Ive never used this but want to make sure im doing the right thing. I put 5 trips i want in my bid and then used else start next bid group. My understanding is that this will push straight to my reserve bid if i dont get one of those trips. My hope/understanding is that this will jump to my reserve bid rather than going to the award trips default.

Is that correct?

 

I use ESN after a specific line that I must have.. I use clear schedule and start next group after my plethora of choices. It has worked for me.

example..
Prefer Off Apr 20-25 Else start next * Must have off
Award Pairing 122
Award Pairing 124
Award Pairing 129
Clear Schedule and Start Next Group * Like my schedule to contain trips 122,124,129

If I cant get all of those Apr (20-25) days off, PBS will force to next bid group, which most likely be RES. If I can get all those days off, then PBS will try to award me all the trip choices I want (122,124,129). If it cant honor or build my line with those trips choices, the CSSNG, forces PBS to jump to my next bid group.

TEN

 

Thanks for the reply. But, im not using else start next. Which keeps you within the same bid group. Im using else start next bid group before the award trips prompt but after the 5 trips i bid.

 

No Problem..I guess there are many ways to skin a cat.

TEN

 

Yes, if you use else start next it will push to your next bid group if it can not satisfy your bids.

As long as your reserve bid is next you should be good to go.

Caution - Be sure your five trips can put you in the LCW. Also depending on how you bid - can it pick one of your trips and then add on something you didn't bid for to satisfy the LCW?

It cant hurt to call PBS bid assist and have them review it. I called them yesterday to verify the logic of my clear schedule bid and it was correct, but they did pick up a sequencing error which would have hosed me.

Scoop

 

Scambo,

I'm not sure how one uses "else start next" for a bid group or how this command keeps you within the same bid group. I thought the whole point of this command was to go to the next bid group if you didn't get a specific line of your bid, like "Prefer Off." Teach me Obi Wan!

If you want to bid specific trips (and if you don't get one of them), then go to the next bid group, I'd do what Ten said. Bid the specific trips then do a "clear schedule and start next bid group" command.

I'm trying to do exactly the same thing. My first command is a prefer off with specific dates and an else start next. Then I list specific commands for the type of trips I want. Next is a "clear schedule and start next bid group" command that takes my bid to a reserve bid group.

Denny

 

I think you need to add the Else Start Next in each line. For example, piggybacking on the earlier example, if you did...

Award Pairing 122
Award Pairing 124
Award Pairing 129 Else Start Next

Your results might be...

Award Pairing 122
-Honored
Award Pairing 124
-Not honored
Award Pairing 129 Else Start Next
-Honored

But if you add it to all of them, it ensures you either get all of them or it skips to the next bid group.

 

Its funny how much hand wringing ive put into my may bid as simple as it is. I think my reading comprehension was low on Ten's post but yours clarified the whole question for me. So, I dont have any Obiwan mojo going on. I just wanted to make sure i didnt screw up my bid.

I have may vacation and want 1 commute with lots of credit time. If i cant do that, Im a-ok joining the plethora of reserve guys for higher monthly pay, moveable x days, and the likelihood of not working.

 

What is the difference between else start next and clear schedule start next? And what is next bid group? Can I do 'start pairings', some request here, then some request with else start next, and then another 'start pairings'? Is that second 'start pairings' a new bid group or will it only go to reserve?

 

PBS will always try to build you a line, unless you specifically request reserve.

ESN and CSSN force PBS to jump to the next BID group if your criteria are not met.

*ESN= ELSE START NEXT bid group. I basically and literally tell PBS to try to award me ALL of MY LINE REQUEST or start over by jumping into the next group. I use it for requesting a series of days off. If I can not get all those days off on a regular line, then my chances might be greater on Reserve.

ex. Prefer off Dec 19-30, else start next
I need the 19th to the 30th off. I would like a line but If PBS can not get me ALL those days off on a line, it will jump to my next bid group, which I would have had as Reserve.

*CSSN=CLEAR SCHEDULE AND START NEXT. Basically, in my bidding strategy, this is the same as ESN but I use it for the whole bid group. If I feel like flying certain pairings or layovers, I ask for it. Remember PBS will always try to build you a line if it can, no matter what. I do not want PBS to saturate my line with "filler' junk trips, so I basically put down CSSN, to assure myself that I want my schedule to be developed with these certain trips or jump to the next bid group, which might be reserve or another Line bid group.

Start Pairings
Award Layover in ORD
Award Layover in JFK
Award Layover in JAX
Clear Schedule and Start Next
Award Pairings

I want my schedule to built with ORD, JFK, JAX (ORD with most preference). If PBS goes down line by line, it will try to give me my choices. At the end, if there is no CSSN, PBS will move back upwards and try to build you a line with leftover, maybe undesirable trips. PBS will try to get you a schedule. But since I inserted a CSSN and PBS was not able to give me any of my requests, PBS will be forced to jump to the next Bid group. CSSN literally means, Clear that bid group and jump over to the next.

There are many ways to skin the cat. This has worked for me for years. Its best you look at how others are bidding in your base. Experiment and do call the PBS help desk. Remember, PBS will try to always build you a line and PBS is doing what you ask it to do, line by line.

TEN