been discussed before but does anyone know what it means when after you enter your AE bids it says "Bid down selection **".
I think it has to do with a certain percentage you want in a category/base but just want to make sure

 

When I got my current seat there were about a 100 guys senior to me bidding it with only a few vacancies.

Everyone senior to you who has a bid in for it shows up, no matter what restictions they have, and even if it is their 20th bid choice.

 

Plus, what I'm gathering, and correct me if I'm wrong, but if the #1 DC9A put a AE in that said:

1.) DTW DC9A low number 2
(as in he can't stand being any lower than number 2 on the bidlist)
2.) MSP DC9A low percentage 20%
(as in he doesn't want to have any less than a 80% cushion in MSP IF he gets displaced to MSP)
3. DTW 320A

He would show up as a senior bidder to me in all three categories or any other category he put in there even though he is already on the DC-9. right?

So, when I look to see that 50 guys senior to me have DTW DC9A as an AE, it includes the guys who are already on the airplane, but are bidding to go elsewhere if they fall below a minimum percentage or number. Right?

If not, I think I have about 24 hours to decide if I want to be a 7erB out of ATL, DTW, NYC, or if I should try to decide if I can learn French on the 330.

 

AE closes in 24 hours and I still have no idea where I will end up...... Here is to everyone getting what they want and if they don't being recalled back soon!

 

Whats an "AE"? Should I concern myself with such acronyms?

 

You're fine. I'll worry about it for you.

Just PM me your DBMS password.

 

NYCM88 for me.